Nel's food hygiene rating
Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen · Newry, Mourne and Down
Nel's holds a 5, the highest food hygiene rating there is. At its last inspection the restaurant met every standard the inspector checked, with nothing needing attention.
The rating: 5 - Very good
This is a fresh result: Nel's was inspected on 22 May 2026, so the rating reflects what the inspector found very recently.
Address: 87 Main Street, Castlewellan, BT31 9DQ
How it compares in Newry, Mourne and Down
That puts Nel's among the 1,411 places in Newry, Mourne and Down holding top marks, 89% of everywhere the council rates. A 5 is the norm here rather than the exception, so it is the rating to expect, not to be impressed by.
| 5 out of 5 | 1,411 | 89% | ← Nel's | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 124 | 8% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 24 | 2% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 13 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 8 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 0 | 0% |
A further 143 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 Good
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 Nel's 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 Nel's, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Oak Grill Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | at this address | 4 - Good | 22 January 2025 |
| Little O's Pizzeria Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | at this address | 3 - Generally satisfactory | 4 October 2024 |
| Paula's Retailers - other | 38 yards away | 5 - Very good | 15 May 2026 |
| JR'S Retailers - other | 42 yards away | 4 - Good | 11 December 2024 |
| Taste and See Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 45 yards away | 5 - Very good | 3 March 2026 |
| On A Roll Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 58 yards away | 5 - Very good | 22 October 2024 |
| Nana's Kitchen Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 65 yards away | 5 - Very good | 8 July 2025 |
| Mourne Coffee Co. Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 73 yards away | 5 - Very good | 28 November 2025 |
Questions about Nel's
What is Nel's's food hygiene rating?
Nel's has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Newry, Mourne and Down Council on 22 May 2026.
Is Nel's safe to eat at?
The rating covers hygiene standards found at inspection, not the food itself. At 5 out of 5, the inspector found hygiene standards at this restaurant to be very good, the top end of the scale.
When was Nel's last inspected?
Nel's was last inspected on 22 May 2026, a month ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Newry, Mourne and Down Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Nel's?
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 "good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does Nel's compare to other places in Newry, Mourne and Down?
89% of the 1,580 rated food businesses in Newry, Mourne and Down hold the top rating of 5, and Nel's is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Newry, Mourne and Down Council inspects Nel's 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 Nel's and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Nel's is one of 1,034 rated food businesses in Down. See every hygiene rating in Down →
Newry, Mourne and Down inspects and rates 1,723 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Newry, Mourne and Down →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.newrymournedown.org
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 →