Opening a Cafe or Takeaway in London: The Electrical Checklist

Taking on a unit to open a cafe, takeaway or small restaurant in London is exciting, and the electrics are easy to overlook until the fit out is under way. Commercial kitchens use far more power than a shop or office, and a unit that suited the last tenant may not suit you. This checklist covers what to sort out before you sign the lease and before you open.

Before you sign the lease

• Ask the landlord or agent for the latest EICR on the unit and check its date and result.
• Find out whether the supply is single phase or three phase, and the size of the main fuse.
• Check who is responsible for electrical repairs and upgrades under the lease.

Our guide to EICRs for commercial units and shops explains what the report covers.

Plan the kitchen load

Combination ovens, fryers, griddles, coffee machines, dishwashers, fridges and extraction fans all add up. A coffee machine alone can need its own dedicated circuit. List every piece of equipment with its power rating and give it to your electrician early, so circuits, the board and the supply can be sized properly. Many busy kitchens need a three phase supply. Our EV blog post on three phase supplies explains the difference in plain terms.

Safety systems

• Emergency lighting on escape routes, tested monthly and annually. See our guide to emergency lighting testing.
• Fire detection in line with your fire risk assessment, with heat detectors in the kitchen.
• Isolation so kitchen equipment can be switched off quickly in an emergency, often linked to the gas interlock for the extraction.

Appliances and paperwork

Portable equipment should be PAT tested. Keep the EICR, any new installation certificates, emergency lighting log and PAT records together, as environmental health, insurers and the landlord may all ask for them. Our guide to PAT testing in London covers how often.

Book a survey

Energy North Ltd works with shops, cafes and small businesses across North, East and West London with City & Guilds certified electricians, and can test out of hours to avoid closing. See our EICR service.