Ballygowan Community Playgroup food hygiene rating
Caring Premises · Ards and North Down
Ballygowan Community Playgroup 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 11 December 2025, 7 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: Comber Road, Ballygowan, Ballygowan, BT23 5TN
How it compares in Ards and North Down
That puts Ballygowan Community Playgroup among the 949 places in Ards and North Down holding top marks, 82% 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 | 949 | 82% | ← Ballygowan Community Playgroup | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 154 | 13% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 43 | 4% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 8 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 1 | <1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 0 | 0% |
A further 118 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 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 Ballygowan Community Playgroup 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 Ballygowan Community Playgroup, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alexander Dickson Primary School School/college/university | at this address | 5 - Very good | 12 January 2026 |
| Brae Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 165 yards away | 5 - Very good | 25 September 2024 |
| Davidson's Pub/bar/nightclub | 187 yards away | 5 - Very good | 30 April 2024 |
| Scoops and Shakes Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 193 yards away | 3 - Generally satisfactory | 19 November 2025 |
| Piggy's Vapes and Treats Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 196 yards away | 5 - Very good | 5 June 2025 |
| Wineflair Retailers - other | 196 yards away | 5 - Very good | 14 November 2024 |
| Farley House Takeaway/sandwich shop | 237 yards away | 5 - Very good | 11 December 2025 |
| S Gibson's Family Butchers Retailers - other | 237 yards away | 5 - Very good | 25 February 2026 |
Questions about Ballygowan Community Playgroup
What is Ballygowan Community Playgroup's food hygiene rating?
Ballygowan Community Playgroup has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Ards and North Down Council on 11 December 2025.
Is Ballygowan Community Playgroup 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 Ballygowan Community Playgroup last inspected?
Ballygowan Community Playgroup was last inspected on 11 December 2025, 7 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Ards and North Down Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Ballygowan Community Playgroup?
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 "good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does Ballygowan Community Playgroup compare to other places in Ards and North Down?
82% of the 1,155 rated food businesses in Ards and North Down hold the top rating of 5, and Ballygowan Community Playgroup is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Ards and North Down Council inspects Ballygowan Community Playgroup 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 Ballygowan Community Playgroup and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Ballygowan Community Playgroup is one of 884 rated food businesses in Down. See every hygiene rating in Down →
Ards and North Down inspects and rates 1,273 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Ards and North Down →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.ardsandnorthdown.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 →