Restaurant Business Loans & Finance Solutions in the UK

Summary: Fast Business Loans connects UK restaurants with specialist lenders and brokers for business loans and finance solutions from around £10,000 upwards. We are an introducer — not a lender — and our free, no-obligation enquiry helps match your restaurant to the right providers (soft search only). Get started with a Free Eligibility Check to see your options fast.

Get Started – Free Eligibility Check

Why Restaurants Turn to Alternative Finance in 2024

Running a restaurant today means managing tight margins, seasonal demand and rising operating costs (energy, food prices and staffing). Traditional bank lending can be slow and rigid — many operators need fast, flexible funding to cover refurbishments, cashflow gaps or investment in delivery and digital ordering. Specialist lenders and brokers offer targeted products that can suit hospitality cashflow patterns and short-notice working capital needs.

Ready to connect with specialist lenders? Get Quote Now

How Fast Business Loans Helps Restaurant Owners

Our 4-Step Matching Process

• Quick Enquiry — you provide a few business details (takes under 2 minutes).
• Smart Match — we select lenders/brokers in our panel who specialise in hospitality.
• Introduction — partners contact you to discuss terms and request documents.
• Compare & Decide — review offers and choose the best fit. No obligation to proceed.

Benefits of Using Fast Business Loans

• No obligation — submitting an enquiry does not commit you to borrow.
• Soft search introductions — your credit score is not affected at enquiry stage.
• Sector-specific partners — higher chance of a good match for restaurants.
• Save time — one quick form versus contacting many lenders individually.

Start My Restaurant Loan Enquiry

Restaurant Finance Options We Can Introduce

We can introduce a range of products suited to restaurants. Below are common options with a quick “Best for • Typical amounts • Speed” overview.

Unsecured Business Loans

• Best for: Short-term working capital, VAT or supplier bills.
• Typical amounts: £10,000–£250,000+
• Speed: Decisions in 24–72 hours, funds within days.

Secured Loans & Commercial Mortgages

• Best for: Buying or refinancing premises, major expansion.
• Typical amounts: £50,000–£5m+
• Speed: 2–8 weeks depending on valuation and legal works.

Merchant Cash Advance (Card-Receipts Funding)

• Best for: Fast access to cash repaid from daily card takings.
• Typical amounts: £10,000–£250,000
• Speed: Often approved same day; funds within 1–3 days.

VAT & Tax Funding

• Best for: Covering VAT bills, HMRC liabilities or urgent tax shortfalls.
• Typical amounts: £10,000–£500,000
• Speed: Quick decisions; product dependent.

Asset & Equipment Finance (Kitchen, EPOS, Vehicles)

• Best for: Replacing ovens, fridges, fit-out or POS systems without capital outlay.
• Typical amounts: £10,000–£500,000
• Speed: 48 hours–2 weeks.

Invoice Finance for Catering Contracts

• Best for: Catering firms with large B2B contracts awaiting payment.
• Typical amounts: Depends on invoice portfolio; facility lines often £25k+.
• Speed: Facility set-up 1–3 weeks; advances available quickly once live.

Examples are for illustration; actual rates and terms depend on lender assessment.

Free Eligibility Check

Eligibility Snapshot for UK Restaurants

Common Lender Criteria

• Trading history: many lenders prefer 6–12 months trading, though start-up-friendly partners exist.
• Monthly turnover and card sales (for MCAs).
• Credit profile and director history.
• Security availability for secured products (property, equipment).

Documents to Prepare

• 3–6 months business bank statements
• Management accounts or latest accounts
• Proof of identity and address for directors
• Lease or property ownership details, business plan for start-ups

Have had credit issues? We can match you with specialists who consider complex cases. See if you qualify in minutes – Free Eligibility Check

Use Cases – Funding Growth at Each Stage of Your Restaurant Journey

Launching or Acquiring a Restaurant

Funding can cover deposit, fit-out and initial stock. Example: a small bistro secured a £125k unsecured loan to cover initial works and working capital.

Refits, Expansion & New Sites

Commercial mortgages or asset finance enable roll-out of new sites without draining cash reserves.

Sustainability & Energy Efficiency Projects

Specialist sustainability loans and equipment finance can fund insulation, efficient ovens or EV chargers to reduce long-term costs.

Managing Peaks, Seasonality & Supply Costs

Merchant cash advances and short-term working capital help smooth seasonal income fluctuations and one-off supplier pressures.

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Cost Considerations & Responsible Borrowing

Interest rates and fees vary by product and credit profile. Typical ranges:

• Unsecured loans: higher rates than secured loans, fixed term repayment.
• Secured lending: lower rates but risk to secured asset.
• Merchant cash advance: often higher effective cost due to factor fees.

Before borrowing, compare APR, fees, repayment profile and impact on cashflow. Fast Business Loans does not provide regulated financial advice — consider speaking to your accountant.

