McIlwaines food hygiene rating
Retailers - other · Belfast City
McIlwaines holds a 4, meaning hygiene standards at the shop are good. It is a solid result, the inspector found nothing serious, though a 5 was just out of reach.
The rating: 4 - Good
The rating dates from 11 August 2017, more than 8 years ago. A lot can change in a kitchen in that time, and a rating this old says more about the business then than now. Councils prioritise re-inspecting higher-risk premises, so a long gap often means the business is considered low-risk.
Address: 251 Ligoniel Road, BT14 8DQ
How it compares in Belfast City
In Belfast City, 73% of rated places manage a 5, so McIlwaines sits behind roughly 2,117 nearby businesses. 17% of the borough shares its 4.
| 5 out of 5 | 2,117 | 73% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 502 | 17% | ← McIlwaines | |
| 3 out of 5 | 230 | 8% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 46 | 2% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 24 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 0 | 0% |
A further 253 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 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 McIlwaines 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 McIlwaines, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abingdon Manor Care Centre Caring Premises | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 11 April 2025 |
| Belfast Burger Takeaway/sandwich shop | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 14 March 2024 |
| Ballysillan Primary & Nursery Schools School/college/university | 0.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 17 June 2026 |
| Ballysillan Tiny Steps Caring Premises | 0.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 7 May 2025 |
| Bungalow Stores Retailers - other | 0.8 miles away | 5 - Very good | 30 April 2025 |
| Boys Model School School/college/university | 1.0 miles away | 5 - Very good | 20 February 2025 |
| Boyd's Retailers - other | 1.0 miles away | 5 - Very good | 30 November 2016 |
Questions about McIlwaines
What is McIlwaines's food hygiene rating?
McIlwaines has a food hygiene rating of 4 out of 5 (good), given by Belfast City Council on 11 August 2017.
Is McIlwaines safe to eat at?
The rating covers hygiene standards found at inspection, not the food itself. At 4 out of 5, the inspector found hygiene standards at this shop to be good, the top end of the scale.
When was McIlwaines last inspected?
McIlwaines was last inspected on 11 August 2017, more than 8 years ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Belfast City Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at McIlwaines?
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 "generally satisfactory". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does McIlwaines compare to other places in Belfast City?
73% of the 2,919 rated food businesses in Belfast City hold the top rating of 5, while McIlwaines holds a 4. 502 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
Belfast City Council inspects McIlwaines 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 McIlwaines and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Belfast City inspects and rates 3,172 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Belfast City →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.belfastcity.gov.uk/buildingcontrol-environment/foodsafety/consumers-foodhygienescheme.aspx
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 →