St Malachy's Primary School food hygiene rating
School/college/university · Newry, Mourne and Down
St Malachy's Primary School holds a 5, the highest food hygiene rating there is. At its last inspection the school kitchen met every standard the inspector checked, with nothing needing attention.
The rating: 5 - Very good
The rating dates from 10 November 2025, 8 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: 33 Lower Square, Castlewellan, Castlewellan, BT31 9DN
How it compares in Newry, Mourne and Down
That puts St Malachy's Primary School among the 1,411 places in Newry, Mourne and Down holding top marks, 89% 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 | 1,411 | 89% | ← St Malachy's Primary School | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 124 | 8% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 24 | 2% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 13 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 8 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 0 | 0% |
A further 143 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 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 St Malachy's Primary School 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 St Malachy's Primary School, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wonder Years Day Nursery School/college/university | 108 yards away | 5 - Very good | 4 March 2026 |
| Zebedee’s Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 126 yards away | 5 - Very good | 11 December 2024 |
| Urban Coffee Bar Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 165 yards away | 5 - Very good | 30 July 2024 |
| JR'S Retailers - other | 167 yards away | 4 - Good | 11 December 2024 |
| Old Tom Bar Pub/bar/nightclub | 171 yards away | 5 - Very good | 13 June 2024 |
| Bin 34 Off Licence Retailers - other | 171 yards away | 2 - Some improvement necessary | 12 September 2024 |
| The Fountain Bar Pub/bar/nightclub | 176 yards away | 4 - Good | 4 October 2024 |
| Finnegans Butchers Retailers - other | 181 yards away | 5 - Very good | 6 August 2024 |
Questions about St Malachy's Primary School
What is St Malachy's Primary School's food hygiene rating?
St Malachy's Primary School has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Newry, Mourne and Down Council on 10 November 2025.
Is St Malachy's Primary School 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 school kitchen to be very good, the top end of the scale.
When was St Malachy's Primary School last inspected?
St Malachy's Primary School was last inspected on 10 November 2025, 8 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Newry, Mourne and Down Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at St Malachy's Primary School?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "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 St Malachy's Primary School compare to other places in Newry, Mourne and Down?
89% of the 1,580 rated food businesses in Newry, Mourne and Down hold the top rating of 5, and St Malachy's Primary School is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Newry, Mourne and Down Council inspects St Malachy's Primary School 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 St Malachy's Primary School and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
St Malachy's Primary School is one of 1,034 rated food businesses in Down. See every hygiene rating in Down →
Newry, Mourne and Down inspects and rates 1,723 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Newry, Mourne and Down →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.newrymournedown.org
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 →