Little Gem food hygiene rating
Retailers - other · Newry, Mourne and Down
Little Gem 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 26 March 2025, 15 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 High Street, Killyleagh, BT30 9QF
How it compares in Newry, Mourne and Down
That puts Little Gem 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% | ← Little Gem | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 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 Gem 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 Gem, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gabbies Pharmacy Retailers - other | at this address | Exempt | |
| Kraken Fish and Chips Takeaway/sandwich shop | 15 yards away | Awaiting inspection | |
| Dufferin Arms Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 65 yards away | 5 - Very good | 28 October 2025 |
| Barrett's Retailers - other | 104 yards away | 5 - Very good | 19 July 2024 |
| Alfie Murray Family Butchers Retailers - other | 126 yards away | 5 - Very good | 27 February 2025 |
| The International Bar & Off Sales Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 132 yards away | 5 - Very good | 15 April 2025 |
| Cafe Velo of Killyleagh Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 137 yards away | 5 - Very good | 14 May 2025 |
| Bei Jing House Takeaway/sandwich shop | 142 yards away | 5 - Very good | 2 July 2025 |
Questions about Little Gem
What is Little Gem's food hygiene rating?
Little Gem has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Newry, Mourne and Down Council on 26 March 2025.
Is Little Gem 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 Little Gem last inspected?
Little Gem was last inspected on 26 March 2025, 15 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 Little Gem?
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 Gem 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 Little Gem is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Newry, Mourne and Down Council inspects Little Gem 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 Gem 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 Gem 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 →