McCool's Centra food hygiene rating
Retailers - other · Mid and East Antrim
McCool's Centra 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 28 January 2025, 17 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: 12-14 Antrim Road, Ballee, Ballymena, BT42 2BJ
How it compares in Mid and East Antrim
That puts McCool's Centra among the 936 places in Mid and East Antrim holding top marks, 93% 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 | 936 | 93% | ← McCool's Centra | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 57 | 6% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 14 | 1% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 4 | <1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 0 | 0% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 0 | 0% |
A further 147 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 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 McCool's Centra 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 McCool's Centra, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ballee Community Childcare Complex Caring Premises | at this address | 5 - Very good | 3 March 2026 |
| Camphill Care Home Caring Premises | 266 yards away | 5 - Very good | 14 May 2026 |
| Deerfin Fold Caring Premises | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 1 August 2024 |
| Camphill Primary School School/college/university | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 16 June 2026 |
| Cape Cod Takeaway/sandwich shop | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 15 October 2025 |
| Cafe Pausa, Dunelm Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 18 July 2025 |
| Better Candies Ltd Distributors/Transporters | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 26 May 2026 |
| Ballee Community Association Other catering premises | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 5 November 2025 |
Questions about McCool's Centra
What is McCool's Centra's food hygiene rating?
McCool's Centra has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Mid and East Antrim Council on 28 January 2025.
Is McCool's Centra 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 McCool's Centra last inspected?
McCool's Centra was last inspected on 28 January 2025, 17 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Mid and East Antrim Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at McCool's Centra?
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 "good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does McCool's Centra compare to other places in Mid and East Antrim?
93% of the 1,011 rated food businesses in Mid and East Antrim hold the top rating of 5, and McCool's Centra is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Mid and East Antrim Council inspects McCool's Centra 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 McCool's Centra and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
McCool's Centra is one of 942 rated food businesses in Antrim. See every hygiene rating in Antrim →
Mid and East Antrim inspects and rates 1,158 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Mid and East Antrim →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.midandeastantrim.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 →