UK Mobile Catering FAQs: Regulations, Licences and Gas Safety Explained
Starting a mobile catering business in the UK means working through a stack of legal and practical questions before you serve your first customer. From food business registration to street trading licences, LPG gas safety, and public liability insurance, the requirements can feel like a lot — especially when you are also choosing equipment, planning a menu, and finding pitches.
A propane-powered mobile catering unit, registered with the local council, holding a valid CP44 gas safety certificate, and covered by public liability insurance is the standard baseline for legal operation in the UK. Guidance from the Food Standards Agency, the Health and Safety Executive, Gas Safe Register, and local authorities all point to the same core requirements. The questions below are the ones mobile caterers ask most — answered directly, with everything you need to know and nothing you don’t.
Registering Your Mobile Catering Business
Do I need to register my food business with my local council?
Yes — food business registration is a legal requirement under the Food Safety Act 1990 and Food Business Registration Regulations. You must register with your local authority at least 28 days before you start trading. Registration is free and is usually completed online through your council’s website. You cannot be refused registration, but you can be inspected and rated under the Food Hygiene Rating Scheme once you are registered. Trading as an unregistered food business is a criminal offence.
Which council do I register with?
You register with the local authority for the area where your catering unit is kept or where you primarily trade. If you travel widely, register in your home borough. If you trade regularly in a different council area, check whether that authority requires separate notification. Most councils accept a single registration for mobile operators who trade across multiple areas within a reasonable radius.
Street Trading Licences and Land Permissions
What is a street trading licence and do I need one?
A street trading licence is a permit from your local council that authorises you to sell food or drink from a fixed or mobile pitch on a public street, highway, or designated public space. If you plan to trade on any public land — roads, pavements, or council-managed sites — you need one. Each council has its own application process, fees, and designated pitch locations. Contact your local authority early, as licences can take weeks or months to issue.
Do I need a street trading licence on private land?
Not usually. If you have written permission from the landowner, a street trading licence is generally not required for private land such as car parks, industrial estates, or fields. However, planning permission may be needed if your trading changes the use of the land — particularly for regular or permanent pitches. Some councils apply street trading bylaws to privately owned land in certain circumstances, so always check with your local authority before committing to a site.
Do I need planning permission for mobile catering?
Occasional trading from a vehicle usually does not require planning permission. Regular trading from the same private site — particularly if it involves installing utilities or permanent infrastructure — may constitute a change of use under planning law, requiring permission from the local planning authority. Events and festivals usually handle their own permissions. When in doubt, contact your local council’s planning department before signing any pitch agreement.
Food Hygiene Certificates and Inspections
What food hygiene certificate do I need for mobile catering?
A Level 2 Award in Food Safety in Catering is the minimum accepted qualification for anyone handling food in a mobile catering business. At least one person present during trading should hold this certificate. It covers food safety hazards, temperature control, cross-contamination, and personal hygiene. Courses are available online or at local colleges and typically take one day. Environmental health officers check for food hygiene qualifications during inspections and when processing your food business registration.
What do environmental health officers check when they inspect?
Inspections under the Food Hygiene Rating Scheme assess three areas: food safety management (your documented procedures), structural compliance (surfaces, ventilation, waste disposal, handwashing facilities), and hygiene practices (temperature records, cross-contamination controls, staff knowledge). Mobile units are scored on the same criteria as fixed premises. Your hygiene rating is published publicly. A rating of 3 or above is generally expected by event organisers and councils; many require a minimum of 4 or 5.
LPG Gas Safety for Mobile Caterers
What gas do mobile caterers use in the UK?
Mobile caterers in the UK use propane (G31), supplied in red cylinders and connected at an operating pressure of 37 mbar. Propane is the correct fuel for outdoor commercial catering because it vaporises reliably at temperatures as low as −42°C. Butane stops vaporising below around 5°C and is not suitable for mobile or outdoor catering. All commercial LPG catering equipment designed for mobile use — fryers, griddles, burners, water boilers — is manufactured for propane G31 at 37 mbar.
Do I need a gas safety certificate for my LPG equipment?
