Balkan Shop food hygiene rating
Retailers - other · Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon
Balkan Shop holds a 5, the highest food hygiene rating there is. At its last inspection the shop met every standard the inspector checked, with nothing needing attention.
The rating: 5 - Very good
The rating dates from 20 June 2026, 2 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.
96% of rated food businesses in Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon score 4 or 5, so this is a normal, good result for the area. See all Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon ratings →
Address: 41 Upper English Street, Corporation, Armagh, BT61 7BA
How this rating has changed
Balkan Shop has improved: it was rated 4 before its inspection on 20 June 2026, and now holds a 5. That is the highest rating the scheme awards.
| Inspected | Rating | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 20 June 2026 | 4 5 | Improved |
The FSA publishes only a business's current rating. This history is our own record of what it has scored since we began watching.
How it compares in Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon
That puts Balkan Shop among the 1,465 places in Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon 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 | 1,465 | 84% | ← Balkan Shop | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 206 | 12% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 65 | 4% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 11 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 4 | <1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 0 | 0% |
A further 148 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 Balkan Shop 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 Balkan Shop, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Armagh Club Pub/bar/nightclub | at this address | 5 - Very good | 16 January 2025 |
| Basil Lane Takeaway/sandwich shop | 29 yards away | 5 - Very good | 27 August 2025 |
| Noli Italian Deli Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 71 yards away | 5 - Very good | 5 September 2025 |
| Around A Pound Retailers - other | 71 yards away | 5 - Very good | 14 January 2025 |
| Measured Bowls & Brews Armagh Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 71 yards away | 5 - Very good | 29 October 2025 |
| Omniplex Cinema Armagh Retailers - other | 92 yards away | 5 - Very good | 1 June 2023 |
| B and M Bargains Retail Ltd Retailers - other | 103 yards away | 5 - Very good | 17 October 2023 |
| Gathering Rooms @ The Bank Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 109 yards away | 5 - Very good | 14 October 2025 |
Questions about Balkan Shop
What is Balkan Shop's food hygiene rating?
Balkan Shop has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Council on 20 June 2026.
Is Balkan Shop 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 shop to be very good, the top end of the scale.
When was Balkan Shop last inspected?
Balkan Shop was last inspected on 20 June 2026, 2 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Balkan Shop?
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 Balkan Shop compare to other places in Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon?
84% of the 1,751 rated food businesses in Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon hold the top rating of 5, and Balkan Shop is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Council inspects Balkan Shop 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 Balkan Shop and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Balkan Shop is one of 872 rated food businesses in Armagh. See every hygiene rating in Armagh →
Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon inspects and rates 1,899 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.armaghbanbridgecraigavon.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 →