Documents You Need Before Opening a New Restaurant

Before opening day

Opening a restaurant in the UK requires dozens of documents to be in place before you serve your first customer. Some are legal requirements, others are what inspectors expect. Missing any of these can delay your opening or result in immediate enforcement action.

Mandatory registrations (at least 28 days before opening)

• Food business registration — Register with your local authority at least 28 days before you start trading. It's free and you must do it.
• Premises licence application — If serving alcohol or providing late-night refreshment. Apply to your local authority licensing team.
• ICO registration — Pay the data protection fee to the Information Commissioner's Office.

Documents you need on day one

Food safety - HACCP Plan - Food Safety Management System - Allergen Management Plan - Temperature Monitoring Log (with a calibrated thermometer) - Cleaning Schedule - Supplier Due Diligence Records (for every supplier you're using)

Health & safety - Health & Safety Policy - General Risk Assessment - COSHH Assessment - First Aid Policy (with a stocked first aid box) - Accident Book

Fire safety - Fire Risk Assessment - Fire Evacuation Plan - Fire Safety Log Book (start logging from day one)

Employment - Employment Contracts (for every employee, before they start) - Staff Handbook - Right to Work Check Records (for every employee, before they start) - Staff Training Records

Insurance - Employers' Liability Insurance (certificate displayed) - Public Liability Insurance - Product Liability Insurance

Licensing (if serving alcohol) - Premises Licence (displayed) - Age Verification Policy - DPS Personal Licence Records

Data protection - Customer Privacy Notice (displayed/available) - Employee Data Privacy Notice (given to each employee)

What DocketPack covers

DocketPack generates all of the documents listed above (52 in total) customised to your business. The only things you need to do separately are the registrations (food business, premises licence, ICO fee) and purchasing insurance — we generate the document tracking templates for all of these.

Cost of getting it wrong

• No food business registration: up to £5,000 fine
• No premises licence: unlimited fine and/or 6 months imprisonment
• Employing illegal workers: up to £45,000 per worker
• No employers' liability insurance: up to £2,500 per day
• No fire risk assessment: unlimited fine and possible closure

The complete restaurant document pack is £49 — less than the cost of one of the fines listed above.