McKay's food hygiene rating
Takeaway/sandwich shop · Cumberland
McKay's holds a 5, the highest food hygiene rating there is. At its last inspection the takeaway met every standard the inspector checked, with nothing needing attention.
The rating: 5 - Very good
This is a fresh result: McKay's was inspected on 13 May 2026, so the rating reflects what the inspector found very recently.
Address: 49 Carlisle Market, Scotch Street, Carlisle, CA3 8QX
How it compares in Cumberland
That puts McKay's among the 2,087 places in Cumberland holding top marks, 84% 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 | 2,087 | 84% | ← McKay's | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 285 | 11% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 88 | 4% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 17 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 13 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 0 | 0% |
A further 258 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 Very good
- How well they manage food safety Very 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 McKay'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 McKay's, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asian Express Takeaway/sandwich shop | 14 yards away | 5 - Very good | 11 July 2025 |
| Carlisle Foodbank Retailers - other | 123 yards away | 5 - Very good | 21 October 2025 |
| Beirut Bites Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 126 yards away | 5 - Very good | 17 March 2026 |
| Bob and Berts Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 130 yards away | 5 - Very good | 11 January 2025 |
| Carlisle Cathedral Cafe Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 167 yards away | 5 - Very good | 9 November 2024 |
| Carlisle World Shop Retailers - other | 185 yards away | 5 - Very good | 14 May 2026 |
| Bordo Lounge Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 208 yards away | 5 - Very good | 4 November 2025 |
| Adeline's Tearoom Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 221 yards away | 5 - Very good | 18 July 2025 |
Questions about McKay's
What is McKay's's food hygiene rating?
McKay's has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Cumberland Council on 13 May 2026.
Is McKay'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 takeaway to be very good, the top end of the scale.
When was McKay's last inspected?
McKay's was last inspected on 13 May 2026, a month ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Cumberland Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at McKay's?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "very good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "very good", and confidence in the management of food safety "very good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does McKay's compare to other places in Cumberland?
84% of the 2,490 rated food businesses in Cumberland hold the top rating of 5, and McKay's is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Cumberland Council inspects McKay'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 McKay'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
McKay's is one of 562 rated food businesses in Carlisle. See every hygiene rating in Carlisle →
Cumberland inspects and rates 2,748 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Cumberland →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.cumberland.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 →