The Complete Guide to Opening a Safe and Compliant Food Business in London
Erviol Hasula – 2024/12/10 – Pest Control
Are you dreaming of starting a food business in London? From charming cafés to bustling restaurants, the opportunities are endless, but so are the challenges. One of the biggest hurdles for food business owners is navigating complex compliance laws and ensuring a safe, pest-free environment for your customers.
This guide is tailored for London’s business owners and will help you understand everything from legal requirements to pest control essentials, all while keeping your premises safe and compliant.
Key Takeaways:
1.Compliance is Non-Negotiable: Learn the essential legal and health regulations for food businesses in London.
2.Pest Control is Key: Explore how proactive pest management ensures safety and protects your reputation.
3.Maintenance Matters: Discover how structural upkeep prevents issues and guarantees long-term success.
1. Understanding Legal and Health Regulations for Food Businesses in London
Before opening your doors, you must meet strict legal and health requirements. This section breaks down what you need to know.
Legal Registration Requirements
Every food business must be registered with your local council at least 28 days before opening. Registration is free and straightforward but crucial to operating legally. Failure to register could result in fines or closure.
Food Hygiene and Safety Standards
Your premises must meet high food hygiene standards, including proper handwashing facilities, safe food storage, and effective waste disposal. Regular inspections by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) will assess your compliance.
Training Your Team
Staff training is essential for compliance. Ensure every team member completes food hygiene training tailored to their role. This not only meets legal requirements but also builds customer trust.
Licences and Permissions
Depending on your business type, you might need additional licences, such as alcohol or late-night operating permits. Check with your local council to avoid delays.
Navigating Food Business Regulations in London
• Over 20% of food businesses fail their first hygiene inspection.
• Fines for non-compliance can reach £20,000.
• Most successful food businesses prioritise staff training.
Quote From Ben - BioWise Surveyor
“At BioWise Services, we’ve seen countless businesses struggle because they overlooked simple compliance steps. The right preparation can save you thousands in fines” says Ben, a senior pest technician and surveyor at BioWise.
2. Pest Control Essentials for a Safe Food Business
Pests are one of the biggest threats to your food business. Understanding how to manage and prevent infestations is vital.
The Importance of Pest Control in London
London’s urban environment is a haven for rodents, cockroaches, and other pests. They can contaminate food, damage your premises, and ruin your reputation.
Choosing Professional Pest Control Services
Partnering with experts like BioWise Services ensures a proactive approach to pest management. From inspections to tailored solutions, professional services provide peace of mind.
Pest-Proofing Your Premises
Structural proofing, such as sealing gaps and installing door sweeps, is critical. BioWise Services offers maintenance solutions to prevent pests from entering your property.
Consequences of Neglecting Pest Control
Ignoring pest control can lead to customer complaints, failed inspections, and even business closure. Protect your investment with regular monitoring and intervention.
3. Long-Term Maintenance for a Successful Food Business
Preventative maintenance is often overlooked but crucial for avoiding costly issues down the line.
Regular Cleaning Schedules
Implement daily, weekly, and monthly cleaning routines to keep your premises spotless and compliant. Proper cleaning prevents foodborne illnesses and keeps pests at bay.
Structural Inspections
Frequent inspections of your building help identify and resolve potential issues like leaks or cracks, which can attract pests.
Equipment Maintenance
Proper upkeep of fridges, ovens, and other equipment ensures safety and efficiency. Faulty equipment can lead to non-compliance and expensive repairs.
Partnering with Maintenance Experts
BioWise Services offers maintenance packages that include pest-proofing and structural checks, giving you a one-stop solution for compliance and safety.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How do I register my food business in London?
Register your food business with your local council at least 28 days before opening. The process is free and ensures you’re operating legally.
2. Why is pest control essential for food businesses?
Pests can contaminate food, harm your reputation, and lead to legal action. Regular pest control protects your business and keeps customers safe.
3. What happens during a food hygiene inspection?
Inspectors assess cleanliness, food storage, staff training, and pest control measures. They assign a hygiene rating that must be displayed for customers.
4. Can I handle pest control myself?
DIY pest control is risky and often ineffective. Professional services like BioWise Services ensure comprehensive solutions tailored to your business.
5. How often should I clean my premises?
Daily cleaning is essential, but deep cleaning should be scheduled weekly or monthly, depending on your business needs.
