Sam's Bar food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Bolton
Sam's Bar 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 1 May 2015, more than 11 years ago. A lot can change in a kitchen in that time, and a rating this old says more about the business then than now. Councils prioritise re-inspecting higher-risk premises, so a long gap often means the business is considered low-risk.
Address: 28 Lee Lane, Horwich, BL6 7BY
How it compares in Bolton
In Bolton, 55% of rated places manage a 5, so Sam's Bar sits behind roughly 1,220 nearby businesses. 22% of the borough shares its 4.
| 5 out of 5 | 1,220 | 55% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 476 | 22% | ← Sam's Bar | |
| 3 out of 5 | 315 | 14% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 76 | 3% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 103 | 5% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 10 | <1% |
A further 186 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 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 Sam's Bar 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's Bar, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brewed Coffee Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 108 yards away | 5 - Very good | 21 January 2025 |
| Greenhalghs Retailers - other | 108 yards away | 5 - Very good | 21 January 2025 |
| Home Bakery/Caffe Latte Retailers - other | 114 yards away | 5 - Very good | 21 February 2025 |
| Croft House Nursery Caring Premises | 184 yards away | 5 - Very good | 6 February 2025 |
| Co-op Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 264 yards away | 5 - Very good | 28 March 2023 |
| Hootons Pharmacy Retailers - other | 304 yards away | 5 - Very good | 28 March 2023 |
| Blue Anchor Horwich Ltd Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 401 yards away | 5 - Very good | 18 June 2025 |
| Aldi Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 422 yards away | 5 - Very good | 13 November 2025 |
Questions about Sam's Bar
What is Sam's Bar's food hygiene rating?
Sam's Bar has a food hygiene rating of 4 out of 5 (good), given by Bolton Council on 1 May 2015.
Is Sam's Bar 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 Sam's Bar last inspected?
Sam's Bar was last inspected on 1 May 2015, more than 11 years ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Bolton Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Sam's Bar?
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 "good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does Sam's Bar compare to other places in Bolton?
55% of the 2,200 rated food businesses in Bolton hold the top rating of 5, while Sam's Bar holds a 4. 476 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
Bolton Council inspects Sam's Bar 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's Bar and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Sam's Bar is one of 175 rated food businesses in Horwich. See every hygiene rating in Horwich →
Bolton inspects and rates 2,386 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Bolton →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.bolton.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 →