Morelli's Ice Cream food hygiene rating
Retailers - other · Ards and North Down
Morelli's Ice Cream holds a 1: major improvement is necessary. The inspector found significant problems at the shop and the business is legally required to address them.
The rating: 1 - Major improvement necessary
The rating dates from 18 May 2026, 3 months ago. Councils typically re-inspect higher-risk businesses every six months to two years, with well-run, low-risk places visited least often, so this is a normal gap.
Only 1% of rated food businesses in Ards and North Down score 0 to 2 like this, so a low rating here is the exception, not the norm. See all Ards and North Down ratings →
Address: 49b High Street, Donaghadee, BT21 0AQ
⚠️ The lowest-rated places near Morelli's Ice Cream
These food businesses close to this one were rated 0 to 2 at their last inspection, the lowest ratings. Tap any to see why.
How it compares in Ards and North Down
A 1 is rare: only 2 of 1,160 rated places in Ards and North Down score this low, about one in 580. By contrast 82% of the borough holds a 5, so this is well below what the council's inspectors normally find.
| 5 out of 5 | 951 | 82% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 158 | 14% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 40 | 3% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 9 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 2 | <1% | ← Morelli's Ice Cream | |
| 0 out of 5 | 0 | 0% |
A further 135 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 Improvement necessary
- How well they manage food safety Major improvement necessary
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 Morelli's Ice Cream the inspector recorded concerns over the condition of the premises and confidence in management. Because the overall rating is only ever as strong as its weakest area, that is what holds the score down.
Food hygiene ratings nearby
The closest food businesses to Morelli's Ice Cream, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Donaghadee Coffee Roasters Takeaway/sandwich shop | 30 yards away | 5 - Very good | 13 June 2024 |
| Knotts Bakery Ltd Retailers - other | 34 yards away | 5 - Very good | 18 August 2026 |
| Grace Neill's Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 73 yards away | 5 - Very good | 4 November 2024 |
| Rainey's Takeaway/sandwich shop | 73 yards away | 3 - Generally satisfactory | 20 April 2026 |
| Co-op Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 76 yards away | 5 - Very good | 17 November 2023 |
| Grattan's Family Greengrocers Retailers - other | 76 yards away | 5 - Very good | 12 August 2026 |
| Patton's Bakery Ltd Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 76 yards away | 5 - Very good | 13 January 2025 |
| Robin's Nest Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 76 yards away | 5 - Very good | 4 March 2026 |
Questions about Morelli's Ice Cream
What is Morelli's Ice Cream's food hygiene rating?
Morelli's Ice Cream has a food hygiene rating of 1 out of 5 (major improvement necessary), given by Ards and North Down Council on 18 May 2026.
Is Morelli's Ice Cream safe to eat at?
A 1 means the inspector found problems the business is required to fix. The shop is not shut down, a rating is not a closure order, but standards were found to be below what the law expects at the time of inspection.
When was Morelli's Ice Cream last inspected?
Morelli's Ice Cream was last inspected on 18 May 2026, 3 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Ards and North Down Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Morelli's Ice Cream?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "generally satisfactory", the cleanliness and condition of the building "improvement necessary", and confidence in the management of food safety "major improvement necessary". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does Morelli's Ice Cream compare to other places in Ards and North Down?
82% of the 1,160 rated food businesses in Ards and North Down hold the top rating of 5, while Morelli's Ice Cream holds a 1. 2 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
Ards and North Down Council inspects Morelli's Ice Cream 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 Morelli's Ice Cream 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 →
Is this your business?
A rating of 1 is public, and most customers look. Only 18% of people say they would order from a business rated 2 or below, against 94% from one rated 4. Delivery platforms may decline to list you.
We cannot change this rating, and nor can you. It was set by an environmental health officer at Ards and North Down, and it stands until they inspect again. What you can do:
- Fix what the inspector found, then ask the council for a re-inspection. Most charge between £120 and £316, and will not re-visit within three months of the original inspection.
- If you believe the rating is simply wrong, you have 21 days from being notified to appeal to the council. That is 21 calendar days, not working days.
- You may submit a right to reply at any time. It is published alongside the rating, here, and on the FSA's own site.
What a low rating means → · How re-inspections and appeals work →
Your council: Ards and North Down
Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Ards and North Down inspects and rates 1,295 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Ards and North Down →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.ardsandnorthdown.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 →