If you are asking, “Is Nando’s licensed in the UK?”, the short answer is that many Nando’s restaurants in the UK are licensed to sell alcohol, but the licence and drinks available can vary by location. A restaurant’s ability to serve alcohol depends on its own premises licence and the conditions attached to it. That means it is best to check with the particular restaurant if you want to know whether it serves alcoholic drinks or what time it can serve them.
The word “licensed” can also mean different things. In this guide, we explain what a licence usually means for a Nando’s restaurant, how UK alcohol licensing works, what customers can expect, and how to check the details for a specific branch.
Is Nando’s licensed to sell alcohol in the UK?
Many Nando’s restaurants in the UK serve alcoholic drinks, such as beer, wine or cider, alongside their food. However, it is not safe to assume that every branch has the same licence, serves the same drinks or has permission to sell alcohol during the same hours. Local licensing conditions, the restaurant’s format and its location can all affect what is available.
In the UK, a restaurant generally needs authorisation to sell alcohol to customers. For a premises, this is usually a premises licence or an equivalent authorisation under the rules that apply in that part of the UK. The licence may set out what activities are allowed, the hours when alcohol can be sold and any additional conditions intended to protect customers and the local community.
So, the most accurate answer is: Nando’s restaurants may be licensed to sell alcohol, but you should check the individual branch rather than assume that every restaurant has identical permissions.
What does “licensed” mean for a restaurant?
In everyday conversation, a “licensed restaurant” often means a place that is authorised to sell alcohol. It does not necessarily mean that every customer must buy alcohol, that alcohol is included with a meal, or that the restaurant operates as a bar. A licensed restaurant can serve food and offer alcoholic drinks as one part of its menu.
Licensing can also refer to other permissions, but these are separate from permission to sell alcohol. For example, a business may need different authorisations for activities such as playing certain kinds of recorded music or providing regulated entertainment. A customer asking whether a Nando’s is “licensed” usually wants to know whether they can order an alcoholic drink, so the restaurant’s alcohol authorisation is the key detail.
It is also useful to distinguish a premises licence from a personal licence. A premises licence relates to a particular location and the activities allowed there. A personal licence relates to an individual who is authorised to sell or supply alcohol, subject to the applicable rules. Having a personal licence does not, by itself, give every restaurant permission to sell alcohol; the premises also needs the appropriate authorisation.
How alcohol licensing works across the UK
Alcohol licensing is not governed by one identical system throughout the whole UK. England and Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland have their own legislation and licensing arrangements. The broad purpose is similar: to regulate the sale of alcohol and make sure licensed businesses follow relevant legal requirements. The details, terminology and processes can differ depending on where a restaurant is located.
- England and Wales: Alcohol sales are generally authorised through a premises licence under the Licensing Act 2003. Local licensing authorities administer licences and can attach conditions.
- Scotland: Licensing is governed by a separate system, including the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005. Local licensing boards oversee matters such as premises licences and permitted hours.
- Northern Ireland: A separate licensing framework applies, including rules under the Licensing (Northern Ireland) Order 1996. The relevant authorisations and procedures differ from those in Great Britain.
Because the laws and local decisions vary, a licence for one Nando’s restaurant does not automatically tell you what another branch is allowed to do. Even restaurants in the same city may have different premises, opening hours or licence conditions. This is why checking the particular location is more reliable than relying on a general statement about the brand.
What drinks might be available at Nando’s?
Where a Nando’s restaurant is authorised to sell alcohol, its drinks menu may include options such as beer, wine or cider. The specific range can change, and availability may depend on the branch, supplier, season or current menu. Some restaurants may have a broader drinks selection than others, while a particular item can be temporarily unavailable.
Non-alcoholic drinks are also available, though the exact options can vary. If you are visiting with someone who does not drink, or you are looking for a specific beverage, check the restaurant’s current menu or ask the team before ordering. Online menus can be helpful, but a local branch can confirm what it is serving on the day.
A licence also does not mean that alcohol is available for takeaway or delivery. The conditions governing a restaurant’s permission may distinguish between consumption on the premises and other forms of sale. Delivery or collection options can be subject to separate rules and the service offered by that location. Check the branch’s ordering information rather than assuming that its dine-in drinks menu applies to takeaway orders.
Can children eat at a licensed Nando’s?
