
A Fire Risk Assessment is required in a Public House or Restaurant in the United Kingdom
Yes. A fire risk assessment is a legal requirement for a public house or restaurant anywhere in the United Kingdom. It is not optional, and it must be specific to the premises, kept up to date, and acted on.
The law that applies to England and Wales
The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 requires the “responsible person” to carry out a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment of virtually all non-domestic premises, including pubs, restaurants, cafés and clubs.
From 1 October 2023 (Building Safety Act 2022, section 156), the assessment and the fire safety arrangements must be recorded in writing for every premises. The old “five or more employees” threshold no longer applies in England and Wales.
Scotland
The Fire (Scotland) Act 2005 and the Fire Safety (Scotland) Regulations 2006 impose equivalent duties on the “dutyholder”. A written record of significant findings is required where there are five or more employees, the premises are licensed, or an alterations notice requires it. Licensed pubs and restaurants therefore need a written assessment in practice.
Northern Ireland
The Fire and Rescue Services (Northern Ireland) Order 2006 and the Fire Safety Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010 apply. The “appropriate person” must assess fire risks in commercial premises, including pubs and restaurants.
Enforcement is by the local fire and rescue service. Failure can lead to enforcement or prohibition notices, unlimited fines and, in serious cases, imprisonment.Who is responsibleThe responsible person (or dutyholder / appropriate person) is usually:
You can carry out the assessment yourself if you are competent for the size and complexity of the premises. For kitchens, basements, multi-occupied buildings, listed buildings, sleeping accommodation above, or high occupancy, a specialist fire risk assessor is strongly advisable.What the assessment must doThe standard approach is five steps:
Risks that matter in pubs and restaurantsTypical hazards that must be considered include:
The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 requires the “responsible person” to carry out a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment of virtually all non-domestic premises, including pubs, restaurants, cafés and clubs.
The Fire (Scotland) Act 2005 and the Fire Safety (Scotland) Regulations 2006 impose equivalent duties on the “dutyholder”. A written record of significant findings is required where there are five or more employees, the premises are licensed, or an alterations notice requires it. Licensed pubs and restaurants therefore need a written assessment in practice.
The Fire and Rescue Services (Northern Ireland) Order 2006 and the Fire Safety Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010 apply. The “appropriate person” must assess fire risks in commercial premises, including pubs and restaurants.
- the employer, if it is a workplace
- the person who has control of the premises in connection with the business (owner, operator, occupier or premises licence holder)
- the owner, if no one else has that control
- Identify fire hazards (ignition, fuel and oxygen).
- Identify people at risk (staff, customers, contractors, children, disabled people, people who have been drinking, people unfamiliar with the layout, anyone sleeping on the premises).
- Evaluate the risk, then remove, reduce and protect against it.
- Record the findings, prepare an emergency plan, inform and train people.
- Review the assessment regularly and whenever there is a significant change (refurbishment, new layout, extra covers, new kitchen equipment, change of use, an incident).
- Fire safety risk assessment: small and medium places of assembly (public houses, clubs and similar premises accommodating up to 300 people)
- Fire safety risk assessment: offices and shops (some restaurants)
- Fire safety risk assessment: sleeping accommodation if there are rooms above the pub or restaurant
- Commercial kitchens: deep-fat fryers, cooking oils, gas appliances, grease in extract canopies and ductwork
- Alcohol (flammable liquid and its effect on occupants’ ability to escape)
- Electrical equipment, heaters, lighting and overloaded sockets
- Waste, packaging, decorations and furniture
- Smoking materials and arson (especially external bins)
- Crowds, late-night trading, entertainment and people who do not know the building
- Shared escape routes or sleeping accommodation above the premises
- Events, hired function rooms and temporary structures
- Identify who the responsible person is and write it down.
- Use the relevant GOV.UK (or Scottish / NI equivalent) guide and complete a premises-specific assessment.
- Record the findings, the emergency plan and the fire safety arrangements.
- Train staff and keep a log of tests, maintenance, drills and reviews.
- Review after any significant change and at regular intervals even if nothing has changed.
- If the premises are licensed, fire safety forms part of the public-safety licensing objective; the assessment should support that.
CALL 0800 776 5018 to obtain a price for a Fire Risk Assessment or to book an appointment . E Mail : sales@fireinspector.co.uk
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