The Mill Inn food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Sunderland
The Mill Inn holds a 3: generally satisfactory. The pub met the legal standard, but the inspector recorded enough minor issues that it fell short of a good or very good rating.
The rating: 3 - Generally satisfactory
The rating dates from 13 January 2025, 18 months ago. That is getting on for the longest gap councils usually leave, so the score may not reflect how the business is run today.
Address: Mill Inn, Durham Road, Houghton-le-Spring, DH5 8NG
How it compares in Sunderland
In Sunderland, 84% of rated places manage a 5, so The Mill Inn sits behind roughly 1,827 nearby businesses. 4% of the borough shares its 3.
| 5 out of 5 | 1,634 | 84% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 193 | 10% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 74 | 4% | ← The Mill Inn | |
| 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 Generally satisfactory
- Cleanliness & condition of the building Generally satisfactory
- How well they manage food safety Generally satisfactory
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 Mill 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 Mill Inn, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central Park 3 Mobile caterer | 120 yards away | 5 - Very good | 17 June 2024 |
| Bethany Christian Centre Other catering premises | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 27 November 2024 |
| Burn Inn Pub/bar/nightclub | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 8 September 2025 |
| Hetton Road Stores (Premier) Retailers - other | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 14 November 2022 |
| Bevan House Caring Premises | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 15 November 2022 |
| Houghton Rugby Club Pub/bar/nightclub | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 19 March 2025 |
| Impact Food Group (JIT & Foam Plant Kitchens) Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 20 October 2025 |
| Houghton Kepier Sports College School/college/university | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 15 September 2025 |
Questions about The Mill Inn
What is The Mill Inn's food hygiene rating?
The Mill Inn has a food hygiene rating of 3 out of 5 (generally satisfactory), given by Sunderland Council on 13 January 2025.
Is The Mill Inn safe to eat at?
A 3 means the pub met the legal standard, so it is lawful to eat there, but the inspector recorded issues that stopped it scoring higher. It is the middle of the scale.
When was The Mill Inn last inspected?
The Mill Inn was last inspected on 13 January 2025, 18 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 Mill Inn?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "generally satisfactory", the cleanliness and condition of the building "generally satisfactory", and confidence in the management of food safety "generally satisfactory". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does The Mill Inn compare to other places in Sunderland?
84% of the 1,946 rated food businesses in Sunderland hold the top rating of 5, while The Mill Inn holds a 3. 74 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
Sunderland Council inspects The Mill 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 Mill 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
The Mill Inn 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 →