Register with the council
A food business registers with its local council. The Food Standards Agency advises doing it at least 28 days before you start trading.
Guide hub
Food and drink traders at markets and events
Food and drink traders in the UK register their food business with the local council, give customers allergen information and set up a stall that keeps food safe. These guides cover stall ideas, getting started, set-up, hygiene ratings and allergens.
DP
Written by Darren PerrySpecialist in markets and outdoor retail
The short answersRegistration Allergens Hygiene rating Set-up
Four things to sort before you serve food
Know the 14 allergens
Customers must be able to find out if a dish contains any of the 14 allergens, including food given away free.
Understand the 0 to 5 scale
Inspections by the local authority lead to a hygiene rating, and display is a legal requirement in Wales and Northern Ireland.
Plan the stall layout
Plan handwashing, food storage, a safe cooking position and a weighted gazebo before the event day.
The guides
Every guide on food and drink traders
Food stall ideas
Hot food, bakes, sweet treats and fresh produce for markets and events.
Drink stall ideas
Coffee, cold drinks and mocktails, with water, ice and alcohol rules.
Street food stall ideas
Signature dishes and short menus for a compact pitch.
Festival food stall ideas
Menus and set-ups that suit a festival crowd.
How to start a food stall
From menu to registration, insurance and first events.
Setting up a food stall
Layout, handwashing, cooking safety and a morning checklist.
Food hygiene rating for event traders
The 0 to 5 scale and display rules in each nation.
Allergen information for food stalls
The 14 allergens and how to share the information.
Common questions
Food and drink traders: frequently asked questions
Do I need to register to sell food at a market?
Yes. A food business registers with its local council, and the Food Standards Agency advises registering at least 28 days before you start trading.
Do I have to display a food hygiene rating?
In Wales and Northern Ireland display is a legal requirement. In England it is voluntary. Scotland runs a separate scheme.
Do food stalls need allergen information?
Yes. Food businesses must tell customers if a dish contains any of the 14 allergens, including food given away free.
Can I sell alcohol from a food or drink stall?
Only with the right authorisation, which is often held by the organiser. Read our guide to selling alcohol at events first.
From Gala Tent
Gazebos built for regular pitches
Once a pitch is confirmed, the stall needs to fit it. Gala Tent makes market stall gazebos for traders who set up week after week.
More from the Gala family
Useful pages on our sister sites
Event Industry Trader is published by Gala Tent. These pages from Gala Tent and the wider Gala group go further on the kit, branding and payments covered here.
Sources
Where to check the rules
- Food Standards Agency: allergen information for non-prepacked food
- Food Standards Agency: food hygiene rating scheme audit 2021
- GOV.UK: starting a food business
Rules vary by council and by event. Confirm requirements with the organiser and the relevant authority before you act.