Types of Street Trading Licences

Permanent Street Trading

You can apply for a licence by making an appointment with a Licensing Officer, who may be contacted in the first instance, on Tel: 020 7641 7822. (To trade at Berwick Street you will need to contact Natalie Grant on 020 7641 2580).

You will need to bring to the interview:-

Three identical full-face passport sized photographs of yourself without headgear or sunglasses, taken within the preceding 12 months. These photographs must be signed by yourself on the reverse.
Proof of third party insurance for £2,000,000
Proof of address – (this could be a utility bill such as council tax or gas bill)
Photo ID (passport or driving licence)
The relevant fee

If the licence is for a pitch at either Green Park or Bayswater Road, examples of work you wish to exhibit will also need to be brought to the interview (photographs of work will NOT be acceptable).

Approved Temporary Street traders

The Council issues temporary (or ‘casual’) licences to traders who do not wish to have a permanent licence. However, if you wish to become a casual trader you must first REGISTER with the Council on the special form "Apply for a casual street trading licence" (see Forms section in the right hand column of this page). For fee information, see the Fees List. The application must be brought in PERSON to the One Stop Services Offices, Westminster City Council, Westminster City Hall, 62 Victoria Street, London, SW1E 6QP.

You will also need to bring:-

Three identical full-face passport sized photographs of yourself without headgear or sunglasses, taken within the preceding 12 months. These photographs must be signed by yourself on the reverse.
Proof of third party insurance for £2,000,000
Proof of address
Photo ID (passport or driving licence)
The relevant fee

If the application is in order and is approved, your name will be added to the Approved Casual Traders List. You will receive an identification card, which will currently be valid until 31 July 2010. You will also be given an identification plate.

As an 'approved casual', you will be expected to produce your identification card, plate and pre-paid voucher. These vouchers can be obtained from City Hall One Stop Services, 62 Victoria Street, SW1 or One-Stop Services, 313 Harrow Road, W9 and 91-93 Church Street, NW8 during normal office hours. Vouchers may be obtained for Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. These vouchers are non refundable.

Weekends are generally the busiest days and casual spaces are then in great demand. YOU ARE WARNED THAT THE PURCHASE OF A VOUCHER WILL NOT GUARANTEE THE GRANT OF A TEMPORARY LICENCE.

[Back to top]

Licensing in Westminster