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Which London Borough Gives Permission for Roadside Catering?

by Eszter
(London)

Mobile coffee van serving customers on a London street

Mobile coffee van serving customers on a London street

I am planing to set up mobile catering business trading on road side such as sandwiches, drink, coffe and snacks. Is anyone can help which borough/council in London gives permission to road side trading?
Thank you

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Mar 28, 2026
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by: MobCater

Hiya Eszter,

This is one of the most common questions from people wanting to start in London, and the honest answer is — it depends on the borough.

London has 32 boroughs plus the City of London, and every single one has its own street trading rules. Each borough categorises its streets into three types: licence streets (you can trade with a licence), consent streets (you can trade with consent), and prohibited streets (no trading at all). So there's no single borough that's "the easy one" — it really comes down to where you want to trade and what their policy is.

Some boroughs are definitely more straightforward than others. The outer boroughs tend to have more consent streets available compared to central London. Westminster and the City of London are notoriously difficult for street trading — they're heavily regulated and most of the best spots are already taken. Boroughs like Southwark, Lambeth, Tower Hamlets, and some of the outer ones like Croydon, Bromley, or Enfield can be more approachable, but you'll still need to apply and meet their requirements.

The best approach is to pick the area where you actually want to trade, then contact that specific borough's street trading team. Ask them which streets are designated as consent or licence streets, what the application process is, and what the fees are. Some boroughs have waiting lists for popular spots, so be prepared for that.

Here's a tip that a lot of new caterers in London miss — don't just think about street trading. Private land can be much easier to get onto and you don't need a street trading licence for it. Think about industrial estates, business parks, retail parks, and car parks. The owner gives you permission and you're good to go (you'll still need all your food hygiene and registration sorted, but you skip the council licensing process). In London there are loads of these spots and they're often less competitive than street pitches.

Wherever you end up trading, you'll need to register your food business with the council where your van is based (not necessarily where you trade), get your Level 2 Food Hygiene Certificate, sort out public liability insurance, and have your Safer Food Better Business pack ready.

This is general guidance for UK mobile catering. Rules can vary between councils, so always check with your local authority.

Disclaimer: This is general advice for UK mobile catering. Licensing rules vary between councils, so always check with your local authority's street trading or licensing team before you start.

Best of luck
David

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