One of the things which many visitors to the UK simply adore is the availability of ethnic foods from literally every country on earth. While that is probably just a ‘slight’ exaggeration, it is true that Great Britain, especially London, is famed for cafés and restaurants offering ethnic dishes from an amazing number of countries and cultures. If you are a Brazilian chef seeking to bring your talents and amazing tastes to Great Britain, here are a few things you might want to familiarize yourself with before going any further. This quick guide to opening a Brazilian café in the UK should help you decide if this is an undertaking you feel you can handle.
Great Britain Is NOT the Entire UK
The first thing you need to understand is that the UK and Great Britain are not synonymous as so many foreign nationals mistakenly believe. Great Britain is comprised of three countries, which are England, Wales, and Scotland, while the UK (United Kingdom) also includes North Ireland. When seeking to open a Brazilian café in the UK, be aware of the fact that laws and ordinances may change from one country to the next, but most legal requirements are the same for Great Britain. The Quora website has some good information on how to start a business in the UK which should help you, as a foreign national, find what you need to register and start your new business.
Be Careful Driving a Delivery Truck Until You Understand the Laws
As a foreign national, you can drive with a valid Brazilian licence in the UK for 12 months without worrying about qualifying for a UK driving licence, under certain conditions. The first thing to be aware of is that this means small cars and passenger vehicles. There are other conditions, which must be met if you intend to drive a delivery truck to deliver takeaways. One odd condition here is that if you drove that truck in the UK you could drive it. The question is, how would you drive it across the Atlantic? There, they are a left-side driving country, whereas Brazil drives on the right with the steering wheel on the left. If you intend to become a permanent resident requiring a driving licence in the UK, learn their highway code. You could also consider getting a full driving license. To do this, will need to pass your practical and theory tests. You can check this site out to practice your theory test, and hire someone in your café’s location to help you pass your practical.
Balancing Rules and Practical Advice
So there you have two important aspects of opening a business in the UK. Your Brazilian café will be greatly enjoyed anywhere in the UK because they notoriously love other ethnic cuisines. Take the time to check out what you need to do legally to register a business in the UK and then learn how you can legally drive so that you can take care of the day-to-day shopping and business affairs of your café. Once you’ve learned how to stay legal, you can open a café that will be successful in a much quicker time than back home. After all, you can find the best Brazilian cuisine in Brazil, but in the UK? Probably not so much!