Charcoal Express food hygiene rating
Takeaway/sandwich shop · Sunderland
Charcoal Express holds a 5, the highest food hygiene rating there is. At its last inspection the takeaway met every standard the inspector checked, with nothing needing attention.
The rating: 5 - Very good
The rating dates from 22 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: 9 Sea Road, Sunderland, SR6 9BP
How it compares in Sunderland
That puts Charcoal Express among the 1,634 places in Sunderland holding top marks, 84% 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 | 1,634 | 84% | ← Charcoal Express | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 193 | 10% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 74 | 4% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 20 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 23 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 2 | <1% |
A further 365 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 Very good
- How well they manage food safety Very 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 Charcoal Express 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 Charcoal Express, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bluebell / 88th Street / Value Mighty / Sin City Burger / Mandu Guys / Hansik / Bibigo Pub/bar/nightclub | 59 yards away | 5 - Very good | 17 April 2025 |
| Boca Chica Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 97 yards away | 5 - Very good | 8 January 2026 |
| Best - One Retailers - other | 123 yards away | 5 - Very good | 14 June 2018 |
| Alishaan By The Sea Takeaway/sandwich shop | 129 yards away | 5 - Very good | 17 March 2024 |
| Busy Bees At Sunderland - Fulwell Caring Premises | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 26 June 2025 |
| Barbara Priestman 6th Form School/college/university | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 23 October 2025 |
| A.J.Newsagents Retailers - other | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 30 November 2021 |
| Bellini Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 28 October 2025 |
Questions about Charcoal Express
What is Charcoal Express's food hygiene rating?
Charcoal Express has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Sunderland Council on 22 March 2026.
Is Charcoal Express 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 takeaway to be very good, the top end of the scale.
When was Charcoal Express last inspected?
Charcoal Express was last inspected on 22 March 2026, 3 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Sunderland Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Charcoal Express?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "very good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "very good", and confidence in the management of food safety "very good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does Charcoal Express compare to other places in Sunderland?
84% of the 1,946 rated food businesses in Sunderland hold the top rating of 5, and Charcoal Express is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Sunderland Council inspects Charcoal Express 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 Charcoal Express and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Sunderland inspects and rates 2,311 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Sunderland →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.sunderland.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 →