Opening a Restaurant in Ireland

Starting a food business in Ireland

Foreign investors wanting to open a restaurant or other type of food business in Ireland are required to meet certain strict conditions. The first step is to have the company registered with the Irish Trade Register and then gat familiarized with all the requirements related to operating a food company. Among these are:

• -          obtain a copy of the National Standards Authority of Ireland Guidelines,
• -          applying with the relevant authorities for business licensing,
• -          register with the Environmental Health Office in the Health Service Department,
• -          obtain the relevant building permits suitable for opening restaurants or cafes.

For assistance with the company registration procedure you can rely on our agents in Ireland.

Licensing requirements for opening a restaurant in Ireland

Depending on the specific of the restaurant, special licenses are required with one or more of the following authorities:

• -          a license from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) for processing meat, dairy products and eggs,
• -          a license from the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA) for processing fish and fishery products.
• -          a license from the Revenue Commissioners for serving alcohol in the location,
• -          a license from the Irish Music Rights Organization (IMRO) if one wants to play music in the restaurant.

All licenses are subject to different fees or tariffs. Our specialists in company formation in Ireland can provide you with information about the licensing costs related to opening a restaurant.

The special restaurant license in Ireland

The special restaurant license is comprised of the permit to sell or serve alcohol on the premises of the location and the wine retailer’s on license. This type of license is issued by an Irish District Court under the Special Restaurant License Standards of 1988. The wine retailer’s on license is granted based on the Refreshment Houses Act of 1860 and can be issued only the owner of the Irish restaurant.

For complete information about the documents required to obtain a special restaurant license and fees related to it, do not hesitate to contact our local agents. Our Irish consultants in company incorporation can also help you with the application procedure.