Should you open a Turkish restaurant in County Durham?
County Durham scores 84 out of 100 on our demand index — likely worth exploring. The council currently has 5 Turkish restaurants against limited local search data, which works out to roughly 65,258 residents for every Turkish restaurant already trading here. The single biggest factor behind that number is residents 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: County Durham looks likely worth exploring 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 County Durham compares in North East
County Durham ranks 1 of 12 councils in North East by demand score, and 3 of 12 by number of Turkish restaurants. The table below shows its four nearest neighbours by score.
| Council | Demand score | Verdict | Turkish restaurants | Monthly searches |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| County Durham | 84 | Underserved | 5 | — |
| Newcastle upon Tyne | 80 | Underserved | 16 | 3,380 |
| Northumberland | 68 | Balanced | 5 | 1,060 |
| Middlesbrough | 58 | Balanced | 1 | 530 |
| North Tyneside | 46 | Balanced | 5 | 390 |
Where the gap is
- County Durham doesn't show an obvious quality or saturation gap: its restaurants average 4.2 Google stars (close to the 4.3-star England & Wales average), and its 5 restaurants look broadly in line with local demand — a balanced market rather than an obvious opening.
The hygiene picture
Of the 7 Turkish food businesses we hold hygiene data for in County Durham, 80% are rated 5 (the top FSA score) and 0% are rated 2 or below, with 0 still awaiting inspection — the local bar for hygiene is already high, so a new entrant would need to match it from day one.
Where they cluster: Most Turkish restaurants in County Durham sit in DH1, DH6 and DL15 — 3 in DH1, 2 in DH6, 1 in DL15.
Restaurants already here
| # | Name | Postcode | Hygiene rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Akarsu Turkish Restaurant & Grill | DH1 3RB | 5 |
| 02 | Istanbul Shawarma | DH6 2LA | 5 |
| 03 | Turkish Delight | DH6 3NJ | 5 |
| 04 | Turkish Kitchen Meze and Grill | DH1 3NP | 5 |
| 05 | Best Kebab | DL15 8NE | 4 |
| 06 | Doner Kebab | DL5 7DU | — |
| 07 | King doner | DH1 4SH | — |
What it would cost here
Fitting out a 100 m² Turkish restaurant in County Durham 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 County Durham →
Planning estimate only — see the cost calculator for the full breakdown and assumptions.
Frequently asked questions
- How many Turkish restaurants are in County Durham?
- County Durham currently has 5 Turkish restaurants.
- Is there demand for a Turkish restaurant in County Durham?
- Local search volume data is limited for County Durham, but its demand score is 84/100 based on the other components.
- What would it cost to open a Turkish restaurant in County Durham?
- A 100 m² restaurant with a mid-range fit-out costs roughly £174,402 – £348,546 to open in County Durham, based on our cost model.
- How does County Durham compare to the rest of North East?
- County Durham scores 84/100 and ranks 1 of 12 in North East. The region's top-scoring council is County Durham, at 84/100.
Thinking about opening here?
Tell us where, and we'll send you the local numbers — population, competition, and rent benchmarks.