Little Explorers food hygiene rating
Caring Premises · Lisburn and Castlereagh City
Little Explorers holds a 5, the highest food hygiene rating there is. At its last inspection the care premises met every standard the inspector checked, with nothing needing attention.
The rating: 5 - Very good
The rating dates from 5 October 2018, more than 7 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: 2a Ballynahinch Road, Hillsborough, BT26 6AR
How it compares in Lisburn and Castlereagh City
That puts Little Explorers among the 837 places in Lisburn and Castlereagh City holding top marks, 92% 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 | 837 | 92% | ← Little Explorers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 64 | 7% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 9 | 1% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 3 | <1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 1 | <1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 0 | 0% |
A further 87 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 Very 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 Little Explorers 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 Little Explorers, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Peter's Patch After School Other catering premises | at this address | 5 - Very good | 6 January 2025 |
| Downshire Primary School School/college/university | at this address | 5 - Very good | 27 May 2025 |
| Curry Leaf Takeaway/sandwich shop | 132 yards away | 5 - Very good | 7 October 2025 |
| Round House Bakery Manufacturers/packers | 200 yards away | 5 - Very good | 20 January 2023 |
| Cromlyn Fold Caring Premises | 232 yards away | 5 - Very good | 21 September 2022 |
| New R China Manufacturers/packers | 232 yards away | 5 - Very good | 24 September 2025 |
| Spar Hillsborough Retailers - other | 232 yards away | 5 - Very good | 12 February 2025 |
| Keanes Deli Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 291 yards away | 5 - Very good | 18 December 2025 |
Questions about Little Explorers
What is Little Explorers's food hygiene rating?
Little Explorers has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council on 5 October 2018.
Is Little Explorers 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 care premises to be very good, the top end of the scale.
When was Little Explorers last inspected?
Little Explorers was last inspected on 5 October 2018, more than 7 years ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Little Explorers?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "very good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "very 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 Little Explorers compare to other places in Lisburn and Castlereagh City?
92% of the 914 rated food businesses in Lisburn and Castlereagh City hold the top rating of 5, and Little Explorers is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council inspects Little Explorers 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 Little Explorers and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Little Explorers is one of 231 rated food businesses in Down. See every hygiene rating in Down →
Lisburn and Castlereagh City inspects and rates 1,001 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Lisburn and Castlereagh City →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.lisburncastlereagh.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 →