Flax & Soda food hygiene rating
Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen · Antrim and Newtownabbey
Flax & Soda 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 5 May 2026, 2 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: Belfast International Airport, Crumlin, BT29 4AB
How it compares in Antrim and Newtownabbey
That puts Flax & Soda among the 849 places in Antrim and Newtownabbey holding top marks, 87% 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 | 849 | 87% | ← Flax & Soda | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 97 | 10% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 32 | 3% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 2 | <1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 1 | <1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 0 | 0% |
A further 116 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 Very 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 Flax & Soda 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 Flax & Soda, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| W H Smith (Check- In) Retailers - other | at this address | 5 - Very good | 23 January 2025 |
| W H Smith - Arrivals Retailers - other | at this address | 5 - Very good | 11 November 2024 |
| Cafe Bar - Gate 22 Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | at this address | 5 - Very good | 19 May 2025 |
| Lagan Bar and Restaurant Pub/bar/nightclub | at this address | 5 - Very good | 26 May 2026 |
| Northern Quarter Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | at this address | 5 - Very good | 5 May 2026 |
| W H Smith Airside Retailers - other | at this address | 5 - Very good | 26 May 2026 |
| Elder & Co Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | at this address | Awaiting inspection | |
| Boots Retailers - other | at this address | Exempt |
Questions about Flax & Soda
What is Flax & Soda's food hygiene rating?
Flax & Soda has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Antrim and Newtownabbey Council on 5 May 2026.
Is Flax & Soda 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 Flax & Soda last inspected?
Flax & Soda was last inspected on 5 May 2026, 2 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Antrim and Newtownabbey Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Flax & Soda?
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 "very good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does Flax & Soda compare to other places in Antrim and Newtownabbey?
87% of the 981 rated food businesses in Antrim and Newtownabbey hold the top rating of 5, and Flax & Soda is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Antrim and Newtownabbey Council inspects Flax & Soda 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 Flax & Soda and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Antrim and Newtownabbey inspects and rates 1,097 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Antrim and Newtownabbey →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.antrimandnewtownabbey.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 →