Hole in the Wall food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Newry, Mourne and Down
Hole in the Wall holds a 5, the highest food hygiene rating there is. At its last inspection the pub met every standard the inspector checked, with nothing needing attention.
The rating: 5 - Very good
The rating dates from 23 October 2025, 8 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 Downpatrick Road, Strangford, BT30 7LZ
How it compares in Newry, Mourne and Down
That puts Hole in the Wall 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% | ← Hole in the Wall | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 Very good
- Cleanliness & condition of the building Good
- How well they manage food safety Very 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 Hole in the Wall 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 Hole in the Wall, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| VIVO Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | at this address | 5 - Very good | 17 April 2025 |
| Playlinks School/college/university | 121 yards away | 5 - Very good | 9 May 2025 |
| St Joseph's Primary School School/college/university | 135 yards away | 5 - Very good | 9 October 2025 |
| The Artisan Cookhouse Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 294 yards away | 5 - Very good | 8 May 2026 |
| The Cake Room Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 311 yards away | 5 - Very good | 13 February 2026 |
| Thomas Duffy & Sons Mace Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 370 yards away | 5 - Very good | 20 January 2025 |
| The Lobster Pot Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 374 yards away | 5 - Very good | 18 June 2026 |
| Little Wolf Takeaway/sandwich shop | 395 yards away | 5 - Very good | 23 January 2026 |
Questions about Hole in the Wall
What is Hole in the Wall's food hygiene rating?
Hole in the Wall has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Newry, Mourne and Down Council on 23 October 2025.
Is Hole in the Wall 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 pub to be very good, the top end of the scale.
When was Hole in the Wall last inspected?
Hole in the Wall was last inspected on 23 October 2025, 8 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 Hole in the Wall?
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 "very good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does Hole in the Wall 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 Hole in the Wall is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Newry, Mourne and Down Council inspects Hole in the Wall 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 Hole in the Wall and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Hole in the Wall 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 →