Spice Land food hygiene rating
Retailers - other · Belfast City
Spice Land 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 18 February 2026, 4 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: 118-120 Sandy Row, BT12 5EX
How it compares in Belfast City
A 2 is rare: only 46 of 2,920 rated places in Belfast City score this low, about one in 63. By contrast 73% of the borough holds a 5, so this is well below what the council's inspectors normally find.
| 5 out of 5 | 2,117 | 73% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 502 | 17% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 230 | 8% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 46 | 2% | ← Spice Land | |
| 1 out of 5 | 25 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 0 | 0% |
A further 253 businesses in the area are awaiting inspection or exempt, so are not counted above.
What the inspector found
- Hygienic food handling Generally satisfactory
- 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 Spice Land 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 Spice Land, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apache Pizza Takeaway/sandwich shop | 236 yards away | 5 - Very good | 9 October 2025 |
| Archana Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 255 yards away | 5 - Very good | 22 August 2024 |
| Alibi Pub/bar/nightclub | 357 yards away | 5 - Very good | 9 October 2018 |
| BABS Takeaway/sandwich shop | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 4 November 2025 |
| Acute Mental Health Unit Caring Premises | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 16 September 2024 |
| ACCA Longevity Clinic Retailers - other | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 4 October 2023 |
| Assured Sports T/A Assured Supplements Importers/Exporters | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 20 March 2026 |
| Bank Of Ireland Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 24 March 2026 |
Questions about Spice Land
What is Spice Land's food hygiene rating?
Spice Land has a food hygiene rating of 2 out of 5 (some improvement necessary), given by Belfast City Council on 18 February 2026.
Is Spice Land 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 Spice Land last inspected?
Spice Land was last inspected on 18 February 2026, 4 months 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 Spice Land?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "generally satisfactory", 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 Spice Land compare to other places in Belfast City?
73% of the 2,920 rated food businesses in Belfast City hold the top rating of 5, while Spice Land holds a 2. 46 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
Belfast City Council inspects Spice Land 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 Spice Land 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 Belfast City, 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: Belfast City
Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Belfast City inspects and rates 3,173 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 →