Sam 99p food hygiene rating
Retailers - other · Reading
Sam 99p holds a 3: generally satisfactory. The shop met the legal standard, but the inspector recorded enough minor issues that it fell short of a good or very good rating.
The rating: 3 - Generally satisfactory
The rating dates from 10 April 2025, 15 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: 118-119 Friar Street, Reading, RG1 1EP
How it compares in Reading
In Reading, 65% of rated places manage a 5, so Sam 99p sits behind roughly 1,129 nearby businesses. 11% of the borough shares its 3.
| 5 out of 5 | 881 | 65% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 248 | 18% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 148 | 11% | ← Sam 99p | |
| 2 out of 5 | 39 | 3% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 41 | 3% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 5 | <1% |
A further 155 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 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 Sam 99p 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 Sam 99p, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boots UK Ltd Retailers - other | 88 yards away | 5 - Very good | 12 August 2025 |
| Black Sheep Coffee Takeaway/sandwich shop | 137 yards away | 5 - Very good | 15 October 2024 |
| 7 Flowers & Tea Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 197 yards away | 5 - Very good | 7 March 2019 |
| Boom Battle Bar Pub/bar/nightclub | 204 yards away | 5 - Very good | 30 April 2026 |
| AKA BBQ Station Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 210 yards away | 5 - Very good | 24 January 2025 |
| Cafe Local Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 217 yards away | 5 - Very good | 27 August 2025 |
| Anonymous Coffee Co at Thames Tower Takeaway/sandwich shop | 217 yards away | 5 - Very good | 19 September 2025 |
| Cake Box Mobile caterer | 234 yards away | 5 - Very good | 11 November 2025 |
Questions about Sam 99p
What is Sam 99p's food hygiene rating?
Sam 99p has a food hygiene rating of 3 out of 5 (generally satisfactory), given by Reading Council on 10 April 2025.
Is Sam 99p safe to eat at?
A 3 means the shop met the legal standard, so it is lawful to eat there, but the inspector recorded issues that stopped it scoring higher. It is the middle of the scale.
When was Sam 99p last inspected?
Sam 99p was last inspected on 10 April 2025, 15 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Reading Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Sam 99p?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "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 Sam 99p compare to other places in Reading?
65% of the 1,362 rated food businesses in Reading hold the top rating of 5, while Sam 99p holds a 3. 148 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
Reading Council inspects Sam 99p 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 Sam 99p and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Reading inspects and rates 1,517 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Reading →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.reading.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 →