What is the average food hygiene rating in Sunderland?

The average food hygiene rating in Sunderland is 4.74 out of 5, across 1,949 rated restaurants, takeaways and cafes. This is the mean of real Food Standards Agency (FSA) ratings, as of 2026-06-12.

How does Sunderland compare with the national average for food hygiene?

83.9% of rated premises in Sunderland hold a 5 (Very Good) food hygiene rating — 4.2 percentage points above the national average of 79.7% across the 328 UK local authorities in the FHRS dataset. That ranks Sunderland 126 of 328 by 5★ share (rank 1 = highest). Every figure is computed from the same real Food Standards Agency records used across this page.

How many restaurants in Sunderland have a 5-star food hygiene rating?

1,635 food businesses in Sunderland hold a 5 (Very Good) food hygiene rating — the highest on the FSA scale — which is 83.9% of the 1,949 rated premises. The most recent inspection on record is dated 1 June 2026.

How many food businesses in Sunderland have a low hygiene rating?

47 food businesses in Sunderland are rated 2 or below and need improvement, including 2 rated 0 (Urgent Improvement Necessary). A low rating reflects conditions at the last inspection and may since have improved — always check the current rating at the FSA.

What does a food hygiene rating actually measure?

The FSA food hygiene rating (0–5) reflects how hygienically food is handled, the condition of the premises, and how well the business manages food safety, recorded at its last inspection. 5 is Very Good and 0 is Urgent Improvement Necessary. It is not a measure of food quality or taste.

Where does this Sunderland food hygiene data come from?

Every figure is computed from real Food Standards Agency records for Sunderland (2,318 establishments on record, 1,949 rated), sourced from ratings.food.gov.uk under the Open Government Licence v3.0, as of 2026-06-12. No estimates or survey data are mixed in.

GeraEats / Food hygiene ratings / Sunderland

Food Hygiene Ratings in Sunderland

In Sunderland, 83.9% of 1,949 rated food businesses hold a 5 (Very Good) food hygiene rating, the highest on the Food Standards Agency scale. The average rating is 4.74/5. These figures cover 2,318 establishments on record (as of 2026-06-12).

Quick answer

Sunderland has 1,635 food businesses rated 5 (Very Good) out of 1,949 rated premises (83.9%). 47 premises are rated 2 or below and need improvement. The most recent inspection on record is dated 1 June 2026.

5★ share: 83.9%
National average: 79.7%
vs national average: +4.2 pp
National rank: 126 / 328

Ranked by 5★ share among 328 UK local authorities in our FHRS dataset (rank 1 = highest share). Both figures are computed from the same real Food Standards Agency records.

Rating distribution in Sunderland

5★ Very Good

1,635 (83.9%)

4★ Good

194 (10%)

3★ Generally Satisfactory

73 (3.7%)

2★ Improvement Necessary

21 (1.1%)

1★ Major Improvement Necessary

24 (1.2%)

0★ Urgent Improvement Necessary

2 (0.1%)

Plus 266 awaiting inspection and 103 exempt premises (not included in the rated percentages above).

Percentages are of rated premises only. 266 awaiting inspection and 103 exempt premises are excluded from the percentages.

Food hygiene in Sunderland: frequently asked questions

What is the average food hygiene rating in Sunderland?: The average food hygiene rating in Sunderland is 4.74 out of 5, across 1,949 rated restaurants, takeaways and cafes. This is the mean of real Food Standards Agency (FSA) ratings, as of 2026-06-12.
How does Sunderland compare with the national average for food hygiene?: 83.9% of rated premises in Sunderland hold a 5 (Very Good) food hygiene rating — 4.2 percentage points above the national average of 79.7% across the 328 UK local authorities in the FHRS dataset. That ranks Sunderland 126 of 328 by 5★ share (rank 1 = highest). Every figure is computed from the same real Food Standards Agency records used across this page.
How many restaurants in Sunderland have a 5-star food hygiene rating?: 1,635 food businesses in Sunderland hold a 5 (Very Good) food hygiene rating — the highest on the FSA scale — which is 83.9% of the 1,949 rated premises. The most recent inspection on record is dated 1 June 2026.
How many food businesses in Sunderland have a low hygiene rating?: 47 food businesses in Sunderland are rated 2 or below and need improvement, including 2 rated 0 (Urgent Improvement Necessary). A low rating reflects conditions at the last inspection and may since have improved — always check the current rating at the FSA.
What does a food hygiene rating actually measure?: The FSA food hygiene rating (0–5) reflects how hygienically food is handled, the condition of the premises, and how well the business manages food safety, recorded at its last inspection. 5 is Very Good and 0 is Urgent Improvement Necessary. It is not a measure of food quality or taste.
Where does this Sunderland food hygiene data come from?: Every figure is computed from real Food Standards Agency records for Sunderland (2,318 establishments on record, 1,949 rated), sourced from ratings.food.gov.uk under the Open Government Licence v3.0, as of 2026-06-12. No estimates or survey data are mixed in.