6. What are the penalties for non-compliance?
Penalties range from fines up to £20,000 to forced closure of your business.
Why Choose BioWise
BioWise are a family run pest control company that services over 600 restaurants, hotels, pubs, offices and homes across the UK
I have been working with BioWise for nearly 5 years now and would highly recommend them. Their teams are always working hard to find a solution to our problems. They are always friendly and willing to go over and above to get things sorted.
Quilty service can’t recommend enoughEspecially Mat he takes care of every single details legend100% recommended
Good service the perfect interested smiling face Thank you very much. Dear Ben 👏👍
Great service by Matt, came in and checked over everything but the main reason why we like to use Biowise is their efficiency and reliability. Matt is a true credit to the company.
I have a problem with a rat it come from the draining pipes and in two days Frankie sorted.The system they have used is excelent.And at work is a Victorian house and the work very clean and super.And they are the best and they are so reliable.Special mention to Frankie he is excelent worker and very clean and very good manner.We very happy with you work.Congratulations.
Monty was clearly extremely passionate about pest control! Great to work with.
Great service from Ben at our restaurant! Couldn’t recommend enough5 🌟
Excellent service and experts in their field. Very professional approach and high standards.
I had a terrible mice problem! No matter what I tried I just couldn’t get rid of them! I called Biowise after being recommended their services, Erv provided a speedy response, came out to inspect the property. Then laid his traps and made some recommendations to prevent further issues. He managed to solve the problem and also help with further preventive measures which have worked very well as I havent had a problem since. The overall service was honest and of a high standard. Would highly recommend Biowise Services to others
I have instructed BioWise on multiple projects from routine pest control to proofing/netting, deep cleans, and FM general works. Matt has always been friendly, punctual, great at communicating and leads from the front, getting stuck into the work when the team needs an extra pair of hands. Great service.
BioWise are an exceptional pest control company. They have provided pest control services for a number of well know catering / hospitality business’ I have worked for over the years.The BioWise team really split themselves apart from the competition. Their technicians are incredibly knowledgeable and take great care and attention when they come to do routine maintenance, attend emergency call outs and provide sound advice. In addition the proofing work they complete is robust and they care about the quality of their work. The results speak for themselves, where previously pest activity may have kept you awake at night with worry, with Biowise on board, you will soon be getting a good nights sleep.The management team are brilliant and always available to talk to and provide support when needed.If you are looking for a reliable and effective pest control company that really does make a difference to your operation, I couldn’t recommend BioWise more highly.
Biowise is a great company with excellent service. Always reliable and the staff always friendly, fast and helpful. Special mention to Katie, always great customer service!
BioWise Pest Control Maintenance is excellent. Katie was professional, knowledgable and thorough, resolving the issue quickly. Fantastic service – highly recommend!
Biowise has always been a professional company in my dealings especially Katie thank you for help
Customer service has been always great! A massive thank you to Ben for his great work and always being available when needed! 5 stars🌟
If you are looking for a professional and reliable pest control company don’t look any further! After we had the worst experience with two other companies, Biowise came to the rescue and we had no problem since then.5 star
Always excellent job done by BioWise. Very professional and prompt response time. Quality treatment of our all pest control issue. Katie is a top experienced managing member. She always responded even on odd hours.Highly appreciated for your quick response and assign technicians promptly for our Radisson Red Hotel Greenwich O2, London.Good luck guys and keep it up. Highly Recommended BioWise.
Great pest control company. Been using them for a while now and I have recommend them to everyone that I know. Just recently I dealt with Frank he managed to resolve our pest issues on one of the sites.
Biowise has been always very helpful sending professional hands when needed since electricians to plumbers . Very reliable, fast and trustworthy.Big thank you to Katie who’s always there making sure that everything runs smoothly.
Have recently been in contact with BioWise and Katie dealt with all matters amazingly. Professional, informative and very easy to deal with. Was a pleasure to deal with her. Thank you.
Professional service from ben at our london restaurant. Highly recommend Biowise! 🌟
Highly professional and skilled pest control, with dedication and willing to solve problems with pests and rodents. Both Frankie Holland and Matthew Ochello are working hard constantly to ensure all our sites are pest free. Thank you for your hard work.
