Empire
Major improvement necessary. Last inspection 4 February 2026.
Quick facts
- Empire scored 1/5 under the UK Food Hygiene Rating Scheme , last inspected 4 February 2026.
- Verdict: Major improvement necessary.
- Classified as retailers - other in Sunderland.
- Inspected by Sunderland Environmental Health.
Local authority: Sunderland · council website ↗
Major improvement necessary.
Serious shortcomings at the time of inspection. The FSA recommends a swift follow-up. Consumers are typically advised to check whether improvements have been confirmed.
Classified as a food retailer. This inspection is fresh, so the picture here should still reflect current practice. Display is voluntary in England, which is why low scorers often skip the window sticker.
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What people ask about Empire.
What is Empire's FSA hygiene rating?
Empire scored 1 out of 5 under the UK Food Hygiene Rating Scheme at its last inspection on 4 February 2026. This rating reflects the hygiene standards observed on that day and comes directly from the FSA open dataset.
When was Empire last inspected?
The last Food Standards Agency inspection published for Empire was on 4 February 2026, 3 months ago. The FSA recommends re-inspection every 6 to 24 months depending on risk profile.
Is Empire required to display its hygiene rating?
No, displaying the rating sticker is voluntary in England. Many low-rated venues choose not to.
Is it safe to eat at Empire?
Empire's last FSA inspection identified hygiene standards requiring improvement. A low score reflects issues observed on that inspection day, not necessarily current conditions. Many venues improve rapidly between inspections. For up-to-date status, verify with the Food Standards Agency directly and consider checking the venue's local authority.
How does Empire compare to other venues in Sunderland?
Empire's rating can be compared against other restaurants, pubs, takeaways and cafes in Sunderland on the dedicated Sunderland aggregate page, which shows the citywide average, the best-rated venues and the ones rated 0 or 1.
Verify this independently.
RatingCafe mirrors public FSA open data. The score on this page is the same one the inspector filed, but you can verify it at the source right now.
Edited by James Thornton, Food Safety & Regulation editor.
Page last refreshed 14 April 2026. FSA inspection of record dated 4 February 2026. Reviewed against FSA primary sources.
Data sourced directly from the Food Standards Agency under the Open Government Licence v3.0. RatingCafe does not modify scores, only surfaces them. Full methodology.