First Steps Playgroup food hygiene rating
Caring Premises · Belfast City
First Steps Playgroup holds a 5, the highest food hygiene rating there is. At its last inspection the care premises met every standard the inspector checked, with nothing needing attention.
The rating: 5 - Very good
The rating dates from 25 March 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: Grace Baptist Church, Kinross Avenue, BT5 7GE
How it compares in Belfast City
That puts First Steps Playgroup 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% | ← First Steps Playgroup | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 502 | 17% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 230 | 8% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 46 | 2% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 25 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 0 | 0% |
A further 252 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 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 First Steps Playgroup 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 First Steps Playgroup, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Catch 202 Ltd Takeaway/sandwich shop | 105 yards away | 5 - Very good | 11 November 2025 |
| Domino's Pizza Takeaway/sandwich shop | 186 yards away | 5 - Very good | 23 October 2024 |
| Blue Chicago Grill Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 215 yards away | 5 - Very good | 9 January 2025 |
| Binky's Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 12 November 2024 |
| Cinnamon Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 22 January 2025 |
| Cordner's Spar Comber Road Retailers - other | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 4 December 2025 |
| Cafe Nosh Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 18 April 2024 |
| Domnall Intermediate Care Centre Caring Premises | 0.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 22 January 2026 |
Questions about First Steps Playgroup
What is First Steps Playgroup's food hygiene rating?
First Steps Playgroup has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Belfast City Council on 25 March 2024.
Is First Steps Playgroup 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 care premises to be very good, the top end of the scale.
When was First Steps Playgroup last inspected?
First Steps Playgroup was last inspected on 25 March 2024, more than 2 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 First Steps Playgroup?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "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 First Steps Playgroup compare to other places in Belfast City?
73% of the 2,920 rated food businesses in Belfast City hold the top rating of 5, and First Steps Playgroup is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Belfast City Council inspects First Steps Playgroup 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 First Steps Playgroup and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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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 →