Donard Wine Shop & Lounge food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Newry, Mourne and Down
Donard Wine Shop & Lounge holds a 2, which means some improvement is necessary. The inspector found problems at the pub that the business is required to fix.
The rating: 2 - Some improvement necessary
The rating dates from 14 August 2025, 10 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: 9-29 Main Street, Newcastle, BT33 0AD
How it compares in Newry, Mourne and Down
A 2 is rare: only 13 of 1,580 rated places in Newry, Mourne and Down score this low, about one in 122. By contrast 89% of the borough holds a 5, so this is well below what the council's inspectors normally find.
| 5 out of 5 | 1,411 | 89% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 124 | 8% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 24 | 2% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 13 | 1% | ← Donard Wine Shop & Lounge | |
| 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 Very good
- 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 Donard Wine Shop & Lounge 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 Donard Wine Shop & Lounge, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Around A Pound Ltd Retailers - other | at this address | 5 - Very good | 17 June 2024 |
| Essence Health Store Retailers - other | at this address | 5 - Very good | 13 August 2025 |
| The Cookie Jar Retailers - other | at this address | 5 - Very good | 28 January 2025 |
| The Shimna Cafe Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | at this address | 5 - Very good | 8 August 2024 |
| Parish Centre Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | at this address | 5 - Very good | 8 August 2024 |
| Bu Trading Takeaway/sandwich shop | 26 yards away | 5 - Very good | 30 August 2024 |
| Small's Butchers Retailers - other | 27 yards away | 5 - Very good | 25 February 2026 |
| Fish & Farm Retailers - other | 40 yards away | 5 - Very good | 28 June 2024 |
Questions about Donard Wine Shop & Lounge
What is Donard Wine Shop & Lounge's food hygiene rating?
Donard Wine Shop & Lounge has a food hygiene rating of 2 out of 5 (some improvement necessary), given by Newry, Mourne and Down Council on 14 August 2025.
Is Donard Wine Shop & Lounge safe to eat at?
A 2 means the inspector found problems the business is required to fix. The pub 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 Donard Wine Shop & Lounge last inspected?
Donard Wine Shop & Lounge was last inspected on 14 August 2025, 10 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 Donard Wine Shop & Lounge?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "very good", 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 Donard Wine Shop & Lounge 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, while Donard Wine Shop & Lounge holds a 2. 13 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
Newry, Mourne and Down Council inspects Donard Wine Shop & Lounge 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 Donard Wine Shop & Lounge 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 Newry, Mourne and Down, 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: Newry, Mourne and Down
Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Donard Wine Shop & Lounge 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 →