Opening a food or drink venue: what to do, and when
For new venues, businesses taking over a venue, and venues planning a refit. Steps are in time order, counted back from the day you open. Each links to the official page, which has the full rules.
This is a general guide, not legal advice. Rules change and each council has its own forms and fees, so check the official page for each step. We do our best to keep this guide up to date.
Choose your nation: England and Wales · Scotland · Northern Ireland
England and Wales
Last checked: 29 October 2026
- As early as you can: check planning. Check with the council whether you need planning permission, especially if the building wasn't used for food before.
GOV.UK: Planning permission - As early as you can: a premises licence, if you will sell alcohol, put on entertainment, or serve hot food or drink between 11pm and 5am. You apply to the council, and the application must be shown on a notice for 28 days, so allow time. When you apply you must be, or name, a designated premises supervisor who holds a personal licence to sell alcohol (this needs a licensing qualification). Taking over a venue that already has a licence? Ask the council about moving it into your name.
GOV.UK: Premises licence · GOV.UK: Personal licence to sell alcohol - 8 to 12 weeks before opening: book the suppliers who need the most time: shopfitting and signs, catering equipment, energy and utilities, an accountant or business adviser.
- 4 to 6 weeks before opening: tills and card machines, insurance, staff, food hygiene training, delivery and table booking. If you will employ anyone, employers' liability insurance is required by law from the day your first employee starts: at least £5 million of cover, from an authorised insurer (not needed if everyone you employ is a close family member).
GOV.UK: Employers' liability insurance - At least 28 days before you open: register as a food business with the council. You need to do this when you start a new food business and when you take over an existing one. You can register online.
Register a food business (Food Standards Agency) · GOV.UK: Food business registration - 2 to 3 weeks before opening: order your first stock and services: drinks, food, beer and cider, coffee, packaging, cleaning and hygiene, pest control, waste and recycling.
Scotland
Last checked: 29 October 2026
- As early as you can: check planning, and ask the council about licences. You may need planning permission if the building was not used for food before, and building regulations approval for building work or extra drainage. You may need a licence to sell alcohol, provide entertainment or provide late hours catering: some licences can take up to a year to be issued, so ask your council's licensing team early. An alcohol premises licence needs a premises manager who holds a personal licence.
mygov.scot: Starting a food business · mygov.scot: Business licences · GOV.UK: Premises licence (Scotland) - 8 to 12 weeks before opening: book the suppliers who need the most time: shopfitting and signs, catering equipment, energy and utilities, an accountant or business adviser.
- 4 to 6 weeks before opening: tills and card machines, insurance, staff, food hygiene training, delivery and table booking. If you will employ anyone, employers' liability insurance is required by law from the day your first employee starts: at least £5 million of cover, from an authorised insurer (not needed if everyone you employ is a close family member).
GOV.UK: Employers' liability insurance - At least 28 days before you open: register as a food business with the council (or get it approved, for some kinds of food). You need to do this when you start a new food business and when you take over an existing one. Registration is free.
mygov.scot: Starting a food business · Food Standards Scotland: Registering a food business - 2 to 3 weeks before opening: order your first stock and services: drinks, food, beer and cider, coffee, packaging, cleaning and hygiene, pest control, waste and recycling.
Northern Ireland
Last checked: 29 October 2026
- As early as you can: check planning. Check with the council whether you need planning permission, especially if the building wasn't used for food before.
nidirect: Planning permission, when to apply - As early as you can: a liquor licence, if you will sell alcohol. Liquor licences are granted by the county court. Before the court sitting you must publish a notice in at least 2 local newspapers (at least 2 weeks before), and put a notice on or near the premises and tell the local police station and the district council (at least 3 weeks before); the notices include a plan of the premises. For a pub or an off-licence you give up an existing licence of the same kind to the court.
nidirect: Selling alcohol in licensed premises · GOV.UK: Alcohol licence (Northern Ireland) - 8 to 12 weeks before opening: book the suppliers who need the most time: shopfitting and signs, catering equipment, energy and utilities, an accountant or business adviser.
- 4 to 6 weeks before opening: tills and card machines, insurance, staff, food hygiene training, delivery and table booking. If you will employ anyone, employers' liability insurance is required by law: at least £5 million of cover.
HSENI: Employers' liability insurance - At least 28 days before you open: register as a food business with the council. You need to do this when you start a new food business and when you take over an existing one. You can register online.
Register a food business (Food Standards Agency) - 2 to 3 weeks before opening: order your first stock and services: drinks, food, beer and cider, coffee, packaging, cleaning and hygiene, pest control, waste and recycling.