Very professional and diligent service, Ben is always helpful and supportive with solutions
Frankie is the best. He is very friendly and he knows what is he doing! Always very helpful thank you for your service 🙏. Alexa
Amazing service from Frankie ! Very professional and on point with his duties,Highly recommend !!!
Great service! Ervi is really nice and checking every single place. Highly recomended!
Have been using Biowise for a while now in various buildings across London. The service and team, especially Katie, has been second to none, highly recommend. 5*
Great experience working with BioWise, Katie was great and gave me quick and good service
Ben from Biowise was an absolute pleasure, very friendly, came in and spotted all the mouse holes and immediately fixed them, he explained the process so I knew what was going on and how to help on my end, absolute star 10/10
After using the bigger firms with no signs of improvement I gave Biowise an opportunity. They were thorough and professional at every touch point, detailed reports, great team members and ultimately they delivered positive improvements across the board. Would highly recommend to any hotel, restaurant or facilities director.
I have been working with Biowose for over 10 years. First with the company I worked for and so impressed with Erv and the team, when I set up my own restaurant, I got them involved.They do an excellent job and everyone who I have recommended them to, are very happy with the service.I look forward to growing my brand knowing they are in my corner.Thank you guys!
I’m working for over a year with them and they keep our venue pests free, very good company to work with, Matt our person from the company helped us a lot with trying out our staff to be able to keep our business free of pest
Matt has been keeping our venue pest free since we opened! Great company with great friendly staff! Can’t recommend enough
Do not hesitate!!! Get these guys in, they are fantastic! They are professional and do not leave any room for error. They have done wonders for my business. I will highly recommend to others!
I can’t recommend BioWise enough! Erviol and his team did an absolutely amazing job with my café. From start to finish, their professionalism and attention to detail were unmatched. Erviol himself is not only a fantastic owner but also a pleasure to work with—always ensuring everything was done perfectly. The quality of their work speaks for itself, and I couldn’t be happier with the results. If you’re looking for excellence, BioWise is the way to go!
I can’t explain the frustration I was going through. Pests became a massive nightmare and our current pest control company at the time wasn’t good. At all.Then we signed up with BiowiseHonestly, I can go on and on about how good they are, but what counts more than most is the service the technicians provide when they come round. They tackle problems hour side of normal hours and accommodate flexiblity when required. Always polite.Thank you guys for all your hard work!
Took Biowise on, for a group of Steakhouses, about 11yrs ago, never looked back. Erv and his team are the best in the business, Proactive, communicative and they don’t mess around!Would recommend all day long…
Fantastic work over the past months from Ben N! Really had an impact on our pest control, we could not be happier! Keep up the good work! 💪
Have been dealing with Ben N, for a year now, and it’s always a pleasure . He has a friendly demeanor and always on the job! Great working with him as always!
Very happy with the customer care provided by Ben, super friendly and reliable! Always on time and happy to help with any issues.
Biowise have been amazing with our pest control here Ben from the team has been looking after us since we opened our doors 3 years ago he’s very informative when asking him questions and he always give good advice and suggestions
Great service from Ben N. Helping our locations for months now and always great service all the time
We have been using Biowise for over 2 years now. We have Ben N as our site controller. His very vigiliant, detailed, honest and reliable. He provides us with top quality service.
Well done, Ben is available and really kind in explaining to me everything I needed to knowadvise
Ben N. has been a regular at our café for the past two years, and his service as a technician is always outstanding. He is highly skilled, professional, and brings a positive attitude to every interaction. His dedication to excellence and attention to detail make him a valued member of our community. I highly recommend Ben N. for his technical expertise and exceptional customer service.
Great experience. Frankie was very professional and a genuinely great guy. Would recommend!!
We use Biowise across our London Portfolio for all things pest related. Ben N is highly professional and deals with any issues we have, in a prompt and efficient matter. Thank You Ben
We have worked with BioWise for several years now, I would recommend them to anyone. The engineers are always helpful, friendly and respectful while working around our site. Ben N is our current engineer and has been for over a year now, he is very helpful and knowledgeable and does a fantastic job.
Highly recommend biowise. Great team and work ethics! Ben is always polite and on time.Couldn’t recommend enough.
