How to Get a Food Business License in London
Food business registration in London is free and cannot be refused. Register at least 28 days before opening through register.food.gov.uk or your borough website. You can start trading immediately after submitting your application — no need to wait for inspection. Total first-year compliance costs (training, insurance, waste) typically run £3,500-5,500. All 32 London boroughs plus the City of London follow the same FSA regulations, with some local variations.
How to Register a Food Business in London
Register Your Food Business
Free registration with your local borough council. Registration cannot be refused.
Complete the online form at register.food.gov.uk or through your borough website.
More infoComplete Food Hygiene Training
Level 2 Food Hygiene Certificate for all food handlers (£15-28). Level 3 for at least one supervisor (£79-99).
Online courses from accredited providers take 2-9 hours. Certificates valid for 3 years.
Prepare Your HACCP Plan
Written food safety management system required by law. Use FSA's free "Safer Food, Better Business" pack or hire a consultant (£500-2,000).
Document hazard analysis, critical control points, monitoring procedures, and corrective actions.
More infoReceive Food Hygiene Inspection
Unannounced visit from Environmental Health Officer. You receive a rating from 0-5 stars.
You can start trading after submitting registration — you don't need to wait for inspection.
More infoLicences You May Need in London
| Licence Type | Cost | Who Needs It | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Food Business Registration | Free | All food businesses | Ongoing (update if changes) |
| Premises Licence (Alcohol) | £100-£1,905 (based on rateable value) | Selling alcohol or hot food after 11pm | Ongoing with annual fee |
| Street Trading Licence | £39-£530 per event (varies by borough) | Food trucks, mobile vendors, market stalls on public land | Per event or annual |
| Planning Permission (Dark Kitchens) | £234+ application fee | Change of use to delivery-only kitchen | Permanent once granted |
London Food Business Licensing Costs
| Item | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Food business registration | Free | Mandatory for all food businesses |
| Level 2 Food Hygiene (per person) | £15-28 | All food handlers |
| Level 3 Food Hygiene (supervisor) | £79-99 | At least 1 per premises |
| Allergen awareness training | £10-28 or free via FSA | All staff |
| HACCP plan development | Free (DIY) or £500-2,000 | Required by law |
| Public + Product Liability insurance | £560-700/year | Essential |
| Employers Liability insurance | £400-500/year | Mandatory if hiring staff |
| Food waste collection | £247-260/year | Mandatory (10+ employees from Mar 2025) |
| General waste collection | £720-960/year | Small cafe estimate |
| Business rates | Variable | Under £12k rateable value = possible 100% relief |
Total First-Year Compliance Costs
Small food business (no alcohol): £3,500-5,500
With alcohol licence: Add £500-2,500
Medium restaurant with staff: £8,000-13,000
Borough EHO Contacts
All London boroughs follow the same FSA regulations for food business registration. Contact your local Environmental Health team for borough-specific guidance.
Westminster
Phone: 020 7641 6000
Email: foodsafety@westminster.gov.uk
Stricter licensing in entertainment districts. Higher application volumes. Strict on pest control and waste management.
Camden
Phone: 020 7974 4444
Email: foodsafety@camden.gov.uk
Street traders need FHRS 3+ and Level 2 certificate. Classifies dark kitchens strictly as Sui Generis.
Tower Hamlets
Phone: 020 7364 5008
Email: foodsafety@towerhamlets.gov.uk
High density of delivery businesses. Responsive commercial team. Market traders register with "home" authority.
Southwark
Phone: 020 7525 2000
Email: food@southwark.gov.uk
Home to Bermondsey arches. Experienced with industrial food use and dark kitchen operations.
Hackney
Phone: 020 8356 3000
Email: Via Gov.uk portal
Epicenter of trend food. Dense network of vegan and innovative food entrepreneurs in Hackney Wick.
Wandsworth
Phone: 020 8871 6000
Email: foodsafety@wandsworth.gov.uk
Riverside industrial pockets (Ferrier Street). Focus on School Food Strategy and healthy catering.
City of London
Phone: 020 7606 3030
Email: Via cityoflondon.gov.uk
Uses separate Port Health Authority registration. Higher enforcement standards for financial district.
Lambeth
Phone: 020 7926 1000
Email: Via Gov.uk portal
Standard FSA registration process. Growing dark kitchen presence near Vauxhall and Nine Elms.
Other London Boroughs
Islington, Lewisham, Brent, Waltham Forest, Greenwich, Barnet, Ealing, Croydon, Newham, Redbridge, Haringey, Enfield — all follow standard FSA registration through the Gov.uk portal. Contact details are on each borough website. If unsure which borough covers your premises, use gov.uk/find-local-council.
Planning Permission for Dark Kitchens in London
The most critical regulatory hurdle for delivery-only food businesses in London. Most boroughs do not consider dark kitchens to be standard commercial use.
Sui Generis (Most Boroughs)
Most London boroughs (including Camden and Islington) classify dark kitchens as Sui Generis — a unique use that does not fall under Class E. This means you need specific planning permission to operate a delivery-only kitchen.
- Odour extraction requirements are stringent
- Noise from delivery riders is a major concern
- Operating hour restrictions common (no deliveries after 11pm)
Safe Options
To avoid enforcement action, seek premises with existing consent:
- B2 (General Industrial) use class
- Sui Generis (Hot Food Takeaway) consent
- Established dark kitchen facilities (Karma, Dephna, Foodstars)
Converting a Class E retail shop into a dark kitchen without planning permission is high-risk. This frequently leads to enforcement notices and closure orders in London. Always check your premises' planning use class before signing a lease.
