The Castle food hygiene rating
Pub/bar/nightclub · Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon
The Castle 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 9 March 2022, more than 4 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: 2-4 Mill Street, Loughans, Gilford, BT63 6HQ
How it compares in Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon
That puts The Castle among the 1,451 places in Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon holding top marks, 83% 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 | 1,451 | 83% | ← The Castle | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 211 | 12% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 64 | 4% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 8 | <1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 4 | <1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 0 | 0% |
A further 145 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 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 The Castle 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 Castle, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bake My Day with Anna Other catering premises | at this address | 5 - Very good | 16 March 2023 |
| Mr Chips Takeaway/sandwich shop | at this address | 4 - Good | 7 January 2025 |
| The Pheasant Lodge Pub/bar/nightclub | at this address | 4 - Good | 26 September 2023 |
| Parkes Pharmacy Retailers - other | at this address | Exempt | |
| Changing Lives NI Food Hub Retailers - other | 18 yards away | 5 - Very good | 2 April 2025 |
| Superstars Daycare & Afterschool Ltd Caring Premises | 47 yards away | 5 - Very good | 18 February 2026 |
| Dunbarton Bowling Club Retailers - other | 201 yards away | 5 - Very good | 15 February 2022 |
| McInerneys Pub/bar/nightclub | 201 yards away | 5 - Very good | 26 September 2023 |
Questions about The Castle
What is The Castle's food hygiene rating?
The Castle has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Council on 9 March 2022.
Is The Castle 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 The Castle last inspected?
The Castle was last inspected on 9 March 2022, more than 4 years ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The Castle?
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 "very good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does The Castle compare to other places in Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon?
83% of the 1,738 rated food businesses in Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon hold the top rating of 5, and The Castle is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Council inspects The Castle 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 Castle 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 Castle is one of 321 rated food businesses in Down. See every hygiene rating in Down →
Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon inspects and rates 1,883 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.armaghbanbridgecraigavon.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 →