Downey and Sons food hygiene rating
Retailers - other · Newry, Mourne and Down
Downey and Sons 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 2 March 2026, 4 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: 10 Monaghan Street, Ballinlare, Newry, BT35 6AA
How it compares in Newry, Mourne and Down
That puts Downey and Sons 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% | ← Downey and Sons | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 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 Downey and Sons 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 Downey and Sons, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fly Boy Pizza & Wings Takeaway/sandwich shop | at this address | 5 - Very good | 17 April 2025 |
| Friar Tucks Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | at this address | 5 - Very good | 8 January 2026 |
| Grounded Espresso Bars Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | at this address | 5 - Very good | 28 May 2026 |
| Apache Pizza Newry Takeaway/sandwich shop | at this address | 5 - Very good | 22 January 2025 |
| Bunreal Takeaway/sandwich shop | at this address | 5 - Very good | 10 October 2024 |
| Fire & Smoke Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | at this address | 5 - Very good | 26 September 2025 |
| Iceland Foods Ltd Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 14 yards away | 5 - Very good | 26 July 2024 |
| Artbar Funkel Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 63 yards away | 5 - Very good | 4 March 2026 |
Questions about Downey and Sons
What is Downey and Sons's food hygiene rating?
Downey and Sons has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Newry, Mourne and Down Council on 2 March 2026.
Is Downey and Sons 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 Downey and Sons last inspected?
Downey and Sons was last inspected on 2 March 2026, 4 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 Downey and Sons?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "good", and confidence in the management of food safety "good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does Downey and Sons 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 Downey and Sons is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Newry, Mourne and Down Council inspects Downey and Sons 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 Downey and Sons and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Downey and Sons 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 →