Sam Zair's Cafe food hygiene rating
Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen · Durham
Sam Zair's Cafe 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
The rating dates from 30 January 2025, 17 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: Sam Zair Cafe 10 Fore Bondgate, Bishop Auckland, DL14 7PF
How it compares in Durham
That puts Sam Zair's Cafe among the 3,086 places in Durham holding top marks, 75% 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 | 3,086 | 75% | ← Sam Zair's Cafe | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 684 | 17% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 286 | 7% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 50 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 25 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 2 | <1% |
A further 512 businesses in the area are awaiting inspection or exempt, so are not counted above.
What the inspector found
- Hygienic food handling Very 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 Sam Zair's Cafe 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 Sam Zair's Cafe, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hardys Pub/bar/nightclub | 24 yards away | 5 - Very good | 5 August 2025 |
| Gregg Bros Takeaway/sandwich shop | 26 yards away | 5 - Very good | 26 September 2024 |
| Lacey's Pub/bar/nightclub | 36 yards away | 5 - Very good | 11 October 2022 |
| PeaceGold Ethical Jewellery House Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 37 yards away | 5 - Very good | 2 April 2025 |
| Bella Pizza Takeaway/sandwich shop | 48 yards away | 5 - Very good | 28 August 2024 |
| Grand Bengal Takeaway/sandwich shop | 48 yards away | 5 - Very good | 29 August 2024 |
| Bay Horse Pub/bar/nightclub | 57 yards away | 5 - Very good | 2 August 2023 |
| Eiledon Books Retailers - other | 88 yards away | 5 - Very good | 21 January 2026 |
Questions about Sam Zair's Cafe
What is Sam Zair's Cafe's food hygiene rating?
Sam Zair's Cafe has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Durham Council on 30 January 2025.
Is Sam Zair's Cafe 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 Sam Zair's Cafe last inspected?
Sam Zair's Cafe was last inspected on 30 January 2025, 17 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Durham Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Sam Zair's Cafe?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "very 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 Sam Zair's Cafe compare to other places in Durham?
75% of the 4,133 rated food businesses in Durham hold the top rating of 5, and Sam Zair's Cafe is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Durham Council inspects Sam Zair's Cafe 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 Zair's Cafe and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Sam Zair's Cafe is one of 179 rated food businesses in Bishop Auckland. See every hygiene rating in Bishop Auckland →
Durham inspects and rates 4,645 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Durham →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.durham.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 →