Should you open a Turkish restaurant in Derby?
Quick answer
Derby scores 51 out of 100 on our demand index — possible, but competitive. The council currently has 10 Turkish restaurants against an estimated 760 monthly searches for Turkish food, which works out to roughly 20,105 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: Derby 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 Derby compares in East Midlands
Derby ranks 10 of 35 councils in East Midlands by demand score, and 5 of 35 by number of Turkish restaurants. The table below shows its four nearest neighbours by score.
| Council | Demand score | Verdict | Turkish restaurants | Monthly searches |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Derby | 51 | Balanced | 10 | 760 |
| North Northamptonshire | 52 | Balanced | 19 | — |
| Rushcliffe | 51 | Balanced | 2 | 492 |
| North Kesteven | 50 | Balanced | 3 | 721 |
| Leicester | 49 | Balanced | 36 | 1,450 |
Where the gap is
- Turkish restaurants already trading in Derby average a 4.0-star rating, below the 4.3-star average across England and Wales — there looks to be room for a higher-quality newcomer here.
- Searches per restaurant here run at 58 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 11 Turkish food businesses we hold hygiene data for in Derby, 0% are rated 5 (the top FSA score) and 100% 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 Derby sit in DE1, DE23 and DE24 — 5 in DE1, 5 in DE23, 1 in DE24.
Restaurants already here
| Name | Postcode | Hygiene rating |
|---|---|---|
| Dominics Pizza | DE1 2QN | — |
| EL TURKO | DE1 1SR | — |
| Famous | DE23 6UX | — |
| Istanbul Restaurant | DE1 1SR | — |
| ISTANBUL RESTAURANT NORMANTON ROAD | DE23 6UX | — |
| Istanbul Shawarma Grill | DE23 6PZ | 0 |
| Jimmy's | DE23 6FQ | — |
| Lahorees Takeaway and Catering Derby | DE23 8NQ | — |
and 3 more See every Turkish restaurant in Derby
What it would cost here
Fitting out a 100 m² Turkish restaurant in Derby 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 Derby →
Planning estimate only — see the cost calculator for the full breakdown and assumptions.
Frequently asked questions
- How many Turkish restaurants are in Derby?
- Derby currently has 10 Turkish restaurants.
- Is there demand for a Turkish restaurant in Derby?
- Yes — an estimated 760 monthly searches relate to Turkish food in Derby, giving it a demand score of 51/100.
- What would it cost to open a Turkish restaurant in Derby?
- A 100 m² restaurant with a mid-range fit-out costs roughly £174,402 – £348,546 to open in Derby, based on our cost model.
- How does Derby compare to the rest of East Midlands?
- Derby scores 51/100 and ranks 10 of 35 in East Midlands. The region's top-scoring council is Nottingham, at 74/100.
Thinking about opening here?
Tell us where, and we'll send you the local numbers — population, competition, and rent benchmarks.