A new food business must register with the council at least 28 days before trading, and registration is free. Selling alcohol needs a premises licence and a personal licence held by the supervisor; hot food or hot drink between 11pm and 5am is late night refreshment; and carrying on a licensable activity without an authorisation is an offence under section 136 of the Licensing Act 2003.
What the film covers
- The permit nobody put on the opening checklist
- What licences do I need to open a restaurant in the UK?
- Food business registration: the one every format needs
- Alcohol: premises licence, personal licence and the supervisor
- What the premises licence costs
- How long it takes
- The personal licence route
- Late night refreshment: hot food after 11pm
Questions the film answers
- What licences do I need to open a restaurant in the UK?
Every food business registers with its local council at least 28 days before trading, which is free. A restaurant that sells alcohol also needs a premises licence and a supervisor with a personal licence. Outdoor tables need a pavement licence, hot food after 11pm needs late night refreshment, and music, television and planning can add more.
- How much does a restaurant licence cost in the UK?
Food registration is free. A premises licence application costs between £100 and £635 depending on the rateable value band, with an annual fee of £70 to £350. A personal licence is £37 and a basic DBS check £20. A pavement licence is capped at £500 for a new licence and £350 for a renewal.
- Do I need a licence to open a takeaway?
Every takeaway registers as a food business at least 28 days before trading. A takeaway selling hot food between 11pm and 5am needs late night refreshment on a premises licence, and one selling alcohol needs a premises licence for that. Planning use as a hot food takeaway is a separate council question.
- Do I need an alcohol licence for a restaurant?
A business that sells alcohol on a permanent basis needs a premises licence, and the supervisor needs a personal licence. Staff do not need one. A food-only restaurant does not need an alcohol licence, but the venue should check the council's rules on late night food and outdoor tables.
- What is a business licence for a restaurant?
There is no single business licence. A restaurant holds a set of permissions: the food registration, any alcohol and late night licences from the council, a pavement licence if it uses the street, and music and television licences. This guide lists them together.
- How long before opening should I apply?
Register the food business at least 28 days before trading and give the premises licence application at least 28 days before the date you want it, since the notice runs for 28 consecutive days. A pavement licence takes about 28 days. Add the council's own processing time, which was not read.