Biowise have eliminated our pest problem completely over the past few years and I would highly recommend their great service, pricing and engineers to anyone. Ben N is the engineer that looks after our site, very polite, punctual and thorough.Thanks guys 👍
I would highly recommend this company, very happy with the results. Everyone is very professional, helpful and extremely prompt with any questions you might have. Special mention to Nadia and Ben, they are great and so helpful, I couldn’t be happier !
Best company, great service.Enea was a very professional and kind and he did very very good job.
Very good experience with them since the beginning, fair prices, always helpful. Special mention to Ben who was always responsive and delivered what he said. Strongly recommended
Ben has always done a great job with us and has certainly improved the pest situation. Always professional and generally good guy
Excellent quality work done by Matthew, would definitely recommend this company.
Had a pleasure of working with BioWise for good few months, and the experience was excellent! If you get to work with Ben count yourself lucky – very professional, responsive and efficient. Bonus points that he’s also very personable and enjoys a good chat. Would highly recommend!
I’ve been working with Ben since Jan when I start managing at Notting Hill Coffee Project and I have to say he is by far the best I’ve worked across my hospitality experience. His due diligence, great communication and always in good mood (hence why staff likes him so much). But the feature I appreciate the most it is his good will, he has help me with two issue that had notting to do with his duties, including spotting a leak in my boiler and made enough pic and videos so i can send to the supplier. It’s a 5 Star!
Extremley professional, friendly and courtious. Extremeley effective and helpful.
Ben Dunn has been looking after our business for a while now and I couldn’t speak more highly of him. Always professional and never lets us down. Having worked with numerous pest control companies in the past I can easily say Ben has outdone himself. Highly recommend
This company is professional and friendly, extremely efficient and our operator Ben Dunn especially goes above and beyond and his visits are always a pleasure. Highly recommended 🙂
Ben Dunn is friendly, reliable and very professional. Would highly recommend.
I am thrilled to share my positive experience with BioWise, a company that truly exceeded my expectations. After a disappointing encounter with a previous company that left my house in shambles for four weeks, I was understandably stressed, especially being pregnant. However, BioWise turned what was once a nightmare into a stress-free journey.From the initial conversation with Ana, it was evident that BioWise values customer satisfaction. Ana’s warm and professional demeanour immediately put me at ease, making me feel confident that my home was in capable hands. The transparency and communication throughout this process has been commendable, addressing my concerns and outlining a plan to restore my house.Rajmond is the skilled technician assigned to the job. His expertise and attention to detail have been apparent from the start. Working on the interior wall insulation, painting, and fixing wardrobe rails and drawers, Rajmond showcased a level of precision and commitment that was truly commendable. The transformation in my room is nothing short of remarkable.What impresses me most about BioWise is their dedication to ensuring a high standard of work. I am genuinely grateful for the professionalism and efficiency displayed by the BioWise team, and I couldn’t be more appreciative of the positive impact they’ve had on my home. I wholeheartedly recommend BioWise to anyone seeking reliable and top-notch maintenance services.
BioWise is very proffesional people and they doing an amazing job every single visit. Every time they are taking immediate action to fix the issue 👏 it’s pleasure to cooperate with company like this . Thank you for your commitment
Ben it’s has been a super star for the last couple of years servicing our restaurant in soho. Thank you for good service!Happy Xmas
I’ve been using their services for 2 years and it has been a great experience. Professional, experienced and responsive, especially Enea and Matt who make you feel you are in safe hands. Highly recommend their services.
We use Biowise for our Pub in Northampton Town Centre. We have worked with Matt for a while and it’s been a very positive and lovely experience. There’s never been any issues with receiving reports on time or getting in touch with someone in emergencies if needed. Response has always been quick and issues dealt with in a very professional and timely manner. Couldn’t recommend someone more 🙂
10/10 investigations and service from Ben Dunn at BioWise as usual! Has done a number of jobs for us over the past few months and is always on time, professional and goes above and beyond to sort out any issues! Will highly recommend BioWise for any pest control needs! Thanks Ben!
Very happy with the service from BioWise. Over the years they have been extremely reliable. Their technicians, especially Enea is always punctual and goes above. Thank you guys!
Ben at Biowise comes to carry out checks every month and does a really thorough job. He never misses an appointment and is always happy, bright, bubbly and professional. I would defiantly recommend Ben for any pest control needs.
