Business Rates Guide

Business Rates for Restaurants & Cafes

Restaurants face tight margins at the best of times. Make sure you are not overpaying on business rates too.

Common Issues for Restaurants & Cafes

These are the most frequent problems we find when checking business rates for restaurants & cafes.

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Restaurant valuations often use Zone A pricing similar to shops, which can overvalue properties with large kitchen and storage areas

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RHL Relief provides valuable discounts for restaurants, but many operators have not confirmed it is applied

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Delivery-focused and takeaway restaurants may be valued on the wrong basis compared to traditional dine-in restaurants

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Rising costs across the hospitality sector make it more important than ever to ensure your rates bill is correct

How We Help Restaurants & Cafes

Three steps to make sure your restaurant is not overpaying.

Check Your Restaurant's Rates

Enter your postcode and we instantly compare your restaurant's rateable value against VOA data for similar properties in your area.

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We Find Restaurant-Specific Savings

We check for RHL Relief, Small Business Rate Relief, and other reliefs specific to restaurants & cafes. Many businesses miss these entirely.

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Subscribe and We Handle Everything

We submit challenges, claim reliefs, and prepare you for upcoming Duty to Notify requirements. We monitor your restaurant's rates year-round. You keep 100% of your savings.

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Example Savings

A typical restaurant with a rateable value of £22,000 could save £3,800/year through missing reliefs alone.

Example for illustration only. Actual savings depend on individual property circumstances, location, and applicable reliefs. Run a free check to see your specific savings estimate.

Check Your Restaurant's Rates in 60 Seconds

Free, instant check. No email required. See your savings potential and find out if you are overpaying.

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Restaurants & Cafes: Frequently Asked Questions

How are restaurant business rates calculated?expand_more

Restaurants are usually valued using a combination of the Zone A method (similar to shops) and adjustments for kitchen, storage, and ancillary areas. The VOA considers the size, layout, and location of your premises. Non-trading areas like kitchens are typically valued at lower rates per square metre than the main dining area.

Does RHL Relief apply to my restaurant?expand_more

Restaurants, cafes, and takeaways generally qualify for Retail, Hospitality & Leisure Relief. This can provide a meaningful discount on your rates bill when available. Your local council should apply it, but we recommend checking it is correctly reflected on your bill.

I run a takeaway or delivery kitchen. Are my rates different?expand_more

Takeaways and dark kitchens may be classified differently by the VOA. If your property is primarily used for food preparation and delivery rather than dine-in, the valuation method and comparables used should reflect that. We check your SCAT classification to ensure it matches your actual use.

Can I reduce my rates if my restaurant is seasonal?expand_more

Seasonal trading patterns alone do not automatically reduce your rateable value, as the VOA values based on a hypothetical tenancy. However, if your property is genuinely empty for extended periods, you may qualify for Empty Property Relief during those periods, and the VOA valuation should reflect seasonal factors if comparable evidence supports it.

Also see business rates guides for:

arrow_forwardPubs & Bars arrow_forwardShops & Retail arrow_forwardHotels & Guest Houses