SIC code 56101 covers licensed restaurants activities in the UK, with 43,500 active companies currently registered. This represents a significant segment of UK business activity. It falls under Section I (Accommodation and food service activities) of the UK SIC 2007 classification system, which is used by Companies House to categorise all registered businesses.
See the full industry analysis on the Licensed restaurants industry page.
With a 76% survival rate, this sector shows strong business longevity. Only 448 of 57,190 companies registered under this code have dissolved, well below the UK average. The average company age of 5.5 years suggests a relatively young and dynamic sector, with many businesses having been established in recent years. Growth has been exceptional recently: 67% of all active companies were formed since 2020, marking this as one of the fastest-expanding classifications. The 2010s contributed another 25%, meaning the vast majority of businesses are relatively new. The leading locations for this sector are LONDON (8,855), GLASGOW (991), MANCHESTER (936), which together account for 25% of active companies.
SIC code 56101 stands for "Licensed restaurants" under the UK Standard Industrial Classification (SIC 2007) system. It belongs to Section I — Accommodation and food service activities. Companies use this code when registering with Companies House to indicate their primary business activity. The code is required for annual confirmation statements and is used by HMRC, ONS, and other government bodies for statistical and regulatory purposes.
There are currently 43,500 active companies registered under SIC code 56101 in the UK, out of 57,190 total registrations. This gives a survival rate of 76%, meaning 24% of companies registered under this code have since dissolved. These figures are based on Companies House data and updated regularly.
The top locations for licensed restaurants companies (SIC 56101) are: LONDON (8,855), GLASGOW (991), MANCHESTER (936), BIRMINGHAM (802), EDINBURGH (549). Geographic concentration can reflect local economic conditions, industry clusters, or proximity to key markets and supply chains.
The sector is growing: 67% of currently active SIC 56101 companies were formed since 2020, and 25% during the 2010s. This sustained formation rate indicates ongoing demand for licensed restaurants services in the UK.
Companies classified under SIC 56101 have an average age of 5.5 years. This suggests a balanced sector with both established players and newer entrants. Notable companies include MARSTON'S PLC, FIVE GUYS JV LIMITED, MIDDLETON HALL LIMITED.
Related SIC codes within the same division include: 56103 (Take-away food shops and mobile food stands), 56102 (Unlicensed restaurants and cafes), 56302 (Public houses and bars), 56210 (Event catering activities). Companies may use multiple SIC codes if they operate across several of these related activities. When registering with Companies House, businesses should select the code that best represents their primary activity.
You can search for companies with SIC code 56101 (Licensed restaurants) using UVAGATRON's company explorer, which allows filtering by SIC code, location, and company status. Alternatively, Companies House offers a basic search on their website. Our platform adds risk intelligence, director networks, and signals from 50+ government databases to each company record.
Search, filter, and analyse 43,500 companies classified under this SIC code with AI-powered risk intelligence.
Data sourced from Companies House, HM Land Registry, FCA Register, and 50+ government databases. SIC classification follows the UK Standard Industrial Classification of Economic Activities 2007 (SIC 2007). Last updated: 2026-04-17.