Commissary Kitchens in Southampton
10 commissary kitchens available in Southampton
commissary kitchen spaces with professional equipment, flexible terms, and everything you need to launch your food business.
Rental Options & Pricing in Southampton
Typical pricing for commissary kitchens in Southampton. Actual rates may vary by facility and specific amenities.
| Rental Type | Price Range | Best For |
|---|---|---|
Hourly | £15-35/hour | Testing recipes, occasional production, weekend baking |
Daily | £100-250/day | Event catering, market prep, batch production days |
Monthly | £750-1500/month | Regular production, delivery operations, established businesses |
Most kitchens include utilities, equipment, and insurance in the rental price. Check individual listings for specific inclusions and deposit requirements.
Why Choose Commissary Kitchens in Southampton?
Commissary kitchens are shared commercial facilities specifically designed for food prep, storage, and commissary operations. Unlike ghost kitchens focused on delivery, commissaries provide essential infrastructure for food trucks, caterers, and food manufacturers who need licensed prep space and storage but operate elsewhere. Commissaries meet health department requirements for food trucks and mobile vendors, making them legally necessary in many jurisdictions. They offer cost-effective access to professional equipment without the commitment of a dedicated kitchen.
Best Suited For
Commissary kitchens are essential for food truck operations (often legally required for prep and storage), catering businesses that primarily work off-site, street food vendors, farmers market sellers, and specialty food producers making products for wholesale. They're also used by private chefs, meal prep services, and bakeries that deliver or sell through third-party channels. Any food business that needs licensed prep space but doesn't require on-site serving facilities benefits from commissary kitchens.
What to Expect
Commissary facilities provide shared commercial kitchen space with booking systems for scheduling your production time. Equipment typically includes commercial ranges, ovens, mixers, slicers, prep tables, and walk-in refrigeration. Most offer individual storage lockers or shelving for dry goods and assigned refrigerator/freezer space. Expect shared dishwashing facilities, loading docks or delivery areas, and sometimes office space or meeting rooms. Utilities, cleaning supplies, and basic seasonings are usually included. Some commissaries offer additional services like packaging supplies, equipment rental, or business mentorship.
Minimum Commitment
Commissary kitchens offer flexible commitments ranging from hourly bookings to monthly memberships. Hourly rentals (typically £20-45/hour or $25-55/hour) have no long-term commitment, while monthly plans often require 1-6 months initially. Many facilities offer package deals like "20 hours per month" that provide better rates than hourly bookings. This flexibility makes commissaries perfect for seasonal businesses, food trucks with variable schedules, or caterers with fluctuating demand.
Access & Flexibility
Commissaries operate on scheduled time blocks rather than 24/7 access. You book specific hours or shifts in advance, typically through online booking systems. Popular times (weekday mornings and afternoons) may require advance reservation, while overnight and weekend slots often have better availability. Some facilities offer guaranteed recurring time slots for monthly members. Unlike private kitchen rentals, you'll coordinate with other users and may need to clean and reset equipment between sessions.
Available Commissary Kitchens in Southampton
Browse 10 verified commissary kitchens spaces. All kitchens include professional equipment and flexible rental terms.
What is a Commissary Kitchen?
A commissary kitchen in Southampton is a professional food preparation facility designed for commissary kitchen, commissary kitchens, central production kitchen. These spaces are fully licensed, equipped with commercial-grade appliances, and offer flexible rental terms to help food entrepreneurs start and scale their businesses.
Perfect For:
- food truck
- street food
- catering
- manufacturing
Key Benefits:
- No long-term lease commitment
- All equipment included
- Fully licensed premises
- Scale up or down as needed
- Professional network access
Other Kitchen Types in Southampton
Commissary Kitchens in Other Cities
Licensing & Regulations in Southampton
What you need to know before renting commissary kitchens in Southampton
Food Business Registration (Required)
All food businesses in the UK must register with their local council's environmental health department at least 28 days before opening. This applies whether you're operating from a commercial kitchen, ghost kitchen, or home-based food business.
Registration is completely free and cannot be refused
You can start trading once you've submitted your application
Processed within 4-28 days of receipt
Food Hygiene Certificate
While not legally required, Level 2 Food Safety and Hygiene certification is strongly recommended and often required by commercial kitchen operators. Many kitchens won't rent to you without it.
Level 2 (Essential)
- All food handlers
- Online courses available
- Cost: £15-30
- Takes 2-4 hours
Level 3 (Supervisors)
- Business owners/managers
- HACCP knowledge included
- Cost: £30-50
- Takes 6-8 hours
Timeline to Start Trading
Get Food Hygiene Certificate
2-4 hours online, £15-30
Register with Local Council
At least 28 days before opening (free)
Rent Kitchen & Start Trading
Can begin once application submitted
First Inspection
Within 28 days for high-risk premises
Common Mistakes to Avoid:
- • Not registering 28 days before opening (this is an offence)
- • Forgetting to register each trading name if you operate multiple brands
- • Assuming home-based businesses don't need registration (they do)
- • Not informing the council of delivery-only operations (ghost/dark kitchens must register)