What do you need to fit out a café or restaurant?
Extraction, drainage, food hygiene finishes and the approvals that shape a food-service fit-out.
A café or restaurant fit-out needs a kitchen layout that meets food hygiene rules, suitable extraction and ventilation, grease management on the drainage, washable wall and floor finishes, hand-wash basins, adequate electrical and gas supply, and customer toilets. It often also needs planning permission for extraction flues and a change of use, plus registration with the local council as a food business.
What does environmental health look for?
Smooth, washable and durable surfaces in food areas, separate hand-wash basins with hot and cold water, enough sinks for equipment and food washing, pest-proofing, suitable lighting and ventilation, and a layout that separates raw and ready-to-eat food. Talking to the local environmental health team early avoids rework.
Why is extraction the critical item?
Commercial cooking needs a canopy and extraction system sized to the cooking equipment, with make-up air. The flue route often decides whether a unit is viable, because it may need landlord consent, planning permission and odour and noise controls.
What about the front of house?
Counters, back bars, seating, lighting and acoustic treatment decide how the space feels and how many covers it holds. Hard finishes make rooms loud, so acoustic panels or slatted ceilings are common.
Questions people ask
Do I need planning permission to open a café?
It depends on the previous use of the unit and the location. Changes of use and new extraction flues commonly need planning permission, so check before signing the lease.
Can you fit the kitchen as well as the dining area?
Yes. We coordinate the kitchen, extraction, services and front-of-house joinery under one contract.
Related guides
- What is the difference between shell, Cat A and Cat B fit-out?
- How do you choose a shopfitting contractor?
- How much does a shop fit-out cost in the UK?
- How long does a shop fit-out take?
Last reviewed September 2026. General guidance only; your survey confirms what applies to your premises.
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