Samphire food hygiene rating
Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen · Canterbury City
Samphire holds a 5, the highest food hygiene rating there is. At its last inspection the restaurant met every standard the inspector checked, with nothing needing attention.
The rating: 5 - Very good
This rating dates from 27 January 2025, but the business has been re-inspected and a new rating is awaiting publication, so the score shown here is about to change.
Address: 4 High Street, Whitstable, CT5 1BQ
How it compares in Canterbury City
That puts Samphire among the 1,161 places in Canterbury City holding top marks, 78% of everywhere the council rates. A 5 is the norm here rather than the exception, so it is the rating to expect, not to be impressed by.
| 5 out of 5 | 1,161 | 78% | ← Samphire | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 185 | 12% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 120 | 8% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 14 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 2 | <1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 1 | <1% |
A further 166 businesses in the area are awaiting inspection or exempt, so are not counted above.
What the inspector found
- Hygienic food handling Good
- Cleanliness & condition of the building Good
- How well they manage food safety Good
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 Samphire 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 Samphire, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lotties Sweet Creams Manufacturers/packers | 19 yards away | 5 - Very good | 1 August 2024 |
| David Brown Delicatessen Retailers - other | 32 yards away | 5 - Very good | 5 July 2024 |
| A La Turka Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 52 yards away | 5 - Very good | 12 August 2024 |
| Lazy Lobster Pub/bar/nightclub | 77 yards away | 5 - Very good | 6 June 2024 |
| Iceland Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 80 yards away | 5 - Very good | 15 April 2025 |
| Farm & Harper Ltd Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 90 yards away | 5 - Very good | 3 February 2026 |
| Harbour News Retailers - other | 102 yards away | 5 - Very good | 21 December 2023 |
| Harbour Street Fish Bar Takeaway/sandwich shop | 112 yards away | 5 - Very good | 23 October 2025 |
Questions about Samphire
What is Samphire's food hygiene rating?
Samphire has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Canterbury City Council on 27 January 2025.
Is Samphire safe to eat at?
The rating covers hygiene standards found at inspection, not the food itself. At 5 out of 5, the inspector found hygiene standards at this restaurant to be very good, the top end of the scale.
When was Samphire last inspected?
Samphire was last inspected on 27 January 2025, 17 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Canterbury City Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Samphire?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "good", and confidence in the management of food safety "good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does Samphire compare to other places in Canterbury City?
78% of the 1,483 rated food businesses in Canterbury City hold the top rating of 5, and Samphire is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Canterbury City Council inspects Samphire 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 Samphire and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Samphire is one of 294 rated food businesses in Whitstable. See every hygiene rating in Whitstable →
Canterbury City inspects and rates 1,649 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Canterbury City →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.canterbury.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 →