McCanns Spar food hygiene rating
Retailers - other · Ards and North Down
McCanns Spar holds a 4, meaning hygiene standards at the shop are good. It is a solid result, the inspector found nothing serious, though a 5 was just out of reach.
The rating: 4 - Good
The rating dates from 20 January 2025, 17 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: 3 Comber Road, Balloo, Killinchy, BT23 6PA
How it compares in Ards and North Down
In Ards and North Down, 82% of rated places manage a 5, so McCanns Spar sits behind roughly 949 nearby businesses. 13% of the borough shares its 4.
| 5 out of 5 | 949 | 82% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 154 | 13% | ← McCanns Spar | |
| 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 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 McCanns Spar 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 McCanns Spar, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Centra Killinchy Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | at this address | 4 - Good | 15 April 2025 |
| The Conservatory Cafe Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | at this address | 5 - Very good | 23 March 2026 |
| Balloo House Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | at this address | 4 - Good | 15 April 2025 |
| Killinchy Meats Retailers - other | 378 yards away | 5 - Very good | 10 February 2026 |
| Beechvale Nursing Home Caring Premises | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 9 February 2026 |
| Killinchy Primary School School/college/university | 0.6 miles away | 4 - Good | 3 February 2026 |
| The Livingston Centre at Killinchy Parish Church Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 16 May 2024 |
Questions about McCanns Spar
What is McCanns Spar's food hygiene rating?
McCanns Spar has a food hygiene rating of 4 out of 5 (good), given by Ards and North Down Council on 20 January 2025.
Is McCanns Spar safe to eat at?
The rating covers hygiene standards found at inspection, not the food itself. At 4 out of 5, the inspector found hygiene standards at this shop to be good, the top end of the scale.
When was McCanns Spar last inspected?
McCanns Spar was last inspected on 20 January 2025, 17 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 McCanns Spar?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "very 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 McCanns Spar 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, while McCanns Spar holds a 4. 154 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
Ards and North Down Council inspects McCanns Spar 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 McCanns Spar and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
McCanns Spar 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 →