Should you open a Turkish restaurant in Cheltenham?
Quick answer
Cheltenham scores 43 out of 100 on our demand index — possible, but competitive. The council currently has 4 Turkish restaurants against an estimated 530 monthly searches for Turkish food, which works out to roughly 16,977 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: Cheltenham 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 Cheltenham compares in South West
Cheltenham ranks 21 of 26 councils in South West by demand score, and 15 of 26 by number of Turkish restaurants. The table below shows its four nearest neighbours by score.
| Council | Demand score | Verdict | Turkish restaurants | Monthly searches |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cheltenham | 43 | Balanced | 4 | 530 |
| North Devon | 48 | Balanced | 4 | 903 |
| Torridge | 47 | Balanced | 1 | 624 |
| West Devon | 47 | Balanced | 0 | 523 |
| Forest of Dean | 42 | Balanced | 2 | 510 |
Where the gap is
- Turkish restaurants already trading in Cheltenham average a 4.2-star 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 5 Turkish food businesses we hold hygiene data for in Cheltenham, 100% are rated 5 (the top FSA score) and 0% are rated 2 or below, with 1 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 Cheltenham sit in GL50, GL53 and GL52 — 3 in GL50, 1 in GL53, 1 in GL52.
Restaurants already here
| Name | Postcode | Hygiene rating |
|---|---|---|
| Daphne Restaurant | GL50 3PG | 5 |
| The Istanbul Kitchen | GL52 2ND | 5 |
| The Flame | GL53 7ND | AwaitingInspection |
| 3-2-1 Pizza Takeaway | Cheltenham | GL50 3EL | — |
| Tabouli Terrace | GL50 1SW | — |
What it would cost here
Fitting out a 100 m² Turkish restaurant in Cheltenham 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 Cheltenham →
Planning estimate only — see the cost calculator for the full breakdown and assumptions.
Frequently asked questions
- How many Turkish restaurants are in Cheltenham?
- Cheltenham currently has 4 Turkish restaurants.
- Is there demand for a Turkish restaurant in Cheltenham?
- Yes — an estimated 530 monthly searches relate to Turkish food in Cheltenham, giving it a demand score of 43/100.
- What would it cost to open a Turkish restaurant in Cheltenham?
- A 100 m² restaurant with a mid-range fit-out costs roughly £174,402 – £348,546 to open in Cheltenham, based on our cost model.
- How does Cheltenham compare to the rest of South West?
- Cheltenham scores 43/100 and ranks 21 of 26 in South West. The region's top-scoring council is Bristol, City of, at 89/100.
Thinking about opening here?
Tell us where, and we'll send you the local numbers — population, competition, and rent benchmarks.