Checklist before you borrow: affordability stress test, compare multiple offers, read terms on early repayment and fees.

Fast Business Loans vs Going Direct to Banks

Going direct can be slow and limited in product choice. Fast Business Loans introduces you to a panel of lenders/brokers who understand hospitality — saving time and widening options. Our service is free for business owners; you only provide details once and get matched.

Compare My Options – Get Matched Today

Step-by-Step – What Happens After You Submit an Enquiry

• Day 0: Submit our short enquiry form.
• Day 0–1: We review and match your enquiry to suitable partners; you may get a call.
• Day 1–7: Lenders/brokers request documents, carry out checks and issue indicative offers.
• Once you accept: formal checks, legal work (if secured), funds released per product timeline.

We only share your details with partners relevant to your request and who can help. Enquiry introductions are soft — any credit checks are performed later by the lender with your permission.

Real Outcomes from Restaurants We’ve Introduced

• Independent bistro in Manchester — £125k unsecured loan for refurb; funds within 5 days; revamp increased evening covers by 18%.
• City café chain — asset finance for new espresso machines across 5 sites; monthly repayments matched to cashflow.
• Catering contractor — invoice finance facility unlocked £60k of cash tied to large corporate contracts.

Case studies are anonymised and illustrative; funding is subject to lender assessment.

Frequently Asked Questions – Restaurant Finance

Can start-up restaurants apply without trading history?

Yes — some brokers specialise in start-up funding and will assess business plans, director experience and projected cashflow. Availability varies by lender.

Will submitting an enquiry affect my credit score?

No. Completing the Fast Business Loans enquiry form is a soft introduction only. Any credit checks are performed later by lenders and only with your consent.

How quickly can funding land once approved?

Speed depends on product: unsecured loans and MCAs can be days; secured mortgages take weeks. Lenders provide timelines on request.

What if I’ve had a previous CCJ or arrears?

Specialist lenders may consider historic credit issues, especially if recent trading is strong. We match you to partners who handle complex credit profiles.

Can I borrow to cover VAT, supplier bills or HMRC arrears?

Yes — there are products designed for tax and supplier funding. Lenders will assess affordability and business cashflow before offering terms.

What are the minimum/maximum loan sizes for restaurants?

Many partners operate from around £10,000 upwards; some facilities and commercial mortgages go into millions depending on need and security.

Still have questions? Talk to us – Free Eligibility Check

Ready to Discover Your Restaurant Finance Options?

Fast Business Loans makes finding restaurant finance faster and simpler. Tell us about your needs and we’ll match you to lenders and brokers who specialise in hospitality. There’s no charge and no obligation — just a quick way to see what’s possible.

Get Started – Match Me with a Restaurant Lender

Compliance & Transparency Statement

Fast Business Loans is an introducer connecting businesses with lenders and brokers. We are not a lender and we do not provide regulated financial advice. Funding is subject to status and lender assessment. We aim to be clear and not misleading in our communications so you can make an informed decision.

For further sector-specific help for hospitality finance see our restaurant business loans guide: restaurant business loans.

– What is Fast Business Loans and how does it help UK restaurants get finance?
Fast Business Loans is not a lender but a free introducer that matches UK restaurants with specialist lenders and brokers for finance from around £10,000+ via a quick soft-search eligibility check.

– Does submitting a restaurant finance enquiry affect my credit score?
No—our enquiry is a soft introduction and any credit checks are only carried out later by lenders with your consent.

– How fast can a UK restaurant get funded?
Unsecured loans and merchant cash advances can fund in 1–5 days, while secured loans and commercial mortgages usually take 2–8 weeks.

– What types of restaurant finance can you introduce?
We introduce unsecured and secured business loans, merchant cash advances, asset and equipment finance, VAT and tax funding, and invoice finance for catering contracts.

– How much can my restaurant borrow?
Many partners fund from about £10,000 up to £250,000+ for unsecured loans or MCAs, with secured facilities and commercial mortgages potentially reaching into the millions.

– What are the eligibility criteria and documents needed for a restaurant business loan?
Many lenders prefer 6–12 months’ trading and assess turnover, card sales and credit profile, with typical documents including 3–6 months’ bank statements, accounts, director ID and lease or property details.

– Can start-up restaurants with limited trading history be matched?
Yes—some partners specialise in start-ups and assess business plans, director experience and projected cashflow.

– Can you help if my restaurant has bad credit or a CCJ?
Often yes—specialist lenders consider imperfect credit where recent trading performance and affordability support the case.

– What can restaurant finance be used for?
Common uses include refurbishments, new sites, kitchen equipment and EPOS, stock, marketing, cashflow smoothing, and VAT or HMRC liabilities.

– Is your service free and what happens after I submit an enquiry?
Our service is free and no-obligation, and after your enquiry we match you with relevant partners who contact you to discuss terms, request documents and outline next steps.