Do You Need a Food Hygiene Certificate to Sell Tea and Coffee at a Car Boot Sale?


(Kings lynn norfolk)

Camper van serving tea and coffee at a UK car boot sale

Camper van serving tea and coffee at a UK car boot sale

we run a carboot fortnightly and a camper van on site, we only serve teas and coffees.
Does the operator need a food hygean certificate
Or a licence from the council?

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Apr 02, 2026
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by: MobCater

Hello,

Good question, and one I hear a lot from people selling just hot drinks. The short answer is yes, you do need to register as a food business, even if all you're selling is teas and coffees. Anything you prepare and sell to the public counts as a food business in the eyes of the law.

You'll need to register with your local council's Environmental Health department at least 28 days before you start trading. It's free and straightforward. You just fill in a form telling them what you're selling, where you'll be operating, and how you're set up. Since you're working from a camper van at a fortnightly car boot, they'll want to know the basics: that you've got access to clean water, a way to wash your hands, and that everything is kept clean.

On the food hygiene certificate, the law says the person handling the food (or drinks, in your case) must be trained to an appropriate level. For hot drinks only, the risk is lower than for someone cooking raw meat, but a Level 2 Food Hygiene Certificate is still what most Environmental Health Officers expect to see. You can do it online in a few hours and it costs about £15 to £25. It's a one-off qualification and it shows you're taking things seriously. Some car boot organisers will also ask to see proof of it before they let you trade, so it's worth having either way.

As for a separate council licence, this depends on the setup. Most car boot sales operate under a market licence that the organiser holds, so you probably won't need your own street trading licence. But it's always worth checking with the organiser to confirm this, and also with your local council, because rules can vary.

One thing I'd add from experience: even though you're just doing drinks, keep your camper van spotless. If an Environmental Health Officer ever turns up at the car boot, and they do sometimes, a clean setup and a food hygiene cert will mean you sail through with no issues.

Hope that helps,

David

Disclaimer: Food safety rules are updated from time to time. Always check the latest FSA guidance and speak to your local EHO for the most current requirements in your area.

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