Golden River food hygiene rating
Takeaway/sandwich shop · Ards and North Down
Golden River holds a 2, which means some improvement is necessary. The inspector found problems at the takeaway that the business is required to fix.
The rating: 2 - Some improvement necessary
The rating dates from 20 February 2025, 16 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: 140 Frances Street, Corporation North, Newtownards, BT23 7DY
How it compares in Ards and North Down
A 2 is rare: only 8 of 1,155 rated places in Ards and North Down score this low, about one in 144. By contrast 82% of the borough holds a 5, so this is well below what the council's inspectors normally find.
| 5 out of 5 | 948 | 82% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 155 | 13% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 43 | 4% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 8 | 1% | ← Golden River | |
| 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 Generally satisfactory
- Cleanliness & condition of the building Improvement necessary
- 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 Golden River the inspector recorded concerns over the condition of the premises. Because the overall rating is only ever as strong as its weakest area, that is what holds the score down.
Food hygiene ratings nearby
The closest food businesses to Golden River, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lynn's Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | at this address | 5 - Very good | 28 April 2026 |
| Frances Street Filling Station Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 60 yards away | 5 - Very good | 4 July 2023 |
| Happy Days Day Nursery Caring Premises | 60 yards away | 5 - Very good | 30 June 2025 |
| First Newtownards Presbyterian Church Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 110 yards away | 5 - Very good | 25 September 2025 |
| Homegrown Retailers - other | 139 yards away | 5 - Very good | 15 June 2026 |
| Ivy Bar Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 249 yards away | 5 - Very good | 6 May 2025 |
| Kandy Korner Retailers - other | 254 yards away | 5 - Very good | 30 December 2024 |
| Eliza & Vi’s Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 293 yards away | 5 - Very good | 26 March 2026 |
Questions about Golden River
What is Golden River's food hygiene rating?
Golden River has a food hygiene rating of 2 out of 5 (some improvement necessary), given by Ards and North Down Council on 20 February 2025.
Is Golden River safe to eat at?
A 2 means the inspector found problems the business is required to fix. The takeaway is not shut down, a rating is not a closure order, but standards were found to be below what the law expects at the time of inspection.
When was Golden River last inspected?
Golden River was last inspected on 20 February 2025, 16 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 Golden River?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "generally satisfactory", the cleanliness and condition of the building "improvement necessary", and confidence in the management of food safety "generally satisfactory". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does Golden River 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 Golden River holds a 2. 8 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
Ards and North Down Council inspects Golden River 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 Golden River and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Is this your business?
A rating of 2 is public, and most customers look. Only 18% of people say they would order from a business rated 2 or below, against 94% from one rated 4. Delivery platforms may decline to list you.
We cannot change this rating, and nor can you. It was set by an environmental health officer at Ards and North Down, and it stands until they inspect again. What you can do:
- Fix what the inspector found, then ask the council for a re-inspection. Most charge between £120 and £316, and will not re-visit within three months of the original inspection.
- If you believe the rating is simply wrong, you have 21 days from being notified to appeal to the council. That is 21 calendar days, not working days.
- You may submit a right to reply at any time. It is published alongside the rating, here, and on the FSA's own site.
What a low rating means → · How re-inspections and appeals work →
Your council: Ards and North Down
Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Golden River 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 →