Sam Turners \& Sons food hygiene rating
Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen · Darlington
Sam Turners \& Sons 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 23 May 2025, 13 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: Station Road, Piercebridge, Darlington, DL2 3TS
How it compares in Darlington
That puts Sam Turners \& Sons among the 755 places in Darlington 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 | 755 | 90% | ← Sam Turners \& Sons | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 48 | 6% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 19 | 2% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 7 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 6 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 1 | <1% |
A further 79 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 Very 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 Turners \& Sons 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 Turners \& Sons, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Fox Hole Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 370 yards away | 4 - Good | 19 November 2025 |
| Piercebridge Farm Organics Retailers - other | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 25 March 2026 |
| George Of Piercebridge Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.4 miles away | 4 - Good | 11 March 2025 |
Questions about Sam Turners \& Sons
What is Sam Turners \& Sons's food hygiene rating?
Sam Turners \& Sons has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Darlington Council on 23 May 2025.
Is Sam Turners \& Sons 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 Turners \& Sons last inspected?
Sam Turners \& Sons was last inspected on 23 May 2025, 13 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Darlington Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Sam Turners \& Sons?
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 "very good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does Sam Turners \& Sons compare to other places in Darlington?
90% of the 836 rated food businesses in Darlington hold the top rating of 5, and Sam Turners \& Sons is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Darlington Council inspects Sam Turners \& Sons 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 Turners \& Sons and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Darlington inspects and rates 915 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Darlington →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.darlington.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 →