Should you open a Turkish restaurant in Maidstone?
Maidstone scores 66 out of 100 on our demand index — possible, but competitive. The council currently has 5 Turkish restaurants against an estimated 1,040 monthly searches for Turkish food, which works out to roughly 21,973 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: Maidstone 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 Maidstone compares in South East
Maidstone ranks 19 of 64 councils in South East by demand score, and 38 of 64 by number of Turkish restaurants. The table below shows its four nearest neighbours by score.
| Council | Demand score | Verdict | Turkish restaurants | Monthly searches |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maidstone | 66 | Balanced | 5 | 1,040 |
| Chichester | 68 | Balanced | 2 | 810 |
| Mid Sussex | 66 | Balanced | 5 | 1,108 |
| Elmbridge | 65 | Balanced | 6 | 1,145 |
| Gravesham | 65 | Balanced | 7 | 1,485 |
Where the gap is
- Maidstone doesn't show an obvious quality or saturation gap: its restaurants average 4.5 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 5 Turkish food businesses we hold hygiene data for in Maidstone, 50% are rated 5 (the top FSA score) and 25% 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 Maidstone sit in ME14 and ME15 — 4 in ME14, 1 in ME15.
Restaurants already here
| # | Name | Postcode | Hygiene rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Kaniklar Restaurant | ME14 1RJ | 5 |
| 02 | Maidstone Grill | ME14 1SY | 5 |
| 03 | MexiPan / Turqusine Grill Meze Turkish Restaurant | ME14 1PA | 3 |
| 04 | Alim-Et Maidstone | ME14 1TG | — |
| 05 | Britannic Catering | ME15 6JJ | 0 |
What it would cost here
Fitting out a 100 m² Turkish restaurant in Maidstone 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 Maidstone →
Planning estimate only — see the cost calculator for the full breakdown and assumptions.
Frequently asked questions
- How many Turkish restaurants are in Maidstone?
- Maidstone currently has 5 Turkish restaurants.
- Is there demand for a Turkish restaurant in Maidstone?
- Yes — an estimated 1,040 monthly searches relate to Turkish food in Maidstone, giving it a demand score of 66/100.
- What would it cost to open a Turkish restaurant in Maidstone?
- A 100 m² restaurant with a mid-range fit-out costs roughly £174,402 – £348,546 to open in Maidstone, based on our cost model.
- How does Maidstone compare to the rest of South East?
- Maidstone scores 66/100 and ranks 19 of 64 in South East. The region's top-scoring council is Oxford, at 89/100.
Thinking about opening here?
Tell us where, and we'll send you the local numbers — population, competition, and rent benchmarks.