56 - Food and beverage service activities

This Chapter has been extracted from the ONS Explanatory Notes and provides a more detailed explanation of possible activities that could fall within the SIC Codes related to the Chapter.

This division includes food and beverage serving activities providing complete meals or drinks fit for
immediate consumption, whether in traditional restaurants, self-service or take-away restaurants, whether as permanent or temporary stands with or without seating. The fact that meals fit for immediate consumption are offered is the decisive factor rather than the kind of facility providing them.

This division excludes the production of meals not fit for immediate consumption or not planned to be consumed immediately or of prepared food which is not considered to be a meal (see divisions 10: manufacture of food products and 11: manufacture of beverages). Also excluded is the sale of not self-manufactured food that is not considered to be a meal or of meals that are not fit for immediate consumption (see section G: wholesale and retail trade).

56.1 Restaurants and mobile food service activities

56.10 Restaurants and mobile food service activities

56.10/1 Licensed restaurants

This subclass includes the provision of food services to customers, whether they are served while seated or serve themselves from a display of items. The meals provided are generally for consumption on the premises and alcoholic drinks to accompany the meal are available.

This subclass includes:
- restaurants
- cafeterias
- fast-food restaurants  
The subclass also includes restaurant and bar activities connected to transportation, when carried out by separate units

This subclass excludes:
- concession operation of eating facilities, see 56.29

56.10/2 Unlicensed restaurants and cafes

This subclass includes the provision of food services to customers, whether they are served while seated or serve themselves from a display of items, The meals provided are generally for consumption on the premises and only non-alcoholic drinks are served.

This subclass includes:
- restaurants
- cafeterias
- fast-food restaurants  
The subclass also includes restaurant and bar activities connected to transportation, when carried out by separate units

This class excludes:
- concession operation of eating facilities, see 56.29

56.10/3 Take away food shops and mobile food stands

This subclass includes the provision of food services to customers to take away or to have delivered. This includes the preparation and serving of meals for immediate consumption from motorised vehicles or non-motorised carts. The subclass includes:
- take-out eating places
- ice cream vans
- mobile food carts
- food preparation in market stalls

This subclass excludes:
- retail sale of food through vending machines, see 47.99
- concession operation of eating facilities, see 56.29

56.2 Event catering and other food service activities

This group includes catering activities for individual events or for a specified period of time and the
operation of food concessions, such as at sports or similar facilities.

56.21 Event catering activities

This class includes the provision of food services based on contractual arrangements with the customer, at the location specified by the customer, for a specific event.

This class excludes:
- manufacture of perishable food items for resale, see 10.89
- retail sale of perishable food items, see division 47

56.29 Other food service activities

This class includes industrial catering, i.e. the provision of food services based on contractual
arrangements with the customer, for a specific period of time.

Also included is the operation of food concessions at sports and similar facilities. The food is usually
prepared in a central unit.

This class includes:
- activities of food service contractors (e.g.for transportation companies)
- operation of food concessions at sports and similar facilities
- operation of canteens or cafeterias (e.g. for factories, offices, hospitals or schools) on a concession
basis

This class excludes:
- manufacture of perishable food items for resale, see 10.89
- retail sale of perishable food items, see division 47

56.3 Beverage serving activities

This group includes the preparation and serving of beverages for immediate consumption on the premises.

56.30 Beverage serving activities

56.30/1 Licensed clubs

This subclass includes the preparation and serving of beverages for immediate consumption on the premises by:
- nightclubs  
- social clubs

This subclass excludes:
- reselling packaged/prepared beverages, see 47
- retail sale of beverages through vending machines, see 47.99

56.30/2 Public houses and bars

This subclass includes the preparation and serving of beverages for immediate consumption on the
premises by:
- bars
- taverns
- cocktail lounges
- discotheques licensed to sell alcohol (with beverage serving predominant)
- beer parlours

This class excludes:
- reselling packaged/prepared beverages, see 47
- retail sale of beverages through vending machines, see 47.99
- operation of discotheques and dance floors without beverage serving, see 93.29

 

For all queries related to this Chapter or any other aspect of SIC Codes, please contact the Office of National Statistics on 01329 444970 or email classifications.helpdesk@ons.gov.uk.