Pop-up afternoon tea room

Local residents, groups celebrating birthdays or baby showers, community organisations and visitors to local events.

Ticket or per-head prices for afternoon tea and drinks, plus extra from private group bookings. Costs are venue hire, ingredients and helpers.

• Baking and food presentation
• Event organising
• Social media and local promotion
• Friendly customer service

• Food business registration is required before you start trading. Register with your local council (in Northern Ireland, also with your council) and check whether the venue's kitchen needs separate approval or is already registered
• Food hygiene training and allergen information for every item served
• Public liability insurance, and check what the venue requires
• If you prepare food at home, check with your council that your kitchen is suitable and that your lease, mortgage or insurance allows it
• Keep bookings and numbers realistic so you do not waste food
• Playing music to guests may need a music licence, and selling or supplying alcohol needs a premises licence or a Temporary Event Notice. Check with your council and the venue, as the venue may already hold the relevant licences

Startup costs are typically around £800 to £4,000, depending on your equipment, venues and how often you run events. Treat these as estimates and work out your own figures before you buy anything.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around £400 to £2,500, depending on how often you open and how many guests you serve. Keep bookings and numbers realistic so you do not waste food.

Check that food business registration is in place with your local council before you start trading, and whether the venue's kitchen is already registered. Also check food hygiene training, allergen information, insurance, and any music or alcohol licence needs, including a Temporary Event Notice.