Thorntons/Card Zone food hygiene rating
Retailers - other · Carmarthenshire
Thorntons/Card Zone holds a 5, the highest food hygiene rating there is. At its last inspection the shop met every standard the inspector checked, with nothing needing attention.
The rating: 5 - Very good
The rating dates from 17 February 2025, 16 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: 15 Merlins Walk, Carmarthen, SA31 3BN
How it compares in Carmarthenshire
That puts Thorntons/Card Zone among the 1,563 places in Carmarthenshire holding top marks, 83% 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 | 1,563 | 83% | ← Thorntons/Card Zone | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 219 | 12% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 86 | 5% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 7 | <1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 7 | <1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 0 | 0% |
A further 280 businesses in the area are awaiting inspection or exempt, so are not counted above.
What the inspector found
- Hygienic food handling Very good
- Cleanliness & condition of the building Very 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 Thorntons/Card Zone 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 Thorntons/Card Zone, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grape Tree Retailers - other | at this address | 5 - Very good | 12 June 2023 |
| Holland and Barrett Retailers - other | at this address | 5 - Very good | 30 January 2019 |
| Boars Head Hotel Pub/bar/nightclub | 55 yards away | 5 - Very good | 17 February 2026 |
| Carmarthen Youth Project Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 85 yards away | 5 - Very good | 2 August 2023 |
| Cegin Hedyn Other catering premises | 93 yards away | 5 - Very good | 13 December 2022 |
| Cofio Lounge Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 117 yards away | 5 - Very good | 28 November 2019 |
| Greggs Plc Retailers - other | 142 yards away | 5 - Very good | 16 May 2025 |
| Boots Plc Retailers - other | 144 yards away | 5 - Very good | 15 November 2018 |
Questions about Thorntons/Card Zone
What is Thorntons/Card Zone's food hygiene rating?
Thorntons/Card Zone has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Carmarthenshire Council on 17 February 2025.
Is Thorntons/Card Zone 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 shop to be very good, the top end of the scale.
When was Thorntons/Card Zone last inspected?
Thorntons/Card Zone was last inspected on 17 February 2025, 16 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Carmarthenshire Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Thorntons/Card Zone?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "very good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "very 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 Thorntons/Card Zone compare to other places in Carmarthenshire?
83% of the 1,882 rated food businesses in Carmarthenshire hold the top rating of 5, and Thorntons/Card Zone is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Carmarthenshire Council inspects Thorntons/Card Zone 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 Thorntons/Card Zone and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Thorntons/Card Zone is one of 466 rated food businesses in Carmarthen. See every hygiene rating in Carmarthen →
Carmarthenshire inspects and rates 2,162 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Carmarthenshire →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.carmarthenshire.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 →