How to choose, and how to check
Some UK trades are tightly regulated and some are not regulated at all. These guides set out which is which, which registers you can search for free, and what to ask before you hand over any money.
Food hygiene ratings explained: what 0 to 5 actually means
A food hygiene rating is a score from 0 to 5 given by a local authority inspector after visiting a food business. It reflects hygiene standards observed on the day of inspection: food handling, the condition of the premises, and how the business manages food safety. It is not a measure of food quality, service, value or taste.
6 min readPlumbers · 104 listingsHow to choose a plumber in the UK
Anyone can legally call themselves a plumber in the UK: plumbing is not a protected profession. But any work on gas appliances must by law be carried out by an engineer on the Gas Safe Register. Check the register before booking gas work, get more than one written quote, and confirm what the call-out charge covers.
7 min readElectricians · 65 listingsHow to choose an electrician in the UK
Electrical work in England and Wales is governed by Part P of the Building Regulations. Certain domestic jobs must either be done by an electrician registered with a competent person scheme, such as NICEIC, NAPIT, ELECSA or STROMA, or be notified to building control. Always get the certificate at the end; it is the proof the work was done to standard.
7 min readDentists & Dental Clinics · 1,568 listingsHow to choose a dentist in the UK
Every dentist practising in the UK must be registered with the General Dental Council, and you can search the register free of charge. Beyond registration, the main decision is NHS versus private treatment: NHS charges fall into fixed bands, while private fees are set by the practice.
6 min readSolicitors & Legal Services · 926 listingsHow to choose a solicitor in the UK
Solicitors in England and Wales are regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority, and you can check any firm or individual on the Law Society’s Find a Solicitor service. Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own separate professions and regulators. Before instructing anyone, get the fee basis in writing.
7 min readAccountants & Tax Advisors · 568 listingsHow to choose an accountant in the UK
In the UK, "accountant" is not a protected title. Anyone can use it without qualifications. What is meaningful is membership of a professional body such as ICAEW, ACCA, CIMA, ICAS or AAT, which brings mandatory qualifications, professional indemnity insurance and a complaints route. Always verify membership directly with the body.
6 min readBuilders & Contractors · 353 listingsHow to choose a builder in the UK
Building is not a licensed trade in the UK, so vetting falls to you. The essentials are a written contract with a defined scope and payment schedule, evidence of public liability insurance, clarity on who obtains building control approval, and staged payments tied to completed work rather than dates.
8 min readCar Repair & MOT Testing · 1,520 listingsCar repairs and MOTs: what UK drivers should know
MOT tests can only be carried out at test stations authorised by the DVSA, and results are recorded on a central database you can check free online. General servicing and repair is not licensed. Using an independent garage does not automatically void a manufacturer warranty, provided servicing meets the schedule and uses appropriate parts.
7 min readPharmacies · 1,777 listingsHow to check a UK pharmacy is registered
Every pharmacy premises in England, Scotland and Wales must be registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council, and so must the pharmacist working there. Northern Ireland uses the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland. Both registers are free to search, and a pharmacy that is not on one should not be dispensing medicines.
5 min readOpticians · 871 listingsOpticians: your rights, and how to check the practice
Only a registered optometrist, an ophthalmic medical practitioner or a doctor can legally test your sight in the UK. They must be on the General Optical Council register, which is free to search. After a sight test you are entitled by law to a copy of your prescription, and you can take it anywhere to buy glasses.
5 min readVets · 371 listingsHow to choose a vet, and what the RCVS register tells you
Anyone treating your animal must be registered with the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, and the register is free to search. Separately, practices can choose to be accredited under the RCVS Practice Standards Scheme, which is voluntary and inspected. Ask about out-of-hours cover and costs before you need them, not during an emergency.
6 min readEstate Agents · 766 listingsEstate agents: the checks that are legally required
Every estate agent in the UK must be a member of a government-approved redress scheme, either The Property Ombudsman or the Property Redress Scheme. Letting agents must also hold Client Money Protection and display their fees. An agent in neither scheme is trading unlawfully, and both are free to check.
6 min readHairdressers & Beauty · 8,373 listingsHairdressing is unregulated in the UK: what to check instead
Hairdressing is not a regulated profession in the UK. There is no qualification you must hold and no register you must join before trading, so the title on the door guarantees nothing. The voluntary State Registered Hairdresser scheme, salon insurance, and a proper allergy patch test before colour are the checks worth making.
5 min readTakeaways · 9,370 listingsTakeaways: hygiene ratings, allergens and your rights
Every takeaway must register with its local council and must give you accurate allergen information for the 14 regulated allergens on request. Food hygiene ratings are published by the Food Standards Agency and are free to check. In England, Wales and Northern Ireland the rating is a number from 0 to 5.
5 min readPubs & Bars · 7,293 listingsHow pub and bar licensing works in the UK
Any venue selling alcohol in England and Wales needs a premises licence from the local council under the Licensing Act 2003, and must name a Designated Premises Supervisor who personally holds a personal licence. Scotland operates a separate system under the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005. Licences are public documents and anyone can inspect them.
5 min readCafes · 8,937 listingsWhat to check in a cafe: hygiene, allergens and access
Cafes must register with their local council, hold accurate allergen information for the 14 regulated allergens, and provide their food hygiene rating on request. In Wales and Northern Ireland displaying the rating is compulsory; in England it is voluntary, which is why checking the Food Standards Agency record directly is worthwhile.
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