The Cheese & Pickle food hygiene rating
Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen · Sunderland
The Cheese & Pickle 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: The Cheese & Pickle was inspected on 28 May 2026, so the rating reflects what the inspector found very recently.
Address: Evolve Business Centre, Cygnet Way, Rainton Bridge South, DH4 5QY
How it compares in Sunderland
That puts The Cheese & Pickle 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% | ← The Cheese & Pickle | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 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 The Cheese & Pickle 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 The Cheese & Pickle, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Impact Food Group (JIT & Foam Plant Kitchens) Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 20 October 2025 |
| Central Park 3 Mobile caterer | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 17 June 2024 |
| Highfield Hotel Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 8 January 2026 |
| East Rainton Primary School School/college/university | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 9 February 2026 |
| Bethany Christian Centre Other catering premises | 0.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 27 November 2024 |
| Burn Inn Pub/bar/nightclub | 0.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 8 September 2025 |
| Houghton Kepier Sports College School/college/university | 0.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 15 September 2025 |
| Hetton Road Stores (Premier) Retailers - other | 0.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 14 November 2022 |
Questions about The Cheese & Pickle
What is The Cheese & Pickle's food hygiene rating?
The Cheese & Pickle has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Sunderland Council on 28 May 2026.
Is The Cheese & Pickle 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 The Cheese & Pickle last inspected?
The Cheese & Pickle was last inspected on 28 May 2026, a month 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 The Cheese & Pickle?
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 The Cheese & Pickle compare to other places in Sunderland?
84% of the 1,946 rated food businesses in Sunderland hold the top rating of 5, and The Cheese & Pickle is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Sunderland Council inspects The Cheese & Pickle 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 The Cheese & Pickle 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 →
Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
The Cheese & Pickle is one of 276 rated food businesses in Houghton-le-Spring. See every hygiene rating in Houghton-le-Spring →
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 →