Top-rated places in Sunderland

Oxclose Community AcademySchool/college/university · Oxclose Community School, Dilston Close, Oxclose, Washington · NE38 0LN
5/5 · Very GoodInspected 1 June 2026
Strip'd Nashville Fried ChickenTakeaway/sandwich shop · Stripp'd Nashville Fried Chicken, Unit 4D Stack Seaburn, Whitburn Road, Sunderland · SR6 8AA
5/5 · Very GoodInspected 1 June 2026
The Centre Spot CafeRestaurant/Cafe/Canteen · Hetton Centre, Welfare Road, Hetton-le-Hole, Houghton-le-Spring · DH5 9NE
5/5 · Very GoodInspected 1 June 2026
Holly House Care HomeHotel/bed & breakfast/guest house · The Manager, Windlass Lane, Albany, Washington · NE37 1BJ
5/5 · Very GoodInspected 28 May 2026
Bede House Care HomeCaring Premises · 1 Ryhope Street South, Sunderland
5/5 · Very GoodInspected 27 May 2026
Castle KindergartenCaring Premises · Albany Village Primary School, Crossgill, Washington · NE37 1UA
5/5 · Very GoodInspected 27 May 2026
Keelboat InnPub/bar/nightclub · The Licensee, Stockfold, Fatfield, Washington · NE38 8RU
5/5 · Very GoodInspected 27 May 2026
Boba Cat KitchenMobile caterer · 94 Aylesford Mews, Sunderland · SR2 9HZ
5/5 · Very GoodInspected 22 May 2026
ChurrosMobile caterer · DH5
5/5 · Very GoodInspected 22 May 2026
Nice CurryTakeaway/sandwich shop · 1 Dundas Street, Sunderland · SR6 0AY
5/5 · Very GoodInspected 21 May 2026
SpicymonkeyManufacturers/packers · Unit 22, Swan Road, Swan, Washington · NE38 8JJ
5/5 · Very GoodInspected 21 May 2026
Breakfast Club And Wraparound CareSchool/college/university · Albany Village Primary School, Crossgill, Albany, Washington · NE37 1UA
5/5 · Very GoodInspected 20 May 2026

Places needing improvement in Sunderland

China CityTakeaway/sandwich shop · 37, Carley Road, Sunderland · SR5 2RP
0/5 · Urgent Improvement NecessaryInspected 12 December 2025
DaliRetailers - other · 44 Villette Road, Sunderland · SR2 8RN
0/5 · Urgent Improvement NecessaryInspected 8 April 2026
Heron FoodsRetailers - other · Herons Foods, Hylton Road, Sunderland · SR4 8AB
1/5 · Major Improvement NecessaryInspected 21 October 2025
China WokTakeaway/sandwich shop · 179, Durham Road, Sunderland · SR3 4BX
1/5 · Major Improvement NecessaryInspected 27 March 2026
The ProspectRestaurant/Cafe/Canteen · 11 Chester Road, Shiney Row, Houghton-le-Spring · DH4 7EJ
1/5 · Major Improvement NecessaryInspected 26 January 2026
Rinos PizzaTakeaway/sandwich shop · Rinos Pizzeria, 89 Ryhope Street South, Sunderland · SR2 0AG
1/5 · Major Improvement NecessaryInspected 22 March 2026
Afrikana Hub LtdRetailers - other · 72 Villette Road, Sunderland · SR2 8RP
1/5 · Major Improvement NecessaryInspected 29 July 2024
Better BargainRetailers - other · 59 Fawcett Street, Sunderland · SR1 1SE
1/5 · Major Improvement NecessaryInspected 20 September 2024

A low rating reflects conditions at the last inspection and may have since improved. Always check the current rating at the FSA before drawing conclusions.

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Across the Gera ecosystem

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Methodology

Figures are computed from 2,318 real Food Standards Agency records for Sunderland, of which 1,949 carry a 0–5 hygiene rating. The average is the mean of those ratings; percentages exclude awaiting-inspection and exempt premises. No estimates or survey data are mixed in. Data as of 2026-06-12.

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Food hygiene ratings are sourced from the Food Standards Agency at ratings.food.gov.uk. Ratings reflect the most recent inspection on record and may have changed since publication.