# Opening & Closing Checklist: free UK download

Canonical: https://paddl-ai.co/templates/opening-closing-checklist
Last reviewed: 2026-09-11 by the Paddl team

Free daily opening and closing checklist for kitchens

## In one sentence

The Opening & Closing Checklist is a free PDF + Editable Spreadsheet for UK food businesses with one record sheet: opening checks (fridge and freezer temperatures, probe ready, hand-wash stocked, hot water on), pre-service hygiene checks (surfaces, equipment, date labels), closing checks (waste out, surfaces cleaned, equipment off). Download it, print it or fill it in, and keep it with your food safety records; Paddl keeps the same records on a phone with timestamps and reminders.

The first and last hour of the day are where standards slip if nobody is watching, so a checklist keeps them tight. This free opening and closing checklist walks the team through the temperature, hygiene, and safety checks that should happen before service starts and after it ends, with a line for the manager on duty to sign it off.

## Why you need it

- Consistent opening and closing checks are part of your daily due diligence routine
- Fridge and freezer temperatures should be confirmed before the first food is prepped
- A closing routine makes sure nothing is left out, on, or unsecured overnight
- A signed checklist shows an EHO officer that checks happen every day, not just on inspection day
- It gives new and stand-in managers a clear list rather than relying on memory

## What is included

- Opening checks (fridge and freezer temperatures, probe ready, hand-wash stocked, hot water on)
- Pre-service hygiene checks (surfaces, equipment, date labels)
- Closing checks (waste out, surfaces cleaned, equipment off)
- Security checks (doors, windows, gas, alarm)
- Temperature confirmation line at open and close
- Tick and initial columns for each task
- Manager sign-off for the day

## Record sheets

- **Daily Opening & Closing Checklist**: columns Check, Open / Close, Done?, Initials, Notes

## How to use it

1. **Work top to bottom at open** Run through the opening list before any food is prepped, starting with fridge and freezer temperatures.
2. **Initial each task** Initial each check as it is done rather than ticking the whole list at the end.
3. **Run the closing list** At the end of service work through the closing checks, including waste, cleaning, and turning equipment off.
4. **Sign off and file** The manager on duty checks the sheet, signs it, and files it as the daily due diligence record.

## Tips

- Confirm fridge and freezer temperatures before prep, not after, so a fault is caught early
- Keep the closing checks honest, because an empty tick box at midnight helps nobody
- Add a gas and electrical isolation line if you run cooking equipment overnight risks
- Review the list every few months so it matches how the kitchen actually runs
- Paddl can deliver opening and closing checklists to a tablet and timestamp every sign-off

Download the file from https://paddl-ai.co/templates/opening-closing-checklist (email required). The Paddl features that keep the same records: https://paddl-ai.co/features/routines, https://paddl-ai.co/features/operations, https://paddl-ai.co/features/compliance, https://paddl-ai.co/features/mobile-app.