Solar for pubs and restaurants
Where pubs and restaurants use power, and when
| 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.
Tied 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.
Frequently asked questions
Are solar panels worth it for a pub or restaurant?
It depends on how much of your electricity is used in daylight. Cellar cooling, fridges and freezers run all day, and lunch service, prep and a busy summer garden add to that, but evening service is after the panels stop producing in much of the year. A survey looks at your own bills or half-hourly data to size the system, and whether a battery would move midday output into the evening.
Can a tied or leased pub have solar panels?
Only with the owner's agreement. In a tied or leased pub the pub company or landlord owns the building, so they have to consent to anything fixed to the roof, and the lease or tenancy decides who pays and who benefits. Start with your pub company or landlord before getting quotes.
Do pubs pay VAT on solar panels?
Yes, at the standard rate. HMRC's Notice 708/6 lists hotels, inns and similar establishments as standard-rated for the energy-saving materials relief. A VAT-registered pub business can normally reclaim it. Self-catering holiday accommodation, such as letting cottages, is treated differently: it counts as residential for this relief.
Can we put solar on a listed pub?
Sometimes, with consent. Many pubs are listed or in conservation areas, which limits what can go on the main roof. Outbuildings, a rear extension, a car park canopy or a ground array can be easier. Our planning permission guide covers the rules.
Is there a grant for EV chargers at a pub with rooms?
The Workplace Charging Scheme is open to small accommodation businesses, and for them there is no restriction on who uses the chargepoints, so guests can. It covers up to 75% of the cost, capped at £500 per socket for installations completed from 1 April 2026, until 31 March 2027.
Related pages
- HospitalityHotels and holiday parks with summer peaks match solar well, while evening-led pubs and restaurants need careful sizing. The survey looks at hot water, kitchens, seasons and historic buildings.
- Solar on leased propertyTenants need landlord consent and enough lease left; landlords can install and sell the power, or lease the roof.
- Listed buildingsListed buildings always need consent and conservation areas restrict panels facing a road; outbuildings, ground arrays and car parks are often easier.
Battery storageWhen a commercial battery pays: storing surplus solar, time of use tariffs, peak shaving, sizing from half-hourly data, illustrative costs, safety and siting.- Small businessesSmaller systems on shops, industrial units and workshops can pay back where the business uses power in the day; the lease and supply matter.