The Friend at Hand food hygiene rating
Retailers - other · Belfast City
The Friend at Hand 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 2 September 2021, more than 4 years ago. A lot can change in a kitchen in that time, and a rating this old says more about the business then than now. Councils prioritise re-inspecting higher-risk premises, so a long gap often means the business is considered low-risk.
Address: 35-43 Hill Street, BT1 2LB
How it compares in Belfast City
That puts The Friend at Hand among the 2,117 places in Belfast City holding top marks, 73% 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 | 2,117 | 73% | ← The Friend at Hand | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 502 | 17% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 230 | 8% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 46 | 2% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 24 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 0 | 0% |
A further 253 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 The Friend at Hand 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 The Friend at Hand, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| 39 Gordon Street and Lux Pub/bar/nightclub | 87 yards away | 5 - Very good | 12 December 2014 |
| Badmaash Retailers - other | 87 yards away | 5 - Very good | 21 February 2025 |
| 2 Taps Winebar Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 105 yards away | 5 - Very good | 17 April 2026 |
| Bakari Manufacturers/packers | 118 yards away | 5 - Very good | 20 May 2026 |
| Alexander Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 165 yards away | 5 - Very good | 21 November 2023 |
| Agra Indian Cuisine & BFC Fried Chicken Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 233 yards away | 5 - Very good | 26 March 2024 |
| Academy Restaurant School/college/university | 260 yards away | 5 - Very good | 26 June 2025 |
| B&M Bargains Retailers - other | 304 yards away | 5 - Very good | 28 April 2025 |
Questions about The Friend at Hand
What is The Friend at Hand's food hygiene rating?
The Friend at Hand has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Belfast City Council on 2 September 2021.
Is The Friend at Hand 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 The Friend at Hand last inspected?
The Friend at Hand was last inspected on 2 September 2021, more than 4 years ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Belfast City Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The Friend at Hand?
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 The Friend at Hand compare to other places in Belfast City?
73% of the 2,919 rated food businesses in Belfast City hold the top rating of 5, and The Friend at Hand is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Belfast City Council inspects The Friend at Hand 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 The Friend at Hand 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 →
Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Belfast City inspects and rates 3,172 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Belfast City →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.belfastcity.gov.uk/buildingcontrol-environment/foodsafety/consumers-foodhygienescheme.aspx
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 →