Brae food hygiene rating
Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen · Ards and North Down
Brae 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 25 September 2024, 21 months ago. That is getting on for the longest gap councils usually leave, so the score may not reflect how the business is run today.
Address: 3 Comber Road, Ballygowan, Ballygowan, BT23 5TN
How it compares in Ards and North Down
That puts Brae among the 949 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 | 949 | 82% | ← Brae | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 154 | 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 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 Brae 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 Brae, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Davidson's Pub/bar/nightclub | 77 yards away | 5 - Very good | 30 April 2024 |
| Piggy's Vapes and Treats Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 93 yards away | 5 - Very good | 5 June 2025 |
| Wineflair Retailers - other | 93 yards away | 5 - Very good | 14 November 2024 |
| Lily's Takeaway/sandwich shop | 101 yards away | 5 - Very good | 15 May 2026 |
| Scoops and Shakes Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 118 yards away | 3 - Generally satisfactory | 19 November 2025 |
| The Roundabout Bar Pub/bar/nightclub | 122 yards away | 5 - Very good | 25 February 2026 |
| Alexander Dickson Primary School School/college/university | 165 yards away | 5 - Very good | 12 January 2026 |
| Ballygowan Community Playgroup Caring Premises | 165 yards away | 5 - Very good | 11 December 2025 |
Questions about Brae
What is Brae's food hygiene rating?
Brae has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Ards and North Down Council on 25 September 2024.
Is Brae 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 Brae last inspected?
Brae was last inspected on 25 September 2024, 21 months 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 Brae?
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 Brae 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 Brae is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Ards and North Down Council inspects Brae 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 Brae 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
Brae is one of 884 rated food businesses in Down. See every hygiene rating in Down →
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 →