Street Trading in London
| Area | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| South Bank / Waterloo | Licence required (Lambeth) | Premium tourist footfall, high competition |
| Camden Market area | Managed by Camden Markets | FHRS 3+ required, Level 2 certificate mandatory |
| Borough Market (Southwark) | Managed by Borough Market Trust | Apply direct to market, strict quality standards |
| Brick Lane (Tower Hamlets) | Consent streets | High footfall weekends, check specific pitch rules |
| Notting Hill / Portobello | RBKC licence required | Highly competitive, long waiting lists |
| Shoreditch / Old Street | Hackney consent streets | Growing food scene, premium pitches available |
London Markets
Borough Market
Artisan food & produce
Camden Market
Street food & retail
Maltby Street Market
Artisan food under railway arches
Broadway Market
Saturday food market
Brixton Village Market
International food hall
Each market has its own application process. Contact the market operator directly for availability and fees. You still need food business registration with your local council regardless of which market you trade at.
London Alcohol Licence Fees
If selling alcohol, you need a premises licence. Fees are based on your property's rateable value. Restaurants primarily selling alcohol pay multiplied fees (Band D x2, Band E x3).
| Band (Rateable Value) | Application Fee | Annual Fee |
|---|---|---|
| A (£0-4,300 rateable value) | £100 | £70 |
| B (£4,301-33,000) | £190 | £180 |
| C (£33,001-87,000) | £315 | £295 |
| D (£87,001-125,000) | £450 | £320 |
| E (£125,001+) | £635 | £350 |
Personal Licence Required
You need a Designated Premises Supervisor (DPS) with a personal licence to sell alcohol. Personal licence: £37 + training (£100-150) + DBS check (£23-25). Allow 6-8 weeks before opening.
Preparing for Your London Food Hygiene Inspection
London borough inspections can take 3-6 months due to backlogs. You can legally trade while waiting, but an "Awaiting Inspection" status may affect onboarding with delivery platforms like Deliveroo (which often requires a minimum rating of 3-4). Maintain high standards from day one.
Borough Hygiene Performance
Kensington & Chelsea: Highest average score (4.80) — rigorous but well-managed
Westminster: Highest inspection volume — extremely strict on pest control and waste
Waltham Forest, Ealing: Lower averages (3.74) — high-turnover areas with stretched resources
Common Mistakes to Avoid in London
Not registering 28 days in advance
Criminal offence — can result in prosecution and fines
Forgetting to register each delivery app trading name
All virtual brands must be reported to your council
No written HACCP plan at inspection
Cannot score above 1-star hygiene rating
Opening a dark kitchen without planning permission
Most boroughs classify as Sui Generis — enforcement action likely
Applying for alcohol licence too late
28-day consultation period plus processing — allow 6-8 weeks total
Starting with employees but no Employers Liability
Up to £2,500 per day fine
No food waste segregation
Mandatory from March 2025 for businesses with 10+ employees
Written by
James Mitchell
Ghost Kitchen Operations Director & Industry Expert
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I register a food business in London?
Register your food business through your local borough's environmental health department at least 28 days before opening. Registration is completely free and cannot be refused. You can register online at register.food.gov.uk or through your borough website. You can start trading once registration is submitted — you don't need to wait for the inspection.
How much does a food business license cost in London?
Food business registration in London is free. However, total compliance costs include: Level 2 Food Hygiene training (£15-28 per person), Level 3 for supervisors (£79-99), insurance (£560-1,200/year), and waste collection (£960-1,220/year). Total first-year compliance costs typically run £3,500-5,500 for a small food business without an alcohol licence.
How long does it take to get a food license in London?
Food business registration is processed within 4-28 days. You can legally start trading once you submit your application. Your first food hygiene inspection typically occurs within 28 days for new high-risk premises, though London boroughs face significant backlogs — some businesses wait 3-6 months for their first rating. Currently over 42,000 businesses in England are awaiting their first inspection.
Do I need different licenses for different London boroughs?
Your food business registration follows the same FSA regulations across all 32 London boroughs plus the City of London. Register with the borough where your premises is located. However, some boroughs have specific requirements: Camden requires a 3+ hygiene rating for street traders, City of London uses Port Health Authority, and Westminster has stricter rules in entertainment districts. If you operate from multiple locations, register each premises separately.
Do ghost kitchens need a food license in London?
Yes, ghost kitchens (dark kitchens) have the same food business registration requirements as traditional restaurants. You must register with your local council 28 days before opening, have food hygiene trained staff, and maintain HACCP documentation. Additionally, most London boroughs classify dark kitchens as Sui Generis rather than Class E — meaning you likely need specific planning permission to operate a delivery-only kitchen.
Do I need planning permission for a dark kitchen in London?
Most likely yes. The majority of London boroughs (including Camden and Islington) classify dark kitchens as Sui Generis rather than Class E, meaning specific planning permission is required. Key concerns are odour extraction, noise from delivery riders, and traffic congestion. Seek premises with existing B2 or Sui Generis (Hot Food Takeaway) consent to avoid enforcement action. Converting a Class E retail unit into a dark kitchen without permission is high-risk.
What happens if I operate without registering?
Operating a food business without registering is a criminal offence under the Food Safety Act 1990. You can be prosecuted and fined. Environmental health officers can also issue improvement notices or closure orders. There is no benefit to avoiding registration since it is free and cannot be refused.
Which London borough is best for starting a food business?
It depends on your business model. Tower Hamlets and Hackney suit trend-focused delivery brands with their responsive commercial teams. Southwark (Bermondsey) is ideal for dark kitchens with its established infrastructure. Park Royal (Ealing/Brent border) is best for Central Production Units and bulk catering. Westminster suits premium dining but has stricter enforcement. All boroughs follow the same FSA regulations — the main differences are in street trading rules, planning enforcement, and inspection response times.