The Sportsmans Inn food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Antrim and Newtownabbey
The Sportsmans Inn holds a 4, meaning hygiene standards at the pub 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 24 September 2025, 9 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: 71 Main Street, Ballyclare, Ballyclare, BT39 9AA
How it compares in Antrim and Newtownabbey
In Antrim and Newtownabbey, 87% of rated places manage a 5, so The Sportsmans Inn sits behind roughly 849 nearby businesses. 10% of the borough shares its 4.
| 5 out of 5 | 849 | 87% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 97 | 10% | ← The Sportsmans Inn | |
| 3 out of 5 | 32 | 3% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 2 | <1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 1 | <1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 0 | 0% |
A further 116 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 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 The Sportsmans Inn 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 The Sportsmans Inn, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brown's Coffee Co Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | at this address | 5 - Very good | 15 October 2024 |
| Cafe Roo Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | at this address | 5 - Very good | 12 May 2026 |
| JB's Fruit & Veg Retailers - other | at this address | 5 - Very good | 10 April 2024 |
| Jenkins Butchers Manufacturers/packers | at this address | 5 - Very good | 14 February 2025 |
| Woks Takeaway/sandwich shop | at this address | 5 - Very good | 18 June 2026 |
| The Chefs Confectionery Manufacturers/packers | at this address | 5 - Very good | 16 May 2024 |
| Abode Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 32 yards away | 4 - Good | 30 September 2025 |
| Shining Lights Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 39 yards away | 5 - Very good | 13 November 2025 |
Questions about The Sportsmans Inn
What is The Sportsmans Inn's food hygiene rating?
The Sportsmans Inn has a food hygiene rating of 4 out of 5 (good), given by Antrim and Newtownabbey Council on 24 September 2025.
Is The Sportsmans Inn 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 pub to be good, the top end of the scale.
When was The Sportsmans Inn last inspected?
The Sportsmans Inn was last inspected on 24 September 2025, 9 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Antrim and Newtownabbey Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The Sportsmans Inn?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "very good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "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 The Sportsmans Inn compare to other places in Antrim and Newtownabbey?
87% of the 981 rated food businesses in Antrim and Newtownabbey hold the top rating of 5, while The Sportsmans Inn holds a 4. 97 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
Antrim and Newtownabbey Council inspects The Sportsmans Inn 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 The Sportsmans Inn and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
The Sportsmans Inn is one of 849 rated food businesses in Antrim. See every hygiene rating in Antrim →
Antrim and Newtownabbey inspects and rates 1,097 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Antrim and Newtownabbey →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.antrimandnewtownabbey.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 →