Solar for pubs and restaurants
| Load | When it runs | How solar helps |
|---|---|---|
| Cellar cooling and bottle fridges | All day, every day | A steady base the panels cover in daylight |
| Kitchen refrigeration and freezers | All day | As above, working harder in summer |
| Prep and lunch service | Late morning to afternoon | Matches the hours of strongest output |
| Evening service and lighting | After dark for much of the year | Only with a battery storing midday output |
| Rooms, laundry and hot water | Morning and daytime | Good daytime use for pubs with rooms |
Kitchens, cellars and refrigeration
Refrigeration is the load that makes solar work for hospitality: it never switches off, so whatever the panels make in daylight is used. A pub or restaurant with electric cooking, a busy lunch trade or rooms has more daytime demand again. Gas cooking and heating don't show up on the electricity bill, so they make no difference to the solar sums.
The best way to see your pattern is twelve months of half-hourly data from your supplier. If midday output would exceed use while evenings are heavy, a battery may help; if the site uses everything the panels make, it won't.
Find out how much of your power solar could cover: book a free site survey.
Book a free site surveyTied pubs and leases
- Freehouse. The owner decides, subject to planning
- Tied or leased from a pub company. The pub company owns the building: ask them first, and ask whether they have their own solar programme
- Restaurant in a leased unit. The landlord must consent; the lease decides who owns the panels and who benefits
See solar on leased property for landlord consent and green lease clauses.
Listed pubs and older buildings
Many pubs are old, listed or in conservation areas. That can rule out panels on a front roof slope while leaving room on a rear extension, a function room, outbuildings, a car park canopy or a ground array. Check early with the planning authority: our planning permission guide covers permitted development and when consent is needed.
VAT, tax and paying for it
- VAT. HMRC lists hotels, inns and similar establishments as standard-rated; a VAT-registered business can normally reclaim it
- Capital allowances. A pub or restaurant business that buys the system can usually claim them
- EV chargers. The Workplace Charging Scheme is open to small accommodation businesses, whose chargers guests may use; up to £500 a socket until 31 March 2027
- Chargepoint equipment. Can qualify for a 100% first-year allowance if bought before April 2027
Sources: HMRC Notice 708/6, Workplace Charging Scheme, GOV.UK. See capital allowances and paying for commercial solar, and our hotels and hospitality page for larger sites.
Sources
HMRC Notice 708/6, the Workplace Charging Scheme grant listing and GOV.UK first-year allowances were read on 2 November 2026.