The Marcus Ward food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Belfast City
The Marcus Ward holds a 3: generally satisfactory. The pub met the legal standard, but the inspector recorded enough minor issues that it fell short of a good or very good rating.
The rating: 3 - Generally satisfactory
The rating dates from 1 March 2024, more than 2 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: 1 Bankmore Square, BT7 1DH
How it compares in Belfast City
In Belfast City, 73% of rated places manage a 5, so The Marcus Ward sits behind roughly 2,619 nearby businesses. 8% of the borough shares its 3.
| 5 out of 5 | 2,117 | 73% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 502 | 17% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 230 | 8% | ← The Marcus Ward | |
| 2 out of 5 | 46 | 2% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 24 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 0 | 0% |
A further 253 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 Generally satisfactory
- 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 Marcus Ward 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 Marcus Ward, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Archana Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 172 yards away | 5 - Very good | 22 August 2024 |
| Apache Pizza Takeaway/sandwich shop | 234 yards away | 5 - Very good | 9 October 2025 |
| ACCA Longevity Clinic Retailers - other | 361 yards away | 5 - Very good | 4 October 2023 |
| BABS Takeaway/sandwich shop | 385 yards away | 5 - Very good | 4 November 2025 |
| Baker & Chef Manufacturers/packers | 415 yards away | 5 - Very good | 6 May 2026 |
| Alif Supermarket Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 10 June 2025 |
| Alibi Pub/bar/nightclub | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 9 October 2018 |
| Arthurs Coffee House Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 25 June 2026 |
Questions about The Marcus Ward
What is The Marcus Ward's food hygiene rating?
The Marcus Ward has a food hygiene rating of 3 out of 5 (generally satisfactory), given by Belfast City Council on 1 March 2024.
Is The Marcus Ward safe to eat at?
A 3 means the pub met the legal standard, so it is lawful to eat there, but the inspector recorded issues that stopped it scoring higher. It is the middle of the scale.
When was The Marcus Ward last inspected?
The Marcus Ward was last inspected on 1 March 2024, more than 2 years ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Belfast City Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The Marcus Ward?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "generally satisfactory", 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 Marcus Ward compare to other places in Belfast City?
73% of the 2,919 rated food businesses in Belfast City hold the top rating of 5, while The Marcus Ward holds a 3. 230 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
Belfast City Council inspects The Marcus Ward 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 Marcus Ward and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
Free, for three businesses, forever. No password, we send you a link. How rating alerts work →
Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Belfast City inspects and rates 3,172 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Belfast City →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.belfastcity.gov.uk/buildingcontrol-environment/foodsafety/consumers-foodhygienescheme.aspx
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 →