St Matthews Church Hall food hygiene rating
Other catering premises · Sunderland
St Matthews Church Hall holds a 4, meaning hygiene standards at the business 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 9 August 2017, more than 8 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: Saint Matthews Church Hall, Front Street, Houghton-le-Spring
How it compares in Sunderland
In Sunderland, 84% of rated places manage a 5, so St Matthews Church Hall 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% | ← St Matthews Church Hall | |
| 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 Generally satisfactory
- Cleanliness & condition of the building Very 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 St Matthews Church Hall 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 St Matthews Church Hall, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Happy Wok Takeaway/sandwich shop | 168 yards away | 5 - Very good | 19 August 2025 |
| Front Street Superstore Retailers - other | 263 yards away | 5 - Very good | 12 December 2025 |
| Bargain Booze - Select Convenience Retailers - other | 332 yards away | 5 - Very good | 9 November 2022 |
| Dubmire Daycare Centre Caring Premises | 422 yards away | 5 - Very good | 11 September 2025 |
| Impact Food Group (JIT & Foam Plant Kitchens) Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 20 October 2025 |
| Golden Fry Inn Fencehouses Ltd Takeaway/sandwich shop | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 20 October 2025 |
| Balaggans Retailers - other | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 13 January 2020 |
| Dairy Lane Care Centre Caring Premises | 0.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 3 June 2025 |
Questions about St Matthews Church Hall
What is St Matthews Church Hall's food hygiene rating?
St Matthews Church Hall has a food hygiene rating of 4 out of 5 (good), given by Sunderland Council on 9 August 2017.
Is St Matthews Church Hall 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 business to be good, the top end of the scale.
When was St Matthews Church Hall last inspected?
St Matthews Church Hall was last inspected on 9 August 2017, more than 8 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 St Matthews Church Hall?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "generally satisfactory", the cleanliness and condition of the building "very 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 St Matthews Church Hall compare to other places in Sunderland?
84% of the 1,946 rated food businesses in Sunderland hold the top rating of 5, while St Matthews Church Hall holds a 4. 193 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
Sunderland Council inspects St Matthews Church Hall 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 St Matthews Church Hall and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
St Matthews Church Hall 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 →