Exploris food hygiene rating
Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen · Ards and North Down
Exploris holds a 5, the highest food hygiene rating there is. At its last inspection the restaurant met every standard the inspector checked, with nothing needing attention.
The rating: 5 - Very good
The rating dates from 22 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: Castle Street, Ballymurphy, Portaferry, BT22 1NZ
How it compares in Ards and North Down
That puts Exploris 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% | ← Exploris | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 Very 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 Exploris 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 Exploris, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cafe Therese Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 42 yards away | 4 - Good | 26 May 2026 |
| Tasty Mac's Takeaway/sandwich shop | 67 yards away | 4 - Good | 27 February 2025 |
| Tréan Coffee Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 93 yards away | 5 - Very good | 14 March 2024 |
| Winemark Portaferry Retailers - other | 102 yards away | 5 - Very good | 17 July 2025 |
| Portaferry Costcutter Retailers - other | 106 yards away | 5 - Very good | 16 November 2023 |
| Hugh Mullan - Butcher Retailers - other | 106 yards away | 4 - Good | 25 November 2025 |
| Dumigan's Pub/bar/nightclub | 107 yards away | 5 - Very good | 17 August 2023 |
| Portaferry Hotel Hotel/bed & breakfast/guest house | 131 yards away | 5 - Very good | 20 March 2026 |
Questions about Exploris
What is Exploris's food hygiene rating?
Exploris has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Ards and North Down Council on 22 January 2025.
Is Exploris 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 restaurant to be very good, the top end of the scale.
When was Exploris last inspected?
Exploris was last inspected on 22 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 Exploris?
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 "good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does Exploris 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 Exploris is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Ards and North Down Council inspects Exploris 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 Exploris and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Exploris 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 →