Street trading

The following information offers general advice and is for guidance only. For anything that is not covered please contact the Licensing team.

If you want to sell goods or services on the street, you will require a Street Trading Consent.

Street Trading is only permitted in certain parts of the town.

Hastings has a small number of static pitches (mobile units) throughout the town. When these become available, they are advertised on our Concessions page.

Town Centre

If you wish to trade within the town centre, this is a controlled area for street trading and there are only a few designated pitches. In the first instance please contact the town centre manager, on 07876 390065, who will be able to give you the information on the sites available, if any. Or email: office@lovehastings.com More information can be found on the
Love Hastings - Stay safe and protect Hastings Town Centre website.

Hastings has two markets which operate throughout the year.

If you wish to trade within the Thursday town centre market, please email the Chair of Hastings Town Centre Market at hastingstownmarket@gmail.com They will be able to advise you if there are any available pitches, and what conditions you need to be aware of. 

St Leonards (Kings Road)

If you wish to trade within the St Leonards monthly market (Kings Road), which operates from April to November, please email Sussex Concepts suss.concepts@gmail.com they will be able to advise you if they have any availability, and what conditions you need to be aware of. Visit the Sussex Concepts website for further information.

General Information

All street traders will be required to have public liability insurance and product liability insurance.

If you intend to sell food you need to be registered as a food business (even for a mobile food stand), you need to register with Hastings.

We require a minimum of 28 days' notice prior to the date of any street trading event.

If you are going to run any sort of charity event at which you intend to collect money you will need to apply for a street collection permit.

If you are going to run any sort of raffle, tombola or lottery anywhere in the Borough including private property, you may need a permit. Please contact the licensing team.

We require a minimum of 28 days' notice prior to the date of the street trading requirements.

Events

Street trading consents are still required if you wish to trade at events which are held on public land, ie The Stade, The Oval, Alexandra Park, that do not have a closure order under the East Sussex Act. These large events usually have an event organiser who would collate all street trading applications.

Unlicensed Street Trading

If you wish to report an incident of unlicensed street trading, please contact the licensing team.

Application form & Guidelines

Download the application form.

Location: Roads and Streets (including pedestrianised areas of the town centre)
See above or Contact Licensing through our Contact us form.

Location: the Sea foreshore, Promenade, Stade, Seafront
Contact: resorts@hastings.gov.uk
Note: Ice cream/food sales on the seafront - pitches are offered for tender on a regular basis and will be advertised on our Concessions page.

Location: Alexandra Park, Warrior Square Gardens, The Oval, The Country Park and other open spaces.
Contact: resorts@hastings.gov.uk
Note: Ice cream/food sales in the parks etc - pitches are offered for tender on a regular basis. For further details of pitches available and the tendering process, please contact the Leisure Manager.

Location: Council owned car parks.
Contact the Parking Manager through our Contact us form.

The following are private property and you should contact the relevant manager at the venue for permissions:
Priory Meadow, Hastings Pier, Horntye Park Sports Complex and school playing fields.

Fees

The charge for this service can be found on our fees page. 

Pedlars Certificate

You will need a pedlar's certificate if you sell door to door or in the street without a stall or fixed location.

To be a pedlar you must:

• Trade on foot
• Carry your goods with you
• Keep walking and on the move, pausing to make sales

Certificates are issued by the police in the area in which you have resided for the previous month. You must be above 17 years of age, a person of good character, and in good faith intend to trade as a pedlar.

A fee of will be charged and the certificate will remain in force for one year.

Sussex Police offer the following advice.