Should you open a Turkish restaurant in Chelmsford?
Chelmsford scores 48 out of 100 on our demand index — possible, but competitive. The council currently has 12 Turkish restaurants against an estimated 920 monthly searches for Turkish food, which works out to roughly 12,101 residents for every Turkish restaurant already trading here. The single biggest factor behind that number is review volume per restaurant, which ranks higher here than in most other councils in England and Wales. That combination of supply, search interest and population is what the verdict above is based on: Chelmsford looks possible, but competitive for someone weighing up whether to open a Turkish restaurant in the area, relative to every other council we track.
Read next: How to Open a Turkish Restaurant in the UK in 2026: Step-by-Step Guide
How this score breaks down
How Chelmsford compares in East Counties
Chelmsford ranks 27 of 45 councils in East Counties by demand score, and 13 of 45 by number of Turkish restaurants. The table below shows its four nearest neighbours by score.
| Council | Demand score | Verdict | Turkish restaurants | Monthly searches |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chelmsford | 48 | Balanced | 12 | 920 |
| St Albans | 48 | Balanced | 10 | 830 |
| Three Rivers | 47 | Balanced | 8 | 892 |
| Great Yarmouth | 47 | Balanced | 4 | 740 |
| Basildon | 46 | Balanced | 14 | 860 |
Where the gap is
- Searches per restaurant here run at 61 a month, well below the 108-a-month median across councils with reliable data — a sign the market may already be saturated relative to demand.
The hygiene picture
Of the 12 Turkish food businesses we hold hygiene data for in Chelmsford, 56% are rated 5 (the top FSA score) and 22% are rated 2 or below, with 0 still awaiting inspection — a new entrant that runs a clean, well-documented kitchen would stand out quickly.
Where they cluster: Most Turkish restaurants in Chelmsford sit in CM1, CM2 and CM3 — 8 in CM1, 3 in CM2, 1 in CM3.
Restaurants already here
| # | Name | Postcode | Hygiene rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Favourite Grill | CM2 9LG | 5 |
| 02 | Lizs Grill | CM1 6JP | 5 |
| 03 | Moda Restaurant | CM2 7QS | 5 |
| 04 | Olive Tree | CM1 2TS | 5 |
| 05 | Super Doner And Kebab | CM1 4DP | 5 |
| 06 | Turquoise Kitchen | CM1 1XB | 4 |
| 07 | Chelmsford Takeaway | CM1 1HY | 3 |
| 08 | Athens Bar Meze Greek And Mediterranean Restaurant | CM1 1JA | 2 |
and 4 more See every Turkish restaurant in Chelmsford →
What it would cost here
Fitting out a 100 m² Turkish restaurant in Chelmsford with a mid-range fit-out, using our small-town cost assumptions, comes to roughly £174,402 – £348,546 up front. The two largest lines are fit-out & build (£90,000 – £150,000) and kitchen equipment (£20,847 – £76,060).
Open the full cost calculator for Chelmsford →
Planning estimate only — see the cost calculator for the full breakdown and assumptions.
Frequently asked questions
- How many Turkish restaurants are in Chelmsford?
- Chelmsford currently has 12 Turkish restaurants.
- Is there demand for a Turkish restaurant in Chelmsford?
- Yes — an estimated 920 monthly searches relate to Turkish food in Chelmsford, giving it a demand score of 48/100.
- What would it cost to open a Turkish restaurant in Chelmsford?
- A 100 m² restaurant with a mid-range fit-out costs roughly £174,402 – £348,546 to open in Chelmsford, based on our cost model.
- How does Chelmsford compare to the rest of East Counties?
- Chelmsford scores 48/100 and ranks 27 of 45 in East Counties. The region's top-scoring council is Dacorum, at 80/100.
Thinking about opening here?
Tell us where, and we'll send you the local numbers — population, competition, and rent benchmarks.