Restaurant Fire Risk Assessments
Running a restaurant comes with a unique set of fire risks that must be managed carefully to keep staff, customers, and premises safe. From busy commercial kitchens and high-temperature equipment to open flames, rapid turnover of customers and late-night operations, the hospitality environment creates multiple potential ignition sources.
At City Fire, we specialise in delivering a comprehensive restaurant fire risk assessment service designed specifically for hospitality and food service businesses. Our experienced assessors help you identify hazards, reduce risk, and remain fully compliant with fire safety law, giving you confidence that your restaurant is safe, operational, and protected.
Why do restaurants need a fire risk assessment?
Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, every restaurant, café, takeaway, pub, or food venue must carry out a formal fire risk assessment for a restaurant. This is a legal requirement for all premises where members of the public or employees could be at risk.
Because restaurants combine heat, grease, electrical equipment, cooking oils and stored food supplies, often in confined and fast-moving environments, they have one of the highest fire risk profiles in the commercial sector. A professional fire assessment restaurant service ensures that all hazards are properly identified and controlled before they lead to a fire. A well-managed fire risk assessment protects:
- Staff working in kitchens and customer-facing areas
- Members of the public dining on the premises
- Your building, equipment, and stock
- Your licence to trade and insurance compliance
What’s included in a restaurant fire risk assessment?
Kitchen fire hazards
We assess common ignition sources such as cooking oils, deep fat fryers, gas appliances, and heat-producing machinery. Poorly maintained ducting or a build-up of grease can significantly increase the risk of fire, which is why our review includes inspecting extraction and ventilation systems.
Front-of-house and dining areas
We look at open flames (e.g. candles or tabletop burners), electrical equipment, escape routes, and fire exits to ensure your front-of-house areas meet legal safety standards and are free from obstructions.
Electrical systems and storage
Restaurants often rely heavily on electrical equipment. We assess the condition of electrical appliances, extension leads, and storage areas to ensure they don’t pose a fire hazard.
Evacuation, escape routes, and signage
We examine your fire exits, evacuation procedures, assembly points, and emergency lighting to ensure customers and staff can leave safely and quickly in an emergency.
Fire detection and firefighting equipment
We assess your fire alarms, extinguishers (including CO₂, wet chemical, foam, and powder units), and any suppression systems such as kitchen fire suppression or automatic extinguishing equipment.
Fire management and staff procedures
We review how fire safety is managed within your restaurant, including staff awareness, training, and written procedures. This includes checking that staff understand what to do in the event of a fire, how to raise the alarm, and when evacuation should take priority over firefighting.
Why choose City Fire for your restaurant fire assessment?
At City Fire, we’re a trusted national provider of fire assessments for restaurants, with years of experience working in hospitality and high-risk environments. Clients choose us because we offer:
- Qualified, experienced fire risk assessors
- Thorough, sector-specific inspections
- Clear and practical recommendations
- Support with implementing remedial actions
- UK-wide coverage with fast availability
- Integrated fire safety services (alarms, extinguishers, maintenance, training)
We’re also proud to be part of the LS Fire Group, which gives you access to one of the UK’s largest networks of fire safety experts.
Book a restaurant fire risk assessment today
Whether you’re a small independent café or a large restaurant group, we’re here to help you stay compliant, safe, and fully protected. Get in touch today to arrange your restaurant fire risk assessment or speak to our team about creating a complete fire safety plan for your business.
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Restaurant Fire Risk Assessments FAQs
- Do restaurants legally need a fire risk assessment?
- Every restaurant, café, takeaway, pub, or food venue is legally required to complete a restaurant fire risk assessment under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. Because restaurants combine multiple ignition sources such as hot oil, gas appliances, electrical equipment, and open flames, they’re classed as a higher-risk business type. A fire risk assessment for restaurant premises ensures that all hazards are identified and properly managed so you can protect your staff and customers while remaining compliant. Failing to complete or maintain your assessment can lead to fines, enforcement action, insurance problems, and a significantly increased risk of fire, making it one of the most important responsibilities for any restaurant operator.
- How often should a restaurant’s fire risk assessment be reviewed or updated?
- A restaurant should review its fire risk assessment at least every twelve months. However, because hospitality environments change frequently, most restaurants benefit from more regular reviews to reflect new equipment, updated menus, modified layouts, or changes in staffing and occupancy levels. The assessment should also be updated immediately after any fire incident, refurbishment, installation of new cooking equipment, or a change in management. Keeping your restaurant fire risk assessment current ensures your safety measures remain accurate, practical, and aligned with the risks that naturally evolve in a fast-paced commercial kitchen.
- What are the biggest fire risks in restaurants?
- Restaurants face a unique combination of fire hazards that make a fire assessment essential. Some of the major risks include overheating cooking oil, malfunctioning or poorly maintained deep fat fryers, gas appliances that are not correctly serviced, electrical catering equipment under constant heavy use, build-ups of grease within extraction and ducting systems, and open flames or hot surfaces used during service. Additional risks arise from obstructed escape routes, cluttered storage areas, and busy front-of-house environments where customers and staff move quickly in confined spaces. Together, these elements make the hospitality sector particularly vulnerable unless a thorough, restaurant-specific fire risk assessment is completed and regularly updated.
- What does a restaurant-specific fire risk assessment involve?
- At City Fire, our restaurant fire risk assessment involves a comprehensive review of the entire building and its operations. This includes examining the kitchen layout, the condition and use of cooking appliances, the maintenance of extraction and ventilation systems, how oils and fats are stored and managed, and whether a suitable fire suppression system is in place. Front-of-house areas are also assessed, including lighting, electrical equipment, any use of candles or open flames, and the general housekeeping standards. We also look closely at escape routes and evacuation procedures to ensure staff and customers can exit the building safely in an emergency, and we assess the suitability and placement of fire alarms, extinguishers, blankets, and emergency lighting. The final report delivered as part of your fire risk assessment restaurant service includes clear, prioritised recommendations that are practical for real restaurant operations and support full compliance with UK fire safety regulations.
- Can City Fire help with the improvements identified in the assessment?
- Once your fire assessment report is complete, we can support you with implementing any improvements recommended in the report. This may include installing additional extinguishers, maintaining existing firefighting equipment, servicing your fire alarm system, updating emergency signage, improving routes of escape, or delivering fire safety training tailored to your staff. Because we also provide ongoing fire safety maintenance, servicing and installation work, you can rely on a single, trusted provider for all your restaurant’s fire safety needs, making compliance more straightforward and consistent across your premises.
- How quickly can City Fire carry out a restaurant fire risk assessment?
- We offer prompt availability for restaurant fire risk assessments, with experienced assessors operating across the UK. We understand that restaurants often need assessments carried out around opening hours, so we work flexibly to minimise disruption, including early mornings, pre-service times, or quieter operational periods. Whether you operate a single independent venue or oversee a large multi-site chain, we aim to provide fast booking, an efficient on-site assessment, and a quick turnaround for reporting so you can continue trading with confidence and full compliance.