An exceptional company with exceptional standards with family run approach and attention to detail. Technician Ben always goes above and beyond and nothing is ever too much. Ben is a true asset to the company. Keep up the good work. Biowise A++
BioWise service our venue, we couldn’t be any happier and highly recommend their service to any establishment considering their services.
I met Mat from Biowise about 2 years ago whilst having major problems with pests etc I got him in and he sorted the problem out fully. I have since got them to do other sites I look after and the difference is immeasurable ! Great company with great people, hardly surprising they are doing well!
matt was excellent at helping me with my wasps nest. he had a great plan and it worked first time round outstanding performance also !
Ben has always been good but a few points do put him over others we have used in the past.He is extremely conscientious of both guests (in that he doesn’t go traipsing through the restaurant but rather waits outside to give me a wave if anything needs to be actioned or reported), staff (one of the rare people who speaks with the team to find out issues rather than just walking around) and timing (an awareness of service and when is appropriate to arrive for an inspection).I have also always been able to get in touch with him personally should I have questions/issues rather than having to go through HO or waiting for call backs.There are very few reasons I ever leave reviews online however the pro-active/ personal/ courteous and ever friendly service Ben provides is something I found is slowly being lost nowadays and is the reason we have stayed with the same company for so long as a business.The only reason I am leaving 5 stars is due to there not being a 6th star to add.
A Google User
13:33 07 Dec 23
Ben has always been good but a few points do put him over others we have used in the past.He is extremely conscientious of both guests (in that he doesn’t go traipsing through the restaurant but rather waits outside to give me a wave if anything needs to be actioned or reported), staff (one of the rare people who speaks with the team to find out issues rather than just walking around) and timing (an awareness of service and when is appropriate to arrive for an inspection).I have also always been able to get in touch with him personally should I have questions/issues rather than having to go through HO or waiting for call backs.There are very few reasons I ever leave reviews online however the pro-active/ personal/ courteous and ever friendly service Ben provides is something I found is slowly being lost nowadays and is the reason we have stayed with the same company for so long as a business.The only reason I am leaving 5 stars is due to there not being a 6th star to add.
Ben has been great and consistent on delivering a great service.His attention to detail and commitment to excellence plays an important role to the business on keeping the standards high. Would recommend Ben to other businesses in needing this type of service.
Have using biowise since 2014 and Ben has been great and very helpful, very professional in his job .
Fantastic service. Very attentive technicians. Ben and Enea are always on the ball.
Most helpful company I’ve worked with; Our officer Enea is efficient and professional as well as being a cool dude 🙂
I would recommend BIOWISE as the best pest control service provider in London….Ben has been working with us for quite a long time and his services are one of the best. He addresses all the problems in a professional and in a efficient manner.Thanks a lot BEN for your service!!!!
I have been working with Ben Dunn from Biowise since August, and he has been an absolute delight, he is always checking in with me and the building I run at Bob W and always finds the time to pop in should I call him at the very last minute, he always offers to help in other avenues of the building especially when I have a lot on my plate.. I really appreciate his work ethic and responsibility toward the building when it comes to pest control, besides all that, always attends the building with a soda for me, which is really kind 🙂 Thaaaaanks Ben! You are the best!
The manager Erviol was so helpful and eager to answer all my questions and inspect my place thoroughly. He is so professional and has been 15 years in his job. I was really reassured and felt supported in such difficult situation when you think you have infestation. I would like to thank him and the team so much!
Highly recommended.The service was amazing, came out the same day and gave me a lot of information and got rid of my mice problem on the first go. The staff are so friendly and they offered a follow up appointment to check everything over. Ana was who I spoke to and she was so kind (even tho it was 11pm) and Ben came and done the job next morning and he went above to make sure I was ok and to get the job done right. Biowise is amazing and I wouldn’t go anywhere else for pest control!!!!
We Service London
BioWise was founded in 2010 by Ana and Erviol and we have slowly expanded our team as the company has grown.
We operate numerous pest control contracts across London. In areas such as Mayfair, Islington, Soho, Chelsea, Marylebone and The West End.
BioWise were honoured to be awarded Most Trustworthy Family-Run Pest Control Enterprise South Easy England 2024.
Contact Us For A Sight Visit & Personal Quote
BioWise have experts for all your service needs. Let us know what your issue is and we’ll make sure it get’s solved.
