Howard Arms food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Sunderland
Howard Arms holds a 4, meaning hygiene standards at the pub are good. It is a solid result, the inspector found nothing serious, though a 5 was just out of reach.
The rating: 4 - Good
The rating dates from 29 March 2023, more than 3 years ago. A lot can change in a kitchen in that time, and a rating this old says more about the business then than now. Councils prioritise re-inspecting higher-risk premises, so a long gap often means the business is considered low-risk.
Address: 183, Roker Avenue, Sunderland, SR6 0BS
How it compares in Sunderland
In Sunderland, 84% of rated places manage a 5, so Howard Arms sits behind roughly 1,634 nearby businesses. 10% of the borough shares its 4.
| 5 out of 5 | 1,634 | 84% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 193 | 10% | ← Howard Arms | |
| 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 Very good
- Cleanliness & condition of the building Good
- 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 Howard Arms 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 Howard Arms, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| B&M Bargains Retailers - other | 128 yards away | 5 - Very good | 30 January 2020 |
| Bede's Bakehouse Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 359 yards away | 5 - Very good | 22 November 2023 |
| Amigo Takeaway/sandwich shop | 363 yards away | 5 - Very good | 5 September 2025 |
| Bertos Takeaway/sandwich shop | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 8 November 2025 |
| Albany House Caring Premises | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 4 September 2025 |
| Asiana Fusion Restaurant Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 14 May 2025 |
| A.J.Newsagents Retailers - other | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 30 November 2021 |
| Albert's Place Takeaway/sandwich shop | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 30 January 2023 |
Questions about Howard Arms
What is Howard Arms's food hygiene rating?
Howard Arms has a food hygiene rating of 4 out of 5 (good), given by Sunderland Council on 29 March 2023.
Is Howard Arms safe to eat at?
The rating covers hygiene standards found at inspection, not the food itself. At 4 out of 5, the inspector found hygiene standards at this pub to be good, the top end of the scale.
When was Howard Arms last inspected?
Howard Arms was last inspected on 29 March 2023, more than 3 years 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 Howard Arms?
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 "generally satisfactory". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does Howard Arms compare to other places in Sunderland?
84% of the 1,946 rated food businesses in Sunderland hold the top rating of 5, while Howard Arms holds a 4. 193 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
Sunderland Council inspects Howard Arms 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 Howard Arms and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
Free, for three businesses, forever. No password, we send you a link. How rating alerts work →
Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
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 →