Middle East Store food hygiene rating
Retailers - other · Cardiff
Middle East Store holds a 1: major improvement is necessary. The inspector found significant problems at the shop and the business is legally required to address them.
The rating: 1 - Major improvement necessary
This is a fresh result: Middle East Store was inspected on 15 July 2026, so the rating reflects what the inspector found very recently.
Only 4% of rated food businesses in Cardiff score 0 to 2 like this, so a low rating here is the exception, not the norm. See all Cardiff ratings →
Address: 19 Albany Road, Roath, Cardiff, CF24 3LH
How this rating has changed
Middle East Store was re-inspected on 15 July 2026 and held its rating of 1.
| Inspected | Rating | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 15 July 2026 | 1 1 | Held |
The FSA publishes only a business's current rating. This history is our own record of what it has scored since we began watching.
How it compares in Cardiff
A 1 is rare: only 53 of 3,033 rated places in Cardiff score this low, about one in 57. By contrast 70% of the borough holds a 5, so this is well below what the council's inspectors normally find.
| 5 out of 5 | 2,112 | 70% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 560 | 18% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 242 | 8% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 56 | 2% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 53 | 2% | ← Middle East Store | |
| 0 out of 5 | 10 | <1% |
A further 443 businesses in the area are awaiting inspection or exempt, so are not counted above.
What the inspector found
- Hygienic food handling Improvement necessary
- Cleanliness & condition of the building Generally satisfactory
- How well they manage food safety Major improvement necessary
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 Middle East Store the inspector recorded concerns over how food is handled and confidence in management. 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 Middle East Store, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albany Fish Bar Takeaway/sandwich shop | 54 yards away | 5 - Very good | 24 March 2026 |
| A to Z Stores Retailers - other | 93 yards away | 5 - Very good | 12 June 2024 |
| Albany Primary School School/college/university | 146 yards away | 5 - Very good | 25 June 2025 |
| Albany Primary School Breakfast Club Caring Premises | 146 yards away | 5 - Very good | 5 July 2016 |
| Al Sham Sweets Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 248 yards away | 5 - Very good | 22 July 2024 |
| Amo's Cafe Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 412 yards away | 5 - Very good | 22 October 2024 |
| Bentley's Cafe Ltd Other catering premises | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 1 May 2026 |
| 99 Viet Mart Retailers - other | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 23 November 2023 |
Questions about Middle East Store
What is Middle East Store's food hygiene rating?
Middle East Store has a food hygiene rating of 1 out of 5 (major improvement necessary), given by Cardiff Council on 15 July 2026.
Is Middle East Store safe to eat at?
A 1 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 Middle East Store last inspected?
Middle East Store was last inspected on 15 July 2026, a month ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Cardiff Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Middle East Store?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "improvement necessary", the cleanliness and condition of the building "generally satisfactory", and confidence in the management of food safety "major improvement necessary". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does Middle East Store compare to other places in Cardiff?
70% of the 3,033 rated food businesses in Cardiff hold the top rating of 5, while Middle East Store holds a 1. 53 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
Cardiff Council inspects Middle East Store 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 Middle East Store 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 1 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 Cardiff, 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: Cardiff
Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Middle East Store is one of 251 rated food businesses in Roath. See every hygiene rating in Roath →
Cardiff inspects and rates 3,476 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Cardiff →
The official record is held by the council: https://www.srs.wales/en/Environmental-Health/Food-Hygiene-Standards/Food.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 →