McDonnell Stores food hygiene rating
Retailers - other · Caerphilly
McDonnell Stores holds a 2, which means some improvement is necessary. The inspector found problems at the shop that the business is required to fix.
The rating: 2 - Some improvement necessary
The rating dates from 23 May 2025, 13 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.
Address: 1-2 Mcdonnell Road, Bargoed, CF81 8UD
How it compares in Caerphilly
A 2 is rare: only 37 of 1,392 rated places in Caerphilly score this low, about one in 38. By contrast 63% of the borough holds a 5, so this is well below what the council's inspectors normally find.
| 5 out of 5 | 877 | 63% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 300 | 22% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 146 | 10% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 37 | 3% | ← McDonnell Stores | |
| 1 out of 5 | 30 | 2% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 2 | <1% |
A further 152 businesses in the area are awaiting inspection or exempt, so are not counted above.
What the inspector found
- Hygienic food handling Good
- Cleanliness & condition of the building Improvement necessary
- How well they manage food safety Generally satisfactory
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 McDonnell Stores the inspector recorded concerns over the condition of the premises. Because the overall rating is only ever as strong as its weakest area, that is what holds the score down.
Food hygiene ratings nearby
The closest food businesses to McDonnell Stores, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fish Kitchen 1931 Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 310 yards away | 5 - Very good | 10 February 2026 |
| @Cornerstone Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 372 yards away | 5 - Very good | 9 April 2026 |
| Bargoed Labour Club & Institute Ltd Pub/bar/nightclub | 382 yards away | 5 - Very good | 20 July 2024 |
| Honey Dots Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 384 yards away | 5 - Very good | 14 July 2025 |
| Fancy Treats? Retailers - other | 402 yards away | 5 - Very good | 10 May 2024 |
| Greggs Retailers - other | 428 yards away | 5 - Very good | 23 May 2025 |
| Cantonese Takeaway Takeaway/sandwich shop | 436 yards away | 5 - Very good | 5 May 2026 |
| Bargoed Post Office Retailers - other | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 26 March 2025 |
Questions about McDonnell Stores
What is McDonnell Stores's food hygiene rating?
McDonnell Stores has a food hygiene rating of 2 out of 5 (some improvement necessary), given by Caerphilly Council on 23 May 2025.
Is McDonnell Stores safe to eat at?
A 2 means the inspector found problems the business is required to fix. The shop is not shut down, a rating is not a closure order, but standards were found to be below what the law expects at the time of inspection.
When was McDonnell Stores last inspected?
McDonnell Stores was last inspected on 23 May 2025, 13 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Caerphilly Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at McDonnell Stores?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "improvement necessary", and confidence in the management of food safety "generally satisfactory". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does McDonnell Stores compare to other places in Caerphilly?
63% of the 1,392 rated food businesses in Caerphilly hold the top rating of 5, while McDonnell Stores holds a 2. 37 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
Caerphilly Council inspects McDonnell Stores 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 McDonnell Stores 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 →
Is this your business?
A rating of 2 is public, and most customers look. Only 18% of people say they would order from a business rated 2 or below, against 94% from one rated 4. Delivery platforms may decline to list you.
We cannot change this rating, and nor can you. It was set by an environmental health officer at Caerphilly, and it stands until they inspect again. What you can do:
- Fix what the inspector found, then ask the council for a re-inspection. Most charge between £120 and £316, and will not re-visit within three months of the original inspection.
- If you believe the rating is simply wrong, you have 21 days from being notified to appeal to the council. That is 21 calendar days, not working days.
- You may submit a right to reply at any time. It is published alongside the rating, here, and on the FSA's own site.
What a low rating means → · How re-inspections and appeals work →
Your council: Caerphilly
Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
McDonnell Stores is one of 134 rated food businesses in Bargoed. See every hygiene rating in Bargoed →
Caerphilly inspects and rates 1,544 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Caerphilly →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.caerphilly.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 →