Apply to the market operator
Council-run markets have their own application, fees and rules. Contact the market office for the pitch you want.
Guide hub
Pitches and permits for event traders
You usually need permission from whoever controls the pitch: the council for street trading and council markets, or the organiser at private events. Food sellers also register with their local council, and anyone selling alcohol needs authorisation. These guides explain each step in turn.
DP
Written by Darren PerrySpecialist in markets and outdoor retail
The short answersCouncil markets Street trading Private events Food and alcohol
Four permissions event traders ask about
Consent from the council
Trading on the public highway or designated streets normally needs street trading consent. Each council sets its own rules.
The organiser sets the terms
Festival and event organisers choose their traders and ask to see insurance and compliance documents before confirming a pitch.
Register food, authorise alcohol
Food businesses register with the local council before trading. Selling alcohol needs a licence or a temporary event notice.
The guides
Every guide on pitches and permits
Do I need a licence to trade?
Which permissions apply at council markets, private events and on the street, and who to ask first.
Street trading consent explained
What a council street trading consent covers, how it differs from a market licence and when you need one.
How to book a pitch at a market
What organisers ask for, how pitches are allocated and what to have ready before you apply.
Trading at festivals and events
How private event organisers select traders, and the paperwork they usually ask to see.
Food business registration for event traders
When a food seller must register with the local council and what an inspection looks at.
Selling alcohol at events
How a temporary event notice works and who needs a licence to sell alcohol at a one-off event.
Pitch sizes and layout
How to read a pitch plan and fit a stall, gazebo, weights and guy lines inside it.
Common questions
Pitches and permits: frequently asked questions
Do I need a licence to trade at a market?
It depends on who runs the market and where it is held. Council-run markets usually have their own application and fees. On private land the organiser sets the terms. Street trading on the public highway normally needs consent from the local council. Ask the organiser or the council before you book.
What is the difference between a market licence and street trading consent?
A market licence or pitch agreement is issued by whoever runs the market. Street trading consent is issued by the council for trading on designated streets or public land. Each council sets its own rules, so check the council that covers the pitch.
Do I need to register as a food business?
Anyone who sells or handles food as a business generally needs to register with their local council. Do this before your first day of trading, and check how far ahead your council asks. Organisers of events with food traders often ask to see proof of registration.
Can I sell alcohol at an event?
Selling alcohol needs authorisation. At a one-off event the organiser often holds the permission, or a temporary event notice is submitted to the licensing authority. Do not sell alcohol until you know who holds the licence for the event.
Who decides which traders get a pitch?
The market operator or event organiser decides. Many look at the range of products, the stall presentation, insurance and compliance paperwork, and trading history. A clear application with your documents ready helps.
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
- GOV.UK: business licences and permits
- GOV.UK: starting a food business
- HSE: event safety
- Wikipedia: street food
Rules vary by council and by event. Confirm requirements with the organiser and the relevant authority before you act.