What Are My Rights If I Lose My Burger Van Pitch?

by Barbara
(Bristol)

Burger van trailer in a UK retail car park

Burger van trailer in a UK retail car park

Hi, I have been renting a pitch in a wickes car park for almost 2 years, and have just been informed that within the next two days the land is being bought by a new owner and they do not want a burger trailer in the car park, I have not been given any notice and even the manager of wickes said he did not know anything about it.

Please can anyone tell me of my rights, as the trailer has been there for quiet a few years before i bought it that i don't think it could be moved and have no other income coming in, its been a hard two years and business has really taken off the last couple of months, I had to take out bank loan last year, so if i lose the pitch i will be left with nothing. I had to supply my details etc, for wickes head office and landlord when I took over the trailer and also been paying rent so does that give me any rights to bargain with.

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Apr 02, 2026
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by: MobCater

Hi Barbara,

That's a really tough situation, especially when business has just started to pick up. I've seen this happen to other traders over the years and I know how stressful it is when your livelihood depends on a single pitch.

The honest answer is that your rights depend almost entirely on what's in your agreement. If you have a written contract or lease for the pitch, the terms of that document will set out the notice period and your rights. Most car park pitch agreements include a notice clause, and if they haven't followed it, you may have grounds to push back or at least buy yourself more time. If your agreement is just a verbal or informal arrangement, it gets harder, but the fact that you've been paying rent consistently and were asked to supply your details to head office does show there was a recognised arrangement in place.

Two days is not reasonable notice for any business to relocate, and it would be worth making that point clearly and calmly to whoever is managing the handover. Write to them in an email (so you have it on record) explaining how long you've been there, that you've been paying rent, and that you need a reasonable notice period to find an alternative location. Even without a formal contract, most people will recognise that two days is unfair.

I would also get some proper advice on this. Citizens Advice Bureau is free and they deal with exactly this kind of thing. If there's any money involved that you might lose, it could be worth a quick chat with a solicitor who handles commercial disputes. Many offer a free initial consultation.

In the meantime, my practical advice would be to start looking for a new pitch straight away, even while you're pushing back on the notice period. Don't put all your energy into fighting and then find yourself with nothing. Drive around your area, check other retail parks, industrial estates, and building sites. The fact that your business is doing well means your regulars will follow you if you move somewhere nearby. Let them know where you're going.

I've lost pitches before and it always feels like the end of the world at the time, but the traders who do well are the ones who move fast and don't sit waiting. Your skills and your customer base travel with you.

Best of luck,

David

Disclaimer: This is based on my experience in UK mobile catering. Rules and costs can change, so always do your own research and check with the relevant authorities before committing.

Try the free MobCater App for a startup checklist and step-by-step guide: https://www.mobcater.co.uk/mobile-catering.html

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