Cafe @ the Word food hygiene rating
Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen · South Tyneside
Cafe @ the Word 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: Cafe @ the Word was inspected on 17 June 2026, so the rating reflects what the inspector found very recently.
Address: 45 Market Place, South Shields, Tyne & Wear
How it compares in South Tyneside
That puts Cafe @ the Word among the 721 places in South Tyneside holding top marks, 74% 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 | 721 | 74% | ← Cafe @ the Word | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 164 | 17% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 65 | 7% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 19 | 2% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 6 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 0 | 0% |
A further 63 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 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 Cafe @ the Word 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 Cafe @ the Word, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cafe 42 Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 110 yards away | 5 - Very good | 19 March 2026 |
| ASDA Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 186 yards away | 5 - Very good | 11 July 2025 |
| Admiral Other catering premises | 400 yards away | 5 - Very good | 29 January 2020 |
| B & M Retail Ltd Retailers - other | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 31 October 2018 |
| Burger Bar Mile End Spice Takeaway/sandwich shop | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 14 May 2025 |
| Buzz Bingo Pub/bar/nightclub | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 14 May 2026 |
| Arman Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 3 July 2026 |
| Bar Blue Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 18 December 2025 |
Questions about Cafe @ the Word
What is Cafe @ the Word's food hygiene rating?
Cafe @ the Word has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by South Tyneside Council on 17 June 2026.
Is Cafe @ the Word 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 Cafe @ the Word last inspected?
Cafe @ the Word was last inspected on 17 June 2026, within the last month. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by South Tyneside Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Cafe @ the Word?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "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 Cafe @ the Word compare to other places in South Tyneside?
74% of the 975 rated food businesses in South Tyneside hold the top rating of 5, and Cafe @ the Word is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
South Tyneside Council inspects Cafe @ the Word 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 Cafe @ the Word and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Cafe @ the Word is one of 925 rated food businesses in Tyne & Wear. See every hygiene rating in Tyne & Wear →
South Tyneside inspects and rates 1,038 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in South Tyneside →
The official record is held by the council: https://www.southtyneside.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 →