The Paper Shop food hygiene rating
Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen · Antrim and Newtownabbey
The Paper Shop 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
This is a fresh result: The Paper Shop was inspected on 13 August 2026, so the rating reflects what the inspector found very recently.
97% of rated food businesses in Antrim and Newtownabbey score 4 or 5, so this is a normal, good result for the area. See all Antrim and Newtownabbey ratings →
Address: 4 The Square, Ballyclare, Ballyclare, BT39 9BB
How this rating has changed
The Paper Shop was re-inspected on 13 August 2026 and held its rating of 5.
| Inspected | Rating | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 13 August 2026 | AwaitingInspection 5 | 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 Antrim and Newtownabbey
That puts The Paper Shop among the 853 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 | 853 | 87% | ← The Paper Shop | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 97 | 10% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 29 | 3% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 3 | <1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 3 | <1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 0 | 0% |
A further 119 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 The Paper Shop 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 The Paper Shop, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cathay Square Takeaway/sandwich shop | at this address | 5 - Very good | 18 September 2025 |
| Dixies Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | at this address | 5 - Very good | 18 August 2026 |
| Domino's Pizza Takeaway/sandwich shop | at this address | 5 - Very good | 29 June 2026 |
| Pots of Coffee and Pots of Pleasure Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | at this address | 5 - Very good | 31 October 2024 |
| Russells Retailers - other | at this address | 5 - Very good | 28 July 2026 |
| Bally Busters Takeaway/sandwich shop | at this address | 4 - Good | 2 March 2026 |
| Johnny whites fish and chip shop Takeaway/sandwich shop | 55 yards away | 4 - Good | 25 February 2026 |
| Home Bargains Retailers - other | 103 yards away | 5 - Very good | 21 February 2024 |
Questions about The Paper Shop
What is The Paper Shop's food hygiene rating?
The Paper Shop has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Antrim and Newtownabbey Council on 13 August 2026.
Is The Paper Shop 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 The Paper Shop last inspected?
The Paper Shop was last inspected on 13 August 2026, within the last month. 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 The Paper Shop?
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 The Paper Shop compare to other places in Antrim and Newtownabbey?
87% of the 985 rated food businesses in Antrim and Newtownabbey hold the top rating of 5, and The Paper Shop is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Antrim and Newtownabbey Council inspects The Paper Shop 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 The Paper Shop 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
The Paper Shop is one of 854 rated food businesses in Antrim. See every hygiene rating in Antrim →
Antrim and Newtownabbey inspects and rates 1,104 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 →