Knowing which licences to open a restaurant in the UK you need is one of the first jobs for any new operator. The UK asks for relatively few licences compared with many markets. The catch is knowing which apply to your venue, what they cost and how long each takes.
This guide walks through every licence and registration a UK restaurant, café or bar needs before opening. It covers food business registration, the alcohol licences, outdoor seating, music and insurance. If you are still planning, start with our guide to opening a restaurant.
The essentials
- Most UK restaurants need up to six licences before opening. These cover food, the business, alcohol, outdoor seating, music and insurance.
- An alcohol licence is really two licences, a premises licence and a personal licence. One covers the venue, the other the person selling.
- Food business registration is free and due at least 28 days before you open. You register with your local authority, and it cannot be refused.
- Budget from £37 to £1,905 across the main licences. The personal licence is a one-off £37; premises fees follow rateable value.
- Playing recorded or live music needs TheMusicLicence from PPL PRS. The fee scales with venue type and size, and covers most day-to-day use.
On this page
- Which licences you need
- Food business registration
- Alcohol licence
- Costs and timings
- Pavement licence
- Insurance you need
- Music licence
- Your next steps
- Frequently asked questions
Licences to open a restaurant in the UK
The licences to open a restaurant in the UK depend on how your venue trades. Which ones apply comes down to whether you sell alcohol, play music or seat guests outside.
Here is the checklist to work through:
- Food business registration: required for every venue that stores, prepares or serves food.
- Company registration: a limited company with Companies House, or a sole trader setup with HMRC.
- Premises licence: lets the venue sell alcohol and serve hot food late at night.
- Personal licence: held by the person who supervises alcohol sales.
- Pavement licence: needed if you place tables and chairs on the public highway.
- TheMusicLicence: covers recorded or live music played in the venue.
- Employers’ liability insurance: legally required from your first employee.
- Planning permission: may be needed if the building’s use is changing.
Key point: Food business registration and, if you sell alcohol, a premises licence plus a personal licence are the non-negotiables. Everything else on the list depends on how your venue trades.
Do you need to register as a food business?
Yes. Any venue that stores, prepares or serves food must register as a food business with its local authority. According to GOV.UK guidance on food business registration, you must register at least 28 days before you start trading.
The Food Standards Agency confirms registration is free and cannot be refused. You also need to register the business itself. Set up a limited company with Companies House, or register as a sole trader or partnership with HMRC.
Once you open, your local Environmental Health Officer will inspect the premises and give you a Food Hygiene Rating. A strong rating reassures guests, so it is worth preparing early. Our guide to your food hygiene inspection explains what inspectors look for.
Do you need an alcohol licence?
Yes, if you plan to sell alcohol you need an alcohol licence, and it is actually two separate licences. The venue needs a premises licence, and a named person needs a personal licence. Our full guide covers how to get an alcohol licence for your restaurant.
Premises licence
The premises licence authorises your venue to sell alcohol under the Licensing Act 2003. It sets your operating schedule and must uphold the four licensing objectives, such as preventing crime and protecting children from harm. You apply to your local council with a plan of the premises.
The licence also covers late-night refreshment, which is hot food or drink served between 11pm and 5am. Your application names a Designated Premises Supervisor, or DPS, who is responsible for alcohol sales. See the premises licence rules under the Licensing Act 2003 for the full process.
Personal licence
The Designated Premises Supervisor holds a personal licence to authorise the sale of alcohol. To apply you must be 18 or over and hold an accredited Level 2 qualification, the APLH. You also need a basic DBS check.
You can apply for a personal licence to sell alcohol through your local council. When you buy stock, use an HMRC-approved supplier and buy from an HMRC-approved wholesaler.
Key point: Selling alcohol needs both a premises licence for the venue and a personal licence for the DPS. Without both in place, the venue cannot legally sell alcohol.
