UK SIC 2007 · 56101
Licensed restaurants
UK restaurants licensed to serve alcohol, sit-down dining, pub-restaurants, hotel restaurants. The largest hospitality SIC code by company count. Distinct from 56102 (unlicensed cafes / lunch-only), 56103 (takeaway), and 56301 (licensed clubs).
As of the July 2026 Companies House register, 47,013 active UK companies list 56101 among their SIC codes (43,294 as their first code).
Companies House data refreshed daily. Page reviewed July 2026.
Division 56: Food and beverage service activities
Serving food and drink for immediate consumption defines division 56, the registration home of the UK's hospitality trade. Takeaways and mobile food stands under 56103 form the biggest single group, followed by restaurants, split by alcohol licence into 56101 for licenced venues and 56102 for unlicenced restaurants and cafes. Pubs and bars register under 56302, event caterers under 56210, and 56290 collects other food services such as contract catering and delivery-only kitchens. Because the codes track licensing and format, they reveal a surprising amount about how each business actually operates.
Hospitality's high churn and constant supply needs make it one of the most prospected sectors on the register. Food and drink wholesalers, EPOS and card payment providers, delivery platform sales teams, utility brokers, insurance intermediaries and commercial kitchen fitters all mine these codes, alongside accountants offering payroll and tronc support. A new incorporation typically means a site opening within months, the ideal window for fit-out, systems and supplier deals. The no-website flag is rife among takeaways and cafes, handing web designers and booking platforms an obvious first conversation.
Related SIC codes
Who uses this code in B2B outreach
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Where SIC 56101 clusters in the UK
About SIC 56101
How quickly do new restaurants appear under SIC 56101?
Within 24 hours of incorporation on Companies House. Most new restaurants incorporate 1-4 weeks before opening, giving suppliers a brief outreach window.
Is SIC 56101 used by both pubs and restaurants?
Pubs serving substantial food typically file 56101. Wet-only pubs (drinks-only, no kitchen) file 56302. Many pubs file both codes.
Find UK SIC 56101 companies
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