Yes. All LPG installations in a mobile catering unit must be inspected and certified annually by a Gas Safe registered engineer holding the LP6 (LPG catering vehicles) competency. The certificate — commonly referred to as a CP44 gas safety certificate — covers the entire gas installation including regulators, pipework, appliances, and ventilation. Most event organisers, councils, and insurance providers require a valid CP44 before allowing you to trade. A lapsed or missing certificate voids most commercial insurance policies.
How often does my gas installation need servicing?
The full CP44 inspection and certification is required annually. Each individual gas appliance should also be serviced according to the manufacturer’s schedule — typically every 12 months for commercial use. Keep a service log for every piece of gas equipment, recording dates, engineer names, and Gas Safe registration numbers. A complete service record is your evidence of compliance during inspections and supports any insurance claims arising from equipment failure.
Insurance for Mobile Catering Businesses
What insurance do I need for mobile catering?
The core policies for a mobile catering business are public liability insurance (typically £5m cover), commercial vehicle insurance for the van or trailer, and employers’ liability insurance if you employ any staff — including part-time workers. Employers’ liability is a legal requirement under the Employers’ Liability (Compulsory Insurance) Act 1969. Public liability is not always a statutory requirement, but event organisers and councils routinely refuse entry without it. Equipment insurance and product liability cover are also worth considering.
What does public liability insurance cover?
Public liability insurance covers claims made against your business by members of the public for bodily injury or property damage caused by your operation. Examples include a customer slipping near your unit, an allergic reaction to food, or equipment causing damage to a third party’s property. It covers legal defence costs and compensation payments up to your policy limit. Most event organisers require a minimum of £5m public liability cover; some require £10m for larger venues.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to register my mobile catering business with the local council?
Yes — registration is a legal requirement under the Food Safety Act. Notify your local authority at least 28 days before you start trading; registration is free and done online. Once registered, an environmental health officer may visit to inspect your unit and issue a Food Hygiene Rating. You cannot be refused registration, but trading without it is a criminal offence. Register in the area where your unit is based or where you primarily trade.
What insurance do I need for a mobile catering business?
Public liability insurance and commercial vehicle insurance are the minimum practical requirements. If you employ staff — even part-time — employers’ liability insurance is a legal requirement. Most event organisers and councils demand proof of public liability cover (typically £5m) before they allow you on site. Product liability, equipment, and goods in transit insurance are also advisable. Specialist mobile catering insurance policies bundle these covers into a single policy.
Do I need a gas safety certificate for mobile catering LPG equipment?
Yes. All LPG equipment in a mobile catering unit requires annual inspection by a Gas Safe registered engineer with LP6 competency, resulting in a CP44 certificate. This covers all gas appliances, pipework, regulators, and ventilation. Event organisers and councils require a valid CP44 before trading; most insurance policies require one too. A lapsed certificate voids your insurance cover. Keep a service log for each appliance alongside your annual certificate.
What food hygiene certificate do I need for mobile catering?
A Level 2 Award in Food Safety in Catering is the minimum accepted standard. At least one person present during trading must hold it. The qualification covers food hazards, temperature control, personal hygiene, and cross-contamination. Courses are widely available online and at local colleges, usually completed in a single day. Environmental health officers check for food hygiene certificates during Food Hygiene Rating Scheme inspections of your mobile unit.
What is a street trading licence and do I need one?
A street trading licence authorises you to sell food or goods from a public street, highway, or council-managed space. If you trade on any public land, you need one. Rules and fees vary between councils; some have designated pitches with waiting lists, others have open application processes. Private land requires written landowner permission instead, though some councils apply street trading rules to privately owned land. Always check with your local authority before committing to a pitch.
What gas do mobile caterers use in the UK?
Mobile caterers use propane (G31) in red cylinders at 37 mbar operating pressure. Propane is mandatory for outdoor commercial catering because it vaporises in cold weather — butane stops working reliably below around 5°C and is not suitable for mobile catering. All commercial LPG catering equipment for mobile use is designed for propane G31 at 37 mbar. Using butane in a commercial unit risks equipment failure, unsafe operation, and potential insurance voidance.
Can I trade on private land without a street trading licence?
Yes, in most cases. Written permission from the landowner is sufficient to trade on private land without a street trading licence. However, regular trading from the same site may require planning permission if it changes the land’s use. Some local authorities apply street trading bylaws to certain privately owned areas, so check with your council before starting. Get landowner permission in writing, specifying the pitch location, trading hours, and who is responsible for waste removal.