Restaurant licence UK costs and how long each takes
Costs for a restaurant licence in the UK are modest, but they add up across several applications. The fees below are set by the Licensing Act 2003 (Fees) Regulations 2005. Timings matter as much as fees, so start the longest applications first.
| Licence | Typical fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Personal licence | £37 (plus £21.50 for a basic DBS check) | One-off, with no renewal |
| Premises licence | £100 to £1,905 | Banded by rateable value, plus a £70 to £350 annual charge |
| Pavement licence | Up to £500 for a new licence (£350 renewal) | Capped by law; your council sets the fee |
| Temporary Event Notice (TEN) | £21 | For one-off events of up to seven days |
Both licences usually take several weeks to come through, and the premises licence takes longer than the personal one. Apply early so licensing does not hold up your opening date. For the wider picture, see the cost of opening a restaurant.
Do you need a pavement licence for outdoor seating?
Yes. If you want tables and chairs on the public pavement, you need a pavement licence from your local council. The fee is set by your council and capped at £500 for a new licence, or £350 for a renewal, under the GOV.UK pavement licence guidance.
Your application usually needs a site plan showing the layout and a public liability insurance certificate. If outdoor covers are part of your plan, read our guide to outdoor and al fresco dining.
What insurance do you legally need?
Employers’ liability insurance is the one insurance the law requires. Under the Employers’ Liability (Compulsory Insurance) Act 1969, you must hold it from your first employee. The cover must be at least £5m and come from an authorised insurer.
Fines for going without can reach £2,500 for each day you are uninsured. You can check the rules in the GOV.UK guide to employers’ liability insurance. Public liability insurance is not a legal requirement, but most operators take it out to cover claims from guests.
Do you need a licence to play music?
Yes. Playing recorded or live music in your venue needs a music licence. In the UK this is TheMusicLicence from PPL PRS.
The fee scales with your venue type and size, so a small café pays less than a large bar. Playing music without it risks copyright action. One licence covers most day-to-day use, from background playlists to live sets.
Your next steps to get licensed
Work through the licences to open a restaurant in the UK in order of lead time. Register as a food business and start your premises licence early, then handle the personal licence, pavement licence, music and insurance. Getting the paperwork right keeps your launch on schedule.
Once you are trading, the right till system helps you run service and stay on top of takings. Lightspeed, the unified ePOS and Payments platform for hospitality, is built to run service in busy UK venues. You can see Lightspeed’s restaurant ePOS and Payments platform for how it fits a new venue.
See how Lightspeed can help you run your new venue
Talk to our team about the ePOS and Payments platform built for UK hospitality.
Frequently asked questions
What licences do I need to open a restaurant in the UK?
The licences to open a restaurant in the UK include food business registration and, if you sell alcohol, a premises and personal licence. You may also need a pavement licence, TheMusicLicence and employers’ liability insurance.
Do I need an alcohol licence for my restaurant?
Yes, if you sell alcohol you need an alcohol licence. This is two licences: a premises licence for the venue and a personal licence for the Designated Premises Supervisor.
How much does a restaurant alcohol licence cost?
A personal licence costs £37 as a one-off, plus £21.50 for a basic DBS check. A premises licence ranges from £100 to £1,905 by rateable value, plus an annual charge.
How long does it take to get a licence?
A premises licence takes longer than a personal licence, and both can take several weeks to come through. Apply early so licensing does not delay your opening.
Do I need a licence to serve hot food late at night?
Yes. Serving hot food or drink between 11pm and 5am is late-night refreshment, which needs a premises licence from your local council.
What is the difference between a licensed and an unlicensed restaurant?
A licensed restaurant holds a premises licence and can sell alcohol on site. An unlicensed restaurant cannot, though some let guests bring their own drink under a corkage arrangement.
Do I need a licence to sell homemade or takeaway food?
You still must register as a food business with your local authority. If you sell alcohol or serve hot food late at night, the same alcohol and premises licence rules apply.
Are the licensing rules different in Scotland?
Yes. Scotland runs under the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 rather than the Licensing Act 2003, so check your local licensing board for the specific rules.
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