Should you open a Turkish restaurant in Southampton?
Southampton scores 71 out of 100 on our demand index — likely worth exploring. The council currently has 16 Turkish restaurants against an estimated 2,240 monthly searches for Turkish food, which works out to roughly 13,101 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: Southampton 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 Southampton compares in South East
Southampton ranks 15 of 64 councils in South East by demand score, and 5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southampton | 71 | Underserved | 16 | 2,240 |
| Vale of White Horse | 71 | Underserved | 1 | 1,027 |
| Cherwell | 71 | Underserved | 5 | 1,190 |
| Swale | 71 | Underserved | 8 | 2,107 |
| Dartford | 70 | Underserved | 4 | 1,090 |
Where the gap is
- Turkish restaurants already trading in Southampton average a 4.1-star Google rating, below the 4.3-star average across England and Wales — there looks to be room for a higher-quality newcomer here.
The hygiene picture
Of the 16 Turkish food businesses we hold hygiene data for in Southampton, 57% are rated 5 (the top FSA score) and 0% are rated 2 or below, with 1 still awaiting inspection — hygiene standards locally are mixed, leaving room to differentiate on cleanliness.
Where they cluster: Most Turkish restaurants in Southampton sit in SO17, SO16 and SO19 — 4 in SO17, 3 in SO16, 3 in SO19.
Restaurants already here
| # | Name | Postcode | Hygiene rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | .HEYBOBA Portswood | SO17 1NR | 5 |
| 02 | Bitterne Charcoal Grill | SO18 1DN | 5 |
| 03 | Coffee#1 Portswood | SO17 2NF | 5 |
| 04 | Efes Kebab and Pizza House | SO19 9AB | 5 |
| 05 | Harbour Fish & Chips | SO16 7DJ | 5 |
| 06 | Super Kebab | SO19 1BJ | 5 |
| 07 | Tony's Grill | SO15 0HX | 5 |
| 08 | Uni Kebab | SO16 3AY | 5 |
What it would cost here
Fitting out a 100 m² Turkish restaurant in Southampton 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 Southampton →
Planning estimate only — see the cost calculator for the full breakdown and assumptions.
Frequently asked questions
- How many Turkish restaurants are in Southampton?
- Southampton currently has 16 Turkish restaurants.
- Is there demand for a Turkish restaurant in Southampton?
- Yes — an estimated 2,240 monthly searches relate to Turkish food in Southampton, giving it a demand score of 71/100.
- What would it cost to open a Turkish restaurant in Southampton?
- A 100 m² restaurant with a mid-range fit-out costs roughly £174,402 – £348,546 to open in Southampton, based on our cost model.
- How does Southampton compare to the rest of South East?
- Southampton scores 71/100 and ranks 15 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.