Food Hygiene Ratings in Ards and North Down

1,277 food businesses inspected. Average rating: 4.8 out of 5. 82.3% rated "very good".

1,277
Businesses
4.8/5
Average Rating
1
Rated 0 or 1
82.3%
Rated 5/5

Rating distribution

Very Good82.3%952
Good13.3%154
Satisfactory3.6%42
Improvement Needed0.7%8
Major Improvement0.1%1
Urgent Improvement0.0%0

Business types

Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen28722.5%
Retailers - other25920.3%
Other catering premises17613.8%
Caring Premises13910.9%
Takeaway/sandwich shop1239.6%
Retailers - supermarkets/hyper705.5%
School/college/university695.4%
Pub/bar/nightclub554.3%

Food hygiene ratings in Ards and North Down are assessed under the Food Hygiene Rating Scheme (FHRS), operated by the Food Standards Agency in partnership with local authorities. Every food business that handles, stores, prepares, or sells food is inspected by trained environmental health officers. Ratings run from 0 (urgent improvement necessary) to 5 (very good). The inspection covers hygienic food handling, the physical condition of the premises, and how food safety is managed.

The source snapshot contains 1,277 registered food businesses for Ards and North Down. Of these, 1,157 have been rated under the FHRS. The area performs well above the national average, with 82.3% of businesses achieving the top rating of 5. The average rating across the authority is 4.8 out of 5. The snapshot contains 1 businesses rated 0 or 1, meaning they required urgent or major improvement to meet food hygiene standards.

If you are eating out in this area, look for the green FHRS sticker displayed at the entrance of food premises. Businesses rated 3 or above are generally considered satisfactory, but a rating of 5 gives the strongest assurance. If a business has a low rating, it does not necessarily mean the food is unsafe right now, as improvements may have been made since the last inspection, but it does indicate that significant issues were found.

Source snapshot retrieved: July 22, 2026. Ratings may have changed since retrieval; verify with the linked authority.

Lowest rated establishments

NameAddressRatingDate
Morelli's Ice CreamBT21 0AQ1May 18, 2026
Asha Indian TakeawayBT20 3NN2Apr 15, 2026
Golden RiverBT23 7DY2Feb 20, 2025
Green chilliBT20 3AA2Feb 24, 2026
Home Farm CafeBT23 4EU2Oct 08, 2025
RambosBT23 7PA2Feb 18, 2025
Tasty MacsBT22 2HR2Jan 14, 2026
The RubyBT23 7DX2Jun 11, 2025
The Singing Kettle BakeryBT20 3HY2Jun 24, 2025

Frequently asked questions

How many restaurants in Ards and North Down have a 5 rating?+

The source snapshot contains 952 food businesses in Ards and North Down with the highest FHRS rating of 5 (Very Good), representing 82.3% of all rated establishments. A rating of 5 means that the business was found to have very good hygiene standards at the time of inspection.

What does a food hygiene rating of 1 mean in Ards and North Down?+

A food hygiene rating of 1 means 'Major Improvement Necessary'. This indicates that the food business was found to have significant problems with hygiene standards during its most recent inspection. The business is required to make substantial improvements. While it can remain open, it should be re-inspected to confirm improvements have been made.

How often are food businesses inspected in Ards and North Down?+

Inspection frequency in Ards and North Down depends on the risk level of the business. High-risk establishments (such as those with previous low ratings) may be inspected every 6 months, while low-risk businesses with a consistent rating of 5 may only be inspected every 2-3 years. The local authority's environmental health team manages the inspection schedule.

Data from official government food safety agencies