The Cross Keys food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Sunderland
The Cross Keys holds a 5, the highest food hygiene rating there is. At its last inspection the pub met every standard the inspector checked, with nothing needing attention.
The rating: 5 - Very good
The rating dates from 29 April 2025, 14 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: The Licensee, Cross Keys, Spout Lane, NE38 7AB
How it compares in Sunderland
That puts The Cross Keys 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 Cross Keys | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 Cross Keys 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 Cross Keys, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clarabell's Deli & Pizzeria Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 173 yards away | 5 - Very good | 21 November 2024 |
| Barmston Junior School School/college/university | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 27 March 2026 |
| Barmston Village Primary School Breakfast Club School/college/university | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 1 October 2018 |
| Cafe Life Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 6 May 2026 |
| Community Catering CIC (@ Willow Brook) Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 2 May 2024 |
| B & M Retail Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 9 December 2020 |
| Costa Coffee Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 2 July 2024 |
| CafeK9 Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 14 April 2026 |
Questions about The Cross Keys
What is The Cross Keys's food hygiene rating?
The Cross Keys has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Sunderland Council on 29 April 2025.
Is The Cross Keys 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 pub to be very good, the top end of the scale.
When was The Cross Keys last inspected?
The Cross Keys was last inspected on 29 April 2025, 14 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 The Cross Keys?
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 Cross Keys compare to other places in Sunderland?
84% of the 1,946 rated food businesses in Sunderland hold the top rating of 5, and The Cross Keys is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Sunderland Council inspects The Cross Keys 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 Cross Keys and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
The Cross Keys is one of 287 rated food businesses in Washington. See every hygiene rating in Washington →
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 →