Sam 99p / Sam Pound Stores food hygiene rating
Retailers - other · Havering
Sam 99p / Sam Pound Stores holds a 1: major improvement is necessary. The inspector found significant problems at the shop and the business is legally required to address them.
The rating: 1 - Major improvement necessary
This is a fresh result: Sam 99p / Sam Pound Stores was inspected on 18 May 2026, so the rating reflects what the inspector found very recently.
Address: 20 Market Place, Romford, RM1 3ER
How it compares in Havering
A 1 is rare: only 34 of 1,646 rated places in Havering score this low, about one in 48. By contrast 72% of the borough holds a 5, so this is well below what the council's inspectors normally find.
| 5 out of 5 | 1,179 | 72% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 326 | 20% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 85 | 5% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 19 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 34 | 2% | ← Sam 99p / Sam Pound Stores | |
| 0 out of 5 | 3 | <1% |
A further 394 businesses in the area are awaiting inspection or exempt, so are not counted above.
What the inspector found
- Hygienic food handling Generally satisfactory
- Cleanliness & condition of the building Improvement necessary
- How well they manage food safety Major improvement necessary
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 / Sam Pound Stores the inspector recorded concerns over the condition of the premises and confidence in management. Because the overall rating is only ever as strong as its weakest area, that is what holds the score down.
Food hygiene ratings nearby
The closest food businesses to Sam 99p / Sam Pound Stores, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Admiral Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 176 yards away | 5 - Very good | 24 April 2026 |
| Boots Retailers - other | 189 yards away | 5 - Very good | 22 February 2024 |
| B&M Retail Ltd Retailers - other | 227 yards away | 5 - Very good | 20 April 2026 |
| Bow Bell’s Cafe Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 227 yards away | 5 - Very good | 5 June 2025 |
| Aroma / Spice Garden Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 249 yards away | 5 - Very good | 9 August 2024 |
| Boots Retailers - other | 299 yards away | 5 - Very good | 29 May 2026 |
| Asda Express Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 322 yards away | 5 - Very good | 1 February 2024 |
| Bakers & Baristas Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 329 yards away | 5 - Very good | 28 April 2026 |
Questions about Sam 99p / Sam Pound Stores
What is Sam 99p / Sam Pound Stores's food hygiene rating?
Sam 99p / Sam Pound Stores has a food hygiene rating of 1 out of 5 (major improvement necessary), given by Havering Council on 18 May 2026.
Is Sam 99p / Sam Pound Stores safe to eat at?
A 1 means the inspector found problems the business is required to fix. The shop is not shut down, a rating is not a closure order, but standards were found to be below what the law expects at the time of inspection.
When was Sam 99p / Sam Pound Stores last inspected?
Sam 99p / Sam Pound Stores was last inspected on 18 May 2026, a month ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Havering Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Sam 99p / Sam Pound Stores?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "generally satisfactory", the cleanliness and condition of the building "improvement necessary", and confidence in the management of food safety "major improvement necessary". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does Sam 99p / Sam Pound Stores compare to other places in Havering?
72% of the 1,646 rated food businesses in Havering hold the top rating of 5, while Sam 99p / Sam Pound Stores holds a 1. 34 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
Havering Council inspects Sam 99p / Sam Pound Stores 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 / Sam Pound Stores and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
Free, for three businesses, forever. No password, we send you a link. How rating alerts work →
Is this your business?
A rating of 1 is public, and most customers look. Only 18% of people say they would order from a business rated 2 or below, against 94% from one rated 4. Delivery platforms may decline to list you.
We cannot change this rating, and nor can you. It was set by an environmental health officer at Havering, and it stands until they inspect again. What you can do:
- Fix what the inspector found, then ask the council for a re-inspection. Most charge between £120 and £316, and will not re-visit within three months of the original inspection.
- If you believe the rating is simply wrong, you have 21 days from being notified to appeal to the council. That is 21 calendar days, not working days.
- You may submit a right to reply at any time. It is published alongside the rating, here, and on the FSA's own site.
What a low rating means → · How re-inspections and appeals work →
Your council: Havering
Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Sam 99p / Sam Pound Stores is one of 777 rated food businesses in Romford. See every hygiene rating in Romford →
Havering inspects and rates 2,040 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Havering →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.havering.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 →