The Congress food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Stoke-On-Trent
The Congress holds a 4, meaning hygiene standards at the pub are good. It is a solid result, the inspector found nothing serious, though a 5 was just out of reach.
The rating: 4 - Good
The rating dates from 19 March 2026, 3 months ago. Councils typically re-inspect higher-risk businesses every six months to two years, with well-run, low-risk places visited least often, so this is a normal gap.
Address: 14 Sutherland Road, Longton, ST3 1HJ
How it compares in Stoke-On-Trent
In Stoke-On-Trent, 78% of rated places manage a 5, so The Congress sits behind roughly 1,486 nearby businesses. 13% of the borough shares its 4.
| 5 out of 5 | 1,486 | 78% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 244 | 13% | ← The Congress | |
| 3 out of 5 | 112 | 6% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 24 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 27 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 2 | <1% |
A further 391 businesses in the area are awaiting inspection or exempt, so are not counted above.
What the inspector found
- Hygienic food handling Very good
- Cleanliness & condition of the building Generally satisfactory
- How well they manage food safety Generally satisfactory
An inspection scores three things: how food is handled, the physical condition of the premises, and how much the inspector trusts management to keep standards up. At The Congress none of the three raised a concern, the overall rating is only ever as strong as its weakest area, so a clean sweep is what produces a high score.
Food hygiene ratings nearby
The closest food businesses to The Congress, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baguettes and Pies Takeaway/sandwich shop | 200 yards away | 5 - Very good | 11 March 2025 |
| Barnett's Retailers - other | 324 yards away | 5 - Very good | 3 September 2025 |
| 1863 Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 324 yards away | 5 - Very good | 8 November 2024 |
| Ali's Kitchen Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 351 yards away | 5 - Very good | 11 March 2025 |
| Britannia Cafe Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 355 yards away | 5 - Very good | 10 December 2025 |
| ADS Truck Parking Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 20 January 2025 |
| Anchor Road Convenience Store Retailers - other | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 7 April 2025 |
| Anchor Day Care Caring Premises | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 5 December 2025 |
Questions about The Congress
What is The Congress's food hygiene rating?
The Congress has a food hygiene rating of 4 out of 5 (good), given by Stoke-On-Trent Council on 19 March 2026.
Is The Congress safe to eat at?
The rating covers hygiene standards found at inspection, not the food itself. At 4 out of 5, the inspector found hygiene standards at this pub to be good, the top end of the scale.
When was The Congress last inspected?
The Congress was last inspected on 19 March 2026, 3 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Stoke-On-Trent Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The Congress?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "very good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "generally satisfactory", and confidence in the management of food safety "generally satisfactory". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does The Congress compare to other places in Stoke-On-Trent?
78% of the 1,895 rated food businesses in Stoke-On-Trent hold the top rating of 5, while The Congress holds a 4. 244 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
Stoke-On-Trent Council inspects The Congress and sets the rating; the Food Standards Agency publishes it. Neither the business nor this site can change a rating, a business that disagrees can appeal to its council, and can request a re-inspection once it has fixed the problems.
Tell me when this changes
The Food Standards Agency publishes only a business's rating today, not what it scored before, and not when it moves. We check every UK rating each night. Watch The Congress and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
The Congress is one of 147 rated food businesses in Longton. See every hygiene rating in Longton →
Stoke-On-Trent inspects and rates 2,286 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Stoke-On-Trent →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.stoke.gov.uk
Rating from the Food Standards Agency under the Open Government Licence. Ratings reflect standards found at the time of inspection and can change. If you think a rating is wrong, the official record is held by the FSA and the local authority; corrections there flow through here. How ratings work →