37,392 active companies in the UK are classified under unlicensed restaurants and cafes (SIC code 56102). This sector falls under Section I — Accommodation and food service activities — of the UK Standard Industrial Classification. The sector has a relatively low 14.9% dissolution rate — 37,392 of 52,366 registrations remain active. The sector is experiencing rapid growth, with 337.9% of active businesses incorporated since 2020 — indicating strong recent demand. 134% of companies were formed after 2010, marking this as a sector with predominantly recent entrants. With an average company age of just 3.8 years, this sector is dominated by newer entrants. 143 large companies, 47 medium-sized firms operate in this sector. London leads with 19% of companies in this sector. Companies in this sector hold 52 government contracts valued at £203.8M.
Source: Companies House register via UVAGATRON, October 2026
A rapidly growing sector with 337.9% of active companies formed since 2020.
The unlicensed restaurants and cafes sector has a <Link href="/glossary/company-dissolution">14.9% dissolution rate</Link>. The average active company in this sector is 3.8 years old. Geographic concentration: 19% in LONDON.
Companies in the unlicensed restaurants and cafes sector have been awarded 52 government contracts worth £203.8M in total.
There are 37,392 active companies classified under SIC code 56102 (Unlicensed restaurants and cafes) in the UK, out of 52,366 total registered.
SIC code 56102 stands for "Unlicensed restaurants and cafes". It belongs to Section I — Accommodation and food service activities of the UK Standard Industrial Classification.
The largest concentrations are in LONDON (7,171), BIRMINGHAM (1,147), MANCHESTER (823).
The average active unlicensed restaurants and cafes company in the UK is 3.8 years old, with the oldest registration dating back to 1936.
Our database contains 299,987 data signals across 11 categories for active unlicensed restaurants and cafes companies. The largest category is Governance with 153,150 signals from 6 government sources.
5.9M companies, 50M+ signals from 53 government sources. Risk scores, director networks, entity analysis.