The Samson Inn food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Northumberland
The Samson Inn 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 8 January 2026, 6 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: Gilsland, Northumberland, CA8 7DR
How it compares in Northumberland
That puts The Samson Inn among the 2,775 places in Northumberland holding top marks, 90% 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 | 2,775 | 90% | ← The Samson Inn | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 214 | 7% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 67 | 2% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 7 | <1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 8 | <1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 2 | <1% |
A further 393 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 Samson Inn 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 Samson Inn, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Hollies on the Wall Bed & Breakfast Hotel/bed & breakfast/guest house | 214 yards away | 5 - Very good | 15 May 2026 |
| House Of Meg Tea Rooms Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 406 yards away | 5 - Very good | 31 October 2024 |
| Gilsland C of E Primary School School/college/university | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 16 January 2026 |
Questions about The Samson Inn
What is The Samson Inn's food hygiene rating?
The Samson Inn has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Northumberland Council on 8 January 2026.
Is The Samson Inn 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 Samson Inn last inspected?
The Samson Inn was last inspected on 8 January 2026, 6 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Northumberland Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The Samson Inn?
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 Samson Inn compare to other places in Northumberland?
90% of the 3,073 rated food businesses in Northumberland hold the top rating of 5, and The Samson Inn is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Northumberland Council inspects The Samson Inn 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 Samson Inn and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Northumberland inspects and rates 3,466 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Northumberland →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.northumberland.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 →