Mobile Caterers

Find advice and guidance for mobile catering businesses from the council's Environmental Health service.

Mobile catering units include any caterers who use a vehicle in which to prepare and serve food. Often they are used to provide food at outdoor events, or to distribute food to the doorstep.

They include hot dog vendors, burger stalls, ice-cream vans, fish and chip vans and any other hot or cold food products, usually intended for immediate consumption.

Register Your Business

All mobile catering units must be registered with their 'Home Authority' - the Environmental Health service of the local council in which the main place of business is based or where the vehicle is kept.

Where a mobile caterer trades outside their Home Authority area, the host Environmental Health service may consult the Home Authority.

The Home Authority will inspect the catering unit on a regular basis, sometimes whilst trading. Inspections look at the structure of the vehicle, its fitness as a food preparation area, and the practices used in the preparation and storage of food.

Food Hygiene, Health and Safety

This section has advice on food hygiene and facilities, health and safety and environmental regulations for mobile caterers.