Street trading

What is street trading?

If you want to sell, expose or offer for sale any article in a street then you require a street trading licence or street trading consent. However there are a number of streets in Bristol where street trading is prohibited.

If you are selling goods on foot door to door, place to place or town to town you may require a pedlars certificate (Ask Police website).

Street trading in Bristol

From 1 May 2009 the street trading regime within Bristol was revised as agreed by the Council's Public Safety and Protection committee on 17 March 2009.

The Street Trading Report and Policy (msword, 196 KB) agreed identifies three designations that can be placed on any street.

• Licensed streets
• Prohibited streets
• Consent streets

Licence streets

If a street is designated as a licence street then applications can be made to trade in articles described in the application on certain days on that street.

Applications for street trading licences will continue to be considered on a case by case basis.

Bedminster Area

British Road from its junction with Canon Street to its junction with Victoria Parade.

East Street and fifty yards each side of every street, courtyard and walkway which adjoins East Street from its junction from East Street.

Clifton Area

Queens Road 10 metres from its junction with University Road.

Prohibited streets

If a street is designated as a “prohibited street” then a criminal offence is committed by any person engaging in street trading in that street.

Broadmead Area

All Saints Street / The Arcade / Barrs Court / Bridewell Street / Broad Weir / Callowhill Court / Cannon Street / Fairfax Court / Fairfax Street / Hanover Court / Haymarket / Haymarket Walk / The Horsefair

Nelson Street (part of) from its junction with Bridewell Street to Broadmead

Newgate / Old King Street Court / Penn Street / Philadelphia Court / Pithay Court / Quakers Friars / Sarah Ridley Close / Silver Street /Union Street / Whippington Court

Wine Street  (from Broad Street to its junction with the Pithay).

Central Area

Assembly Room Lane / Bell Lane / Brandon Street / Bridge Street / Broad Street Charlotte Street / Charlotte Street South / Christmas Steps / Christmas Street / Clare Street / College Street / College Square / Colston Avenue / Colston Street / Corn Street / Crow Lane / Culver Street / Denmark Street / Farrs Lane / Gaunts Lane / Great George Street

High Street to its junction at Bristol Bridge

Hobbs Lane / Host Street / John Street / King Street / Leonards Lane / Lewins Mead / Little King Street / Lodge Street / Lower College Street / Lower Lamb Street / Lower Park Row / Middle Avenue / Narrow Lewins Mead

Nelson Street (part of) to its junction with Bridewell Street and All Saints Lane

Newmarket Avenue / Orchard Avenue / Orchard Lane / Park Row / Park Street /
Partition Street / Perry Road / Pipe Lane / Polver Lane

Prince Street from its junction with The Grove

Quay Street / Queen Charlotte Street / Queen Square / Queen Square Avenue /
Royal Oak Avenue / Rupert Street / St Georges Road / St Michaels Hill
St Nicholas Street / St Stephens Avenue / St Stephens Street / Small Street / Trinity Street / Unity Street / Upper Wells Street / Welsh Back

Clifton Area

Berkeley Square, Berkeley Square Avenue / Triangle South / Triangle West / University Road

Eastville Area

The pedestrianised walkway between Stapleton Road and the Ikea premises, together with all grass verges adjacent thereto

St Pauls

Argyle Road / Brighton Street / Burnell Drive / Campbell Street / Davey Street / Denbigh Street / Franklyn Street / Grosvenor Road / Halston Drive / Ludlow Close / Morgan Street / Princes Street / St Nicholas Road / Thomas Street / William Street / Winkworth Place

Consent streets

With the implementation of the new street trading policy the vast majority of streets are identified as consent streets with the exception of prohibited and licence streets.

Things to consider when submitting an application for street trading

There are a number of factors that the council take into account when determining an application for street trading consent, these include:

1. Public safety - The proposed location of the activity should not present a significant risk to the public in terms of highway safety or obstruction. In the event that any proposed trading is within 53 metres of a school entrance the council will seek the views of the school.
2. Commercial need - The number of other traders in the vicinity of the proposed location.
3. Prevention of crime and disorder - The proposed activity should not present a risk to public order.
4. Prevention of public nuisance - Consideration will be given to measures taken to reduce the risk of nuisance from noise, refuse, vermin, fumes and smells.
5. Suitability and produce type - Applicants are required to indicate the measures that they propose to take to reduce the environmental impact of the proposed activity. Consideration will be given to the types of products sold and the suitability of the products at the location requested.
6. Suitability of the trading unit - The proposed trading unit shall be of a high quality design and build and add to the quality of the street scene.
7. Suitability of applicant.

How do I submit an application for street trading?

The following shall be required when submitting an application for street trading to the Licensing Team: 

1. A completed and signed street trading application form (pdf, 88 KB)
2. Two colour passport size photographs of the applicant.
3. If the proposed activity will take place at a fixed location - a map of at least 1:1250 scale shall be submitted and should clearly identify the proposed location by marking the site boundary with a red line.
4. Three colour photographs of the trading unit illustrating different elevations of the unit.
5. A copy of the certificate of insurance covering third party and public liability risks.
6. If you wish to have street trading assistants a completed street trading assistant application form (pdf, 81 KB) for each individual.

On receipt of a complete application consultations will be carried out with the police, planning team (Bristol City Council), highways department (Bristol City Council), noise control (Bristol City Council) and food safety (Bristol City Council).

There is a 14 day representation period and in the event that no representations are received or representations are resolved then the application will usually be decided by the Licensing manager.

In the event that adverse representations remain unresolved the applicaton will usually be heard by a committee.

What happens once I submit my application?

On receipt of your application the council will consult with the following agencies or persons, a period of fourteen days is permitted for comments to be received:

• Avon and Somerset Constabulary
• Area Planning - Bristol City Council
• Highways Department - Bristol City Council
• Noise Control - Bristol City Council
• Food Safety - Bristol City Council
• Local residents and/or businesses in the immediate vicinity of the proposed site. This is usually within 100 metres.
• Local residents groups/local amenity groups
• Ward councillors

In the event that adverse representations are received and if they cannot be resolved the application will usually be heard by a committee. If no adverse representations are received the application will usually be decided by the licensing manager.

What are the fees payable?

The fees payable from 1 April 2012 depend on where you wish to trade from and the type of consent being applied for. Please note that these fees are subject to revision on 1 April each year.

Central Area this includes Cabot, Clifton and Clifton East Wards

£20.00 per day or £1428.00 per quarter

£10.00 per day only for educational or charitable purposes

Outside of the central area

£9.50 per day or £363.00 per quarter.

£4.50 per day for educational or charitable purposes

Motorised/mobile traders i.e. Ice cream vans

£413.00 per annum

All fees must be paid in advance. If you have quarterly permission payments are required on a quarterly basis please contact the Licening team for more information.

Comments on applications

Should you wish to comment on an application your response must be submitted to the Licensing Team within the 14 day representation period. When submitting comments please advise whether you are responding as a business or resident. If responding as a business your details will be released to the applicant, however if you are responding as a resident, personal data will be kept private.

Weekly register of mobile street trading applications