Registering a food business

Every local authority is required by law to keep a register of all the food businesses in its area. Anyone starting a new food business must register with the local authority at least 28 days before opening for business. Registering your business is a simple process and doesn't cost anything.

If you run a food business within Southwark, you must tell Southwark's food team about any premises you use for storing, selling, distributing or preparing food. Food premises include restaurants, hotels, cafes, shops, supermarkets, staff canteens, kitchens in offices, warehouses, guest houses, home caterers including childminders, delivery vehicles, buffet cars on trains, market and other stalls, hot dog, ice cream vans, etc.

If you use vehicles for your food business in connection with permanent premises such as a shop or warehouse, you need to tell us how many vehicles you have. You don't need to register each vehicle separately. If you have one or more vehicles but no permanent premises, you must tell the authority where they are normally kept.

Registering with more than one local authority

If you have food premises within the borough of Southwark, you must register with Southwark's food team. If you use premises in more than one local authority area, you must register with each authority separately.

Exempt food premises

There are certain premises that are exempt from registration e.g. some that are already registered for food law purposes, certain agricultural premises, motor cars, tents and marquees (but not stalls), some domestic premises and some village halls. Please contact us if you think your premises might be exempt.

How to register your food business

You can register your food business online by completing an online form. Once you have filled it in and signed it, please send it back to Southwark's food team at the address below. If you wish to sell alcohol, or sell hot food after 11pm, you will need to apply for a licence under the Licensing Act 2003.

No registration will be refused but you must fill out the form correctly. It is an offence to give information that you know is false. Officers from Southwark's food team have to visit all food premises. Each food business will be contacted when they complete the food registration form.

The name and address of your business and the type of business carried on will be included in a register which is open to the public.

Once you have registered, you only need to notify us of a change of proprietor, if the nature of the business changes or if there is a change of the address at which moveable premises are kept. The new proprietor will have to complete an application form.