How to Open a Café in the UK (2026)
Opening a café is one of the most popular ways into business in the UK — and the dream of it can distract from the one step you legally must get right first: registering your food business at least 28 days before you open. Do that, get a strong hygiene rating, and the rest follows in order. This guide walks every step from registration to opening day.
Step 1 — Register your food business (28 days before opening)
This is the non-negotiable first step. Register with your local council at least 28 days before trading — it's free and can't be refused. It applies to any café, even a small one or a coffee van.
Step 2 — Sort your premises
A café is a sit-in space, so the premises matter:
- Check whether you need planning permission or a change of use for the unit — confirm with your local council before you sign a lease.
- Get landlord consent for the use and any fit-out.
- Plan for a compliant kitchen/prep area: hand-washing, surfaces, extraction, and waste.
Step 3 — Put a food-safety system in place
By law you need a written food-safety system based on HACCP — the free official Safer Food, Better Business pack does most of the work. Anyone handling food should hold Level 2 Food Hygiene training. A council Environmental Health officer will inspect and give you a Food Hygiene Rating (0–5) — displayed for customers, so aim for a 5.
Step 4 — Get your allergen information right
Tell customers about the 14 regulated allergens across your menu, and keep an allergen matrix. Anything prepacked for direct sale (e.g. sandwiches made on-site and shelved) needs full ingredient labelling with allergens emphasised, under Natasha's Law.
Step 5 — Structure, tax and insurance
- Register as a sole trader or limited company with HMRC within 3 months of trading.
- Public liability and product liability insurance are effectively essential; employers' liability is legally required once you hire baristas or staff.
- VAT — register once turnover exceeds £90,000. Café VAT is fiddly: eat-in and hot food are standard-rated; some cold takeaway items are zero-rated. Set it up correctly from day one.
Step 6 — Add only what applies to you
- Selling alcohol (e.g. evening wine service) needs a premises licence and a personal licence holder.
- Serving hot food/drink after 11pm needs a premises licence (late-night refreshment).
- Music in the café usually needs TheMusicLicence (PPL PRS).
- Arrange a commercial waste contract and pest control — neglecting pest control is a fast way to lose your hygiene rating.
Café requirements at a glance
| Requirement | Needed? |
|---|---|
| Food business registration | ✅ Legal — free, 28 days before opening |
| Planning / change of use | ⚪ Check with your council for the premises |
| HACCP / Safer Food Better Business | ✅ Legal requirement |
| Level 2 Food Hygiene training | ✅ For food handlers |
| Allergen info / Natasha's Law | ✅ All cafés (PPDS labelling) |
| HMRC registration | ✅ Sole trader or company |
| Public & product liability insurance | ⚠️ Effectively essential |
| Employers' liability insurance | ✅ Legal once you hire |
| Premises + personal licence | ⚪ Only if you serve alcohol |
| Music licence | ⚪ If you play music |
| VAT registration | ✅ Once turnover > £90,000 |
Open your café the easy way
Food registration, hygiene, allergens, the premises rules, VAT on eat-in vs takeaway — it's a lot to get right before opening day. Spark builds your exact café setup checklist, points you straight to the free food registration and the official hygiene and allergen guidance, and flags the alcohol, music and late-night bits only if they apply to you. It's free.
Build my free checklist →FAQ
What's the first thing I must do to open a café? Register your food business with your local council — free, at least 28 days before opening.
Do I need planning permission to open a café? Often you need the right planning use or a change of use for the premises — check with your council before committing to a lease.
Do I need an alcohol licence? Only if you'll sell alcohol. A standard café serving coffee and food just needs food registration and food-safety compliance.
When do I register for VAT? Once turnover passes £90,000 — and get your eat-in vs takeaway VAT rates set up correctly.
Last reviewed 2026. Confirm current rules on GOV.UK and the Food Standards Agency before acting.