A restaurant’s alcohol licence does not automatically mean that children cannot visit. Many licensed restaurants serve families, and the presence of a licence is not the same as being an adults-only venue. A child may be able to dine with an accompanying adult, subject to the restaurant’s own policies and any relevant licence conditions.
There are, however, strict age rules around the sale and supply of alcohol. A restaurant must not sell alcohol to someone who is under the legal age, and staff may ask for proof of age if a customer appears underage. Customers should follow the venue’s age-verification policy and bring acceptable identification if they intend to order alcohol and may be asked to prove their age.
Rules about young people being on licensed premises can depend on the law in the relevant nation and on the conditions attached to a particular licence. If you are planning a family visit, contact the branch if you have questions about age restrictions, dining times or its policy for younger guests.
How to check whether your local Nando’s is licensed
If you need a definite answer before visiting, use a few simple checks. Restaurant details and menus can change, so confirm the information close to the date of your visit, especially if you are arranging a group meal or choosing a location specifically for its drinks options.
- Check the current menu: Look at Nando’s official website or ordering information for your chosen restaurant. A drinks menu may indicate whether alcoholic options are offered, although branch-specific availability can still change.
- Contact the restaurant: Ask whether it currently serves alcohol, what types of drinks are available and whether there are any restrictions on serving times.
- Look for licensing information at the premises: Licensed venues are generally required to make relevant licence information available in accordance with local rules. Staff can direct you to it or explain how to view it.
- Search the local authority’s licensing records: The council or licensing authority responsible for the area may provide a public register or information about premises licences. In Scotland or Northern Ireland, check the appropriate local licensing body.
When checking a licence, pay attention to the address. A licence applies to the premises named in the authorisation, not to every restaurant belonging to the same company. Also check whether you are looking at current information: licences can be varied, transferred or otherwise updated through the proper process.
Can a Nando’s serve alcohol outside normal hours?
Not simply because it belongs to a large restaurant chain. The permitted hours and other conditions depend on the authorisation for the individual premises and the laws in that part of the UK. A restaurant may have permission to serve alcohol only during certain hours, and those hours may not match its food-service or opening hours.
For example, a restaurant might remain open for food after alcohol service has ended, or it may stop serving drinks before closing time. The exact arrangement depends on the branch’s licence and how it operates. If alcohol service times matter to your plans, ask the restaurant directly rather than assuming that drinks are available for as long as the doors are open.
Licensing conditions can also address responsible service, staff procedures and other matters relevant to the location. Restaurants must comply with applicable licence conditions and licensing laws. A licence is permission to carry out specified activities under set rules, not an exemption from those rules.
Does “licensed” mean Nando’s is a franchise?
No. The phrase “licensed to sell alcohol” is different from a business licence or franchise agreement. Alcohol licensing concerns the activities permitted at a particular restaurant. A franchise or company arrangement concerns who owns or operates a business and the commercial rights to use a brand.
That distinction matters because a customer may see a restaurant described as “licensed” and assume the word refers to the company’s ownership structure. In most questions about visiting Nando’s, “licensed” is asking whether the restaurant can legally serve alcohol. The answer depends on the relevant premises authorisation, not on whether that restaurant is described as a franchise or is part of a chain.
What should you do if alcohol is not listed on the menu?
If a branch’s online menu does not show alcohol, that does not always tell you the full story. The restaurant may not sell it, the online menu may be incomplete, or the selection may differ at that location. Likewise, an alcohol menu shown online is not a guarantee that every item is in stock when you arrive.
The simplest approach is to call or message the restaurant and ask a direct question: “Are you currently licensed to serve alcohol, and what drinks do you have available?” If you need to know about specific hours, age conditions or takeaway orders, ask those questions separately. A team member can confirm the practical details for that branch.
Conclusion: Is Nando’s licensed in the UK?
Many Nando’s restaurants in the UK are licensed to sell alcohol, but licensing is location-specific. Each branch’s permissions, serving hours, menu and conditions can differ, and alcohol rules are administered under different systems in England and Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. Being part of the Nando’s chain does not mean every restaurant has an identical licence or drinks range.
If you want to know whether a particular Nando’s serves alcohol, check its current menu, contact the branch or consult the relevant local licensing authority. That is the most dependable way to confirm what is available and when you can order it.
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