Restaurants & Caterers

Restaurants are considered any establishment whose primary business is to cook/prepare food for consumption by customers at a seated area on the premises.

Caterer's refers to businesses which either:

• Primarily sell alcohol (that is, public houses or nightclubs)
• Provide caring services which include food provision (that is, nursing homes or schools), or
• Provide food for consumption off the premises (that is, takeaways or sandwich shops).

Do I need to register?

Any commercial premises being used as a food business must be registered with the Council, at least 28 days before opening, if you are preparing food or drink for sale, either to the public or another entity. This is free, and there is only one simple form to fill in, but it is a legal requirement and you can be prosecuted if you do not register before starting.

To register visit food registration form.

Helpful documents

There is a lot of guidance for food businesses available online.

For detailed advice on the structural and other hygiene standards you must meet please read the guidance in the links below. 

• FSA SFBB Diary (.pdf)
• Caterers guidance (.pdf)
• Toilet provision (.pdf)
• Fats, oils and grease booklet (.pdf)
• Guidance for use of deep fat fryers (.pdf)
• Food allergy - what you need to know (.pdf)
• Managing E. coli (Escherichia coli bacteria) (.pdf)
• Food hygiene training