Giant Panda food hygiene rating
Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen · Ards and North Down
Giant Panda 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
The rating dates from 26 January 2024, more than 2 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: 4 William Street, Newtownards, BT23 4AE
How it compares in Ards and North Down
That puts Giant Panda among the 948 places in Ards and North Down holding top marks, 82% 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 | 948 | 82% | ← Giant Panda | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 155 | 13% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 43 | 4% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 8 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 1 | <1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 0 | 0% |
A further 118 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 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 Giant Panda 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 Giant Panda, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| J D Wetherspoon Plc Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 222 yards away | 5 - Very good | 28 May 2025 |
| Frankie’s Retailers - other | 297 yards away | 5 - Very good | 30 September 2025 |
| Ards Hospital Caring Premises | 319 yards away | 5 - Very good | 19 January 2026 |
| Ashgrove Intensive Support Caring Premises | 343 yards away | 5 - Very good | 23 January 2024 |
| Ellison's Health & Wellbeing Retailers - other | 356 yards away | 5 - Very good | 23 August 2024 |
| Ards Football Club Social Club Pub/bar/nightclub | 356 yards away | 5 - Very good | 20 September 2023 |
| Cafolla's Cafe (Regent Street) Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 356 yards away | 5 - Very good | 27 June 2025 |
| Orr's Home Bakery Retailers - other | 366 yards away | 5 - Very good | 4 April 2024 |
Questions about Giant Panda
What is Giant Panda's food hygiene rating?
Giant Panda has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Ards and North Down Council on 26 January 2024.
Is Giant Panda 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 Giant Panda last inspected?
Giant Panda was last inspected on 26 January 2024, more than 2 years 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 Giant Panda?
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 "very good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does Giant Panda compare to other places in Ards and North Down?
82% of the 1,155 rated food businesses in Ards and North Down hold the top rating of 5, and Giant Panda is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Ards and North Down Council inspects Giant Panda 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 Giant Panda and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Giant Panda is one of 58 rated food businesses in Newtownards. See every hygiene rating in Newtownards →
Ards and North Down inspects and rates 1,273 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 →