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How Do I Get Council Permission to Trade a Street Food Van in the City Centre?

by ornella cancila
(manchester uk)

Customers being served at the hatch of an orange street food van on a UK city centre street

Customers being served at the hatch of an orange street food van on a UK city centre street

Hi
I live in Manchester and in the last 2 years I been working in my business plan and project to open my little street food restaurant in Manchester city centre. I've seen one area where I wanna stay with my mobile van but I don't know how I need to ask to the council if I can stay in that area. I don't know which office can give me info about that area if is possible open a little mobile restaurant. Can you direct me please? Thank you very much

Ornella

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Sep 15, 2026
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by: MobCater

Hi Ornella, it sounds like you have done the hard thinking already, so this last piece is really just knowing which door to knock on.

What you need for a spot in the city centre is street trading authorisation from the council. Manchester splits this into two types. A Street Trader Licence covers the city centre and the inner ring road, and a Street Trader Consent covers most of the other streets in the city. Because the pitch you have your eye on is right in the centre, it is the Licence you will be applying for.

The office to contact is the Licensing team at Manchester City Council. Give them a ring or drop them an email, tell them the exact street or spot you are interested in, and ask two things. First, whether that street is a prohibited street, because some streets are closed to trading altogether and there is no point applying for those. Second, whether they will consider an application for that particular pitch. City centre spots are in high demand and a few are already taken, so it is worth having a second and third choice ready in case your first is a no.

When you do apply, they will want a completed application form, a passport photo, a copy of your public liability insurance, and your food business registration certificate. As a mobile trader you also list every street you want to trade on, so think that through before you send it in.

On the food side, register as a food business with the council at least 28 days before you plan to start. It is free, and you will want your level 2 food hygiene certificate and a Safer Food Better Business pack in place too.

One thing I always did before applying anywhere was go and stand at the spot at the times I would actually be trading. Look at the footfall, the parking and loading rules, and whether you would block the pavement. The council weighs up obstruction and pedestrian flow when they decide, so a pitch that works for you without causing anyone a problem is far more likely to get a yes.

The application form and the guidance are both on the Manchester City Council website under licensing and street trading.

Keep going

David

Disclaimer: This is general advice for UK mobile catering. Street trading rules and fees vary between councils, so always check with your local authority, Manchester City Council in your case, before you start trading.

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