The Pitstop Takeaway food hygiene rating
Takeaway/sandwich shop · Ards and North Down
The Pitstop Takeaway holds a 5, the highest food hygiene rating there is. At its last inspection the takeaway met every standard the inspector checked, with nothing needing attention.
The rating: 5 - Very good
The rating dates from 9 September 2025, 10 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: 39a Balloo Road, Balloo, Bangor, BT19 7PG
How it compares in Ards and North Down
That puts The Pitstop Takeaway 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% | ← The Pitstop Takeaway | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 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 The Pitstop Takeaway 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 Pitstop Takeaway, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Centra Balloo Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | at this address | 5 - Very good | 15 April 2026 |
| Clean Cut Cuisine Ltd Manufacturers/packers | 361 yards away | 5 - Very good | 13 December 2024 |
| Bloomfield Road Primary School Kitchen School/college/university | 392 yards away | 5 - Very good | 23 January 2026 |
| Bangor Foodbank and Community Support Distributors/Transporters | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 14 March 2023 |
| Chop chop asian kitchen Takeaway/sandwich shop | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 9 September 2025 |
| ANDBC Com Dev Foodshare Distributors/Transporters | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 14 October 2024 |
| Blue Chicago Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 5 January 2026 |
| Avenue Nutrition Pub/bar/nightclub | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 28 January 2025 |
Questions about The Pitstop Takeaway
What is The Pitstop Takeaway's food hygiene rating?
The Pitstop Takeaway has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Ards and North Down Council on 9 September 2025.
Is The Pitstop Takeaway 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 takeaway to be very good, the top end of the scale.
When was The Pitstop Takeaway last inspected?
The Pitstop Takeaway was last inspected on 9 September 2025, 10 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 The Pitstop Takeaway?
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 "good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does The Pitstop Takeaway 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 The Pitstop Takeaway is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Ards and North Down Council inspects The Pitstop Takeaway 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 Pitstop Takeaway 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 Pitstop Takeaway 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 →