Cove food hygiene rating
Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen · Mid and East Antrim
Cove 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 18 October 2024, 20 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: 2 Castle Street, Town Parks, Ballymena, BT44 0AT
How it compares in Mid and East Antrim
That puts Cove among the 936 places in Mid and East Antrim holding top marks, 93% 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 | 936 | 93% | ← Cove | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 57 | 6% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 14 | 1% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 4 | <1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 0 | 0% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 0 | 0% |
A further 147 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 Cove 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 Cove, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bridge End Tavern Pub/bar/nightclub | 91 yards away | 5 - Very good | 10 October 2024 |
| Coast Road Inn Pub/bar/nightclub | 91 yards away | 5 - Very good | 24 July 2025 |
| Glenarm Pharmacy Retailers - other | 100 yards away | Exempt | |
| Forest Glen Fold Caring Premises | 129 yards away | 5 - Very good | 19 May 2025 |
| Glenarm Community Pre-School Other catering premises | 129 yards away | 5 - Very good | 20 February 2026 |
| Wilsons Stores Nearby Retailers - other | 133 yards away | 4 - Good | 23 June 2025 |
| Moonwater Crystal Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 146 yards away | 5 - Very good | 16 August 2024 |
| Moran Restaurant Limited Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 175 yards away | 5 - Very good | 10 October 2024 |
Questions about Cove
What is Cove's food hygiene rating?
Cove has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Mid and East Antrim Council on 18 October 2024.
Is Cove 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 Cove last inspected?
Cove was last inspected on 18 October 2024, 20 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Mid and East Antrim Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Cove?
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 Cove compare to other places in Mid and East Antrim?
93% of the 1,011 rated food businesses in Mid and East Antrim hold the top rating of 5, and Cove is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Mid and East Antrim Council inspects Cove 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 Cove and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Cove is one of 942 rated food businesses in Antrim. See every hygiene rating in Antrim →
Mid and East Antrim inspects and rates 1,158 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Mid and East Antrim →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.midandeastantrim.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 →