Samuel James Deli Café food hygiene rating
Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen · Durham
Samuel James Deli Café 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 is a fresh result: Samuel James Deli Café was inspected on 1 June 2026, so the rating reflects what the inspector found very recently.
Address: Ground Floor 4 Horsemarket, Middleton-in-Teesdale, DL12 0SH
How it compares in Durham
That puts Samuel James Deli Café among the 3,088 places in Durham holding top marks, 75% 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 | 3,088 | 75% | ← Samuel James Deli Café | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 676 | 16% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 285 | 7% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 50 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 22 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 2 | <1% |
A further 517 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 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 Samuel James Deli Café 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 Samuel James Deli Café, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ozzie's Pizzas Takeaway/sandwich shop | 8 yards away | 5 - Very good | 4 January 2024 |
| Winter?s Cafe Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 18 yards away | 5 - Very good | 11 March 2024 |
| G and J Newsagents Retailers - other | 24 yards away | 5 - Very good | 8 July 2025 |
| Methodist Church - Pathway Other catering premises | 40 yards away | 5 - Very good | 26 February 2019 |
| The Tees'pot Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 51 yards away | 5 - Very good | 30 October 2025 |
| Teesdale Day Clubs Other catering premises | 69 yards away | 5 - Very good | 30 July 2025 |
| Vale of Tees Masonic Hall Pub/bar/nightclub | 69 yards away | 5 - Very good | 8 May 2025 |
| McFarlanes Family Butchers Retailers - other | 70 yards away | 4 - Good | 12 February 2025 |
Questions about Samuel James Deli Café
What is Samuel James Deli Café's food hygiene rating?
Samuel James Deli Café has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Durham Council on 1 June 2026.
Is Samuel James Deli Café 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 Samuel James Deli Café last inspected?
Samuel James Deli Café was last inspected on 1 June 2026, a month ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Durham Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Samuel James Deli Café?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "very 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 Samuel James Deli Café compare to other places in Durham?
75% of the 4,123 rated food businesses in Durham hold the top rating of 5, and Samuel James Deli Café is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Durham Council inspects Samuel James Deli Café 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
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Samuel James Deli Café is one of 26 rated food businesses in Middleton-in-Teesdale. See every hygiene rating in Middleton-in-Teesdale →
Durham inspects and rates 4,640 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Durham →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.durham.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 →