The short answer
Usually, yes. On private land you need the landowner's or venue's permission. In parks you need agreement from whoever manages the park, often the council or another body. Selling on a public street is street trading, which London councils license. Rules vary by borough, so always check with the council or venue before booking.
Who decides whether an ice cream van can come to your event?
It depends on where the van will stand. The person or organisation that controls that piece of ground is the first permission you need. At a wedding venue, that is the venue. At a school, it is the school or the trust. At an office, it is the building owner or managing agent. In a park, it is whoever manages the park.
On top of that, some activities are regulated by the local council whatever the land. Selling food on a public street is the main example. Each London borough runs its own licensing, with its own policies and processes, so the answer can differ between neighbouring boroughs. When in doubt, the council's licensing team is the right place to ask.
Do you need permission on private land?
You need the landowner's or occupier's agreement, and in practice that is often the only permission a private event needs. A garden party at your own home, a wedding at a private venue or a staff day in your company's car park are typical examples. The venue or owner sets the conditions, such as where the van can go and what documents they want.
There are exceptions. If the van will be visible and selling to the public from private land next to a street, or if the event is large and open to the public, other rules may come into play. If your event is anything more than a private gathering, check with the council before you finalise plans.
What permissions do you need for a park in London?
Parks are managed by different bodies. Most local parks are run by the borough council, often through a parks or events team. The Royal Parks, such as Hyde Park, Regent's Park and Greenwich Park, are managed by The Royal Parks. Some open spaces are managed by other organisations, such as the City of London Corporation, which looks after several commons and heaths.
Each has its own process for events and traders, and many parks already have catering contracts in place. If you are planning a picnic, party or community event in a park, contact the park's managers early and ask specifically about bringing an ice cream van. Do not assume that because a park allows gatherings, it allows vehicles or traders.
What is street trading and when does it apply?
Street trading broadly means selling goods from a street or public place. In London, each borough licenses it, and the councils use licences and consents to control who can trade, where and when. An ice cream van selling to passers-by on a public road is the classic example of an activity that needs the council's permission.
The rules are detailed and vary by borough, including which streets are covered and what conditions apply. If you are planning anything where the van will sell on a public road or pavement, such as a street party or an event outside your building, speak to the council's licensing team. They will tell you what applies and how long it takes.
What about street parties and community events?
Street parties usually need the council's agreement to close the road, and the application process often covers food and activities too. If you want an ice cream van at a street party, mention it in the application so the council knows a vehicle will be on the street and food will be served.
For community events, fetes and fun days on council land, the council's events team is usually the first contact. They may ask for the trader's insurance, hygiene rating and risk assessment, and may want them by a fixed date. Kreamy Delights has worked with London Borough Councils on public events and can supply these documents on request.
What documents do councils and venues usually ask for?
Most will want to see public liability insurance and a food hygiene rating, and many ask for a risk assessment. Some ask for a COSHH assessment, a health and safety policy or a method statement. Food businesses must be registered with their local authority, and the food hygiene rating shows the result of the latest inspection.
Kreamy Delights holds a 5 Star Food Hygiene rating, £5M Public Liability insurance, a COSHH assessment and a health and safety policy, and our staff are Level 2 Hygiene Certified. We are NCASS members. Tell us who needs which documents and by when, and we will send them directly to the venue or council if that saves you a step.
- Public liability insurance certificate
- Food hygiene rating
- Risk assessment
- COSHH assessment
- Health and safety policy
- Method statement, for larger events
When should you start asking for permission?
As early as you can, and before you pay deposits that depend on the answer. Council processes for events, road closures and trading can take time, and timescales vary from borough to borough. Venues and park managers also have their own lead times, especially in summer when they are dealing with many requests at once.
A sensible order is to confirm the land and the venue first, then check whether council permission is needed, then book the van. If timescales are tight, tell us when you enquire. We can hold the conversation open while you confirm permissions, and we will send documents quickly so they do not hold up an application.
How do you check what applies to your event?
Work outwards from the ground. First, ask whoever controls the land: the venue, landowner, school or park managers. Second, if the van will be on or selling to a public street, contact the borough council's licensing team. Third, if it is a public event, check what the council's events team requires.
Write down what you are told, who told you and when, and share it with the van team. If a council or venue needs specific documents, give us the deadline. We cannot give legal advice about your event, but we can tell you what we usually see and supply the paperwork that most councils and venues ask for.