New Licensing Requirements Spark Concern Among Derby Pub Owners
Pub owners in Derby are facing a new challenge as they are being required to apply for licenses to allow pop-up food stalls to operate on their premises. This development has left many local business owners confused and frustrated, especially since some of these food trucks have been operating on pub grounds for several years without any issues.
The city council has stated that food vendors must obtain street trading licenses under national guidance, which it began enforcing in late 2024. According to the council, this is simply following existing rules and regulations.
Matthew Willers, owner of the Little Brewing Company in Darley Abbey, expressed his concerns about the situation. He said, “It’s caused a huge amount of stress for small businesses at a time we don’t need any more uncertainty.”
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Several pubs in the city center have reported receiving emails from the council instructing them to apply for a license. These emails have created confusion among business owners who believed they were already compliant with all necessary regulations.
Willers added, “We thought we’d be in for a good summer with the good weather. And now not a single one of our food vendors can come and visit us. It’s going to hit us hard. It’s a lot of extra, unnecessary paperwork.”
He emphasized that all the food vendors currently working with his establishment have met strict safety and compliance standards. “All of these vendors have to comply with environmental health— they’ve all had inspections. They’ve all got MOT’s on their vehicles. They’ve all gas-safe certificates for appliances and public liability insurance,” he said.
Willers is hoping for a temporary pause on the new policy. “If there is a genuine need for more checks on vendors, then that’s one thing—but there needs to be a grace period and a period of consultation,” he said.
Thomas Robinson, from Bah Bah Mezze, one of the affected vendors, shared similar sentiments. “The timing, delivery, and lack of finer detail on the announcement yesterday by Derby City Council was extremely disappointing.”
The city council has clarified that it has not introduced a new policy regarding street food vendors. A spokesperson for the council stated, “Our approach aligns with longstanding legislation and national guidance, a position reaffirmed by the licensing committee on September 12, 2024.”
They added, “We recently became aware of unlicensed trading activity and contacted these traders, advising them of the existing requirements. It’s important to remember that the onus is on landowners or traders to proactively engage with the licensing authority before operating. We have no evidence those recently contacted have done so.”
The council also acknowledged the concerns of traders operating on private premises but reiterated that they are simply enforcing existing statutory duties to regulate all public-facing trading fairly.
For those who wish to discuss their situation, the council encourages contact with their Licensing team directly for advice. The situation highlights the ongoing challenges faced by small businesses navigating regulatory requirements while trying to maintain their operations and customer base.
