Premises In Cardiff

[harrisr]

I am in the process of setting up a new sandwich shop in Cardiff. The council have made it impossible for me to cook food on site. I would find other premises but the rent and rates in Cardiff are far too high for a small business like mine. I have retail premises nearly sorted but now need to find somewhere to cook the food. I am looking for maybe a local restaurant or hotel in the centre of town who will rent me some kitchen space or for someone who has a small bit of space I can put ovens in. Any help would be great.

 

[Jim2k]

Can't really help with a kitchen I'm afraid but would be interested in why the council have made it impossible for you to prepare food on site? Surely that's what most sandwich shops do?

Jim

 

[harrisr]

as I want to cook in ovens on site it means that I have to have an A3 license. the shop is in the centre of town and has flats above it and flats behind. if they did give me A3 they would insist on a ventilation system which could cost 20k. even though I am only cooking in ovens for 3hrs a day they expect me to have the same ventilation as a massive restaurant. typical council, they won't look at each case individually. they expect all sandwich shops to buy everything themselves already cooked. I want to do something a little different and the council cant seem to deal with that.

 

[Jim2k]

Thanks for the reply, that makes more sense. Best of luck with your endeavours.

 

[isurveyor]

as I want to cook in ovens on site it means that I have to have an A3 license. the shop is in the centre of town and has flats above it and flats behind. if they did give me A3 they would insist on a ventilation system which could cost 20k. even though I am only cooking in ovens for 3hrs a day they expect me to have the same ventilation as a massive restaurant. typical council, they won't look at each case individually. they expect all sandwich shops to buy everything themselves already cooked. I want to do something a little different and the council cant seem to deal with that.

hi Just a thought really, you need to have another chat with the planning department and see what you can do as a sandwich shop. A lot of places do operate by selling food under an A1 licence (as per a sandwich shop). A3 (basically) is for the sale of hot food on site. However, Greggs and subway are often allowed to trade as A1, despite heating food, cooking food on the premises. I am afraid I do not know how they skate around it exactly, but it is worth having another chat with the planners to see what you can and cannot do without needing the ventilation installation etc. Avoid cooking with flame , this is often deemed a clear A3 element.