How to Start a Dark Kitchen in the UK: Step-by-Step Guide (2025)

How to Start a Dark Kitchen in the UK (2025 Guide)

Dark kitchens — also called ghost kitchens or cloud kitchens — are one of the fastest-growing business models in the UK food industry. But getting started can feel overwhelming. This guide walks you through every step, from choosing your model to taking your first order.

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What Is a Dark Kitchen?

A dark kitchen is a commercial kitchen that operates exclusively for delivery. There's no dining room, no walk-in customers — just a kitchen producing food for Deliveroo, Uber Eats and Just Eat orders.

The model works because:

• •Overheads are dramatically lower than a traditional restaurant
• •You can run multiple brands from one space
• •The UK delivery market is worth over £14 billion and growing
• •Customers increasingly prefer delivery over dining out

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Step 1: Choose Your Model

There are three main ways to start a dark kitchen in the UK:

Option A: Build Your Own Brand

You create your own food concept from scratch — name, menu, branding, packaging. Full creative control, but high upfront cost and no proven track record.

Best for: Experienced restaurateurs with capital and an existing concept.

Option B: Rent a Dark Kitchen Unit

Companies like Karma Kitchen and Deliveroo Editions rent out purpose-built kitchen units. You bring your own brand and operate within their facility.

Best for: Operators who need a ready-to-use space but already have a brand.

Option C: Join a Multi-Brand Franchise (Recommended for Most)

You license multiple established food brands and operate them from your existing or rented kitchen. You get proven concepts, full training, platform listings and ongoing support.

Best for: First-time operators, existing restaurant/takeaway owners wanting to add revenue, and anyone who wants to minimise risk.

FoodVerse operates on this model — 6 brands, one kitchen, from £499/month.

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Step 2: Find Your Kitchen Space

You need a commercial kitchen that meets UK food hygiene standards. Your options:

• •Your existing restaurant or takeaway kitchen — the lowest-cost option if you already operate one
• •Shared kitchen spaces — available in most London boroughs, typically £15–£25/hour or £800–£2,500/month
• •Purpose-built dark kitchen units — higher cost but purpose-designed for delivery operations
• •Subleasing from a restaurant — some restaurants rent out their kitchen during off-peak hours

Key requirements for your kitchen:

• •Food hygiene rating of 3 or above (ideally 5)
• •Adequate ventilation and extraction
• •Sufficient cold storage
• •Commercial-grade cooking equipment

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Step 3: Register Your Business and Get Compliant

Before you take a single order, you need to be legally compliant:

• 1.Register your food business with your local council (free, required by law, must be done at least 28 days before opening)
• 2.Get a food hygiene certificate — Level 2 Award in Food Safety is the minimum for staff
• 3.Register for VAT if your turnover will exceed £90,000/year
• 4.Get public liability insurance — essential for any food business
• 5.Complete a HACCP food safety plan — required for all UK food businesses

If you join a franchise like FoodVerse, we guide you through all of this as part of onboarding.

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Step 4: Set Up on Delivery Platforms

Getting listed on Deliveroo, Uber Eats and Just Eat is where most new operators get stuck. Each platform has its own application process, requirements and timeline. Deliveroo: Apply via their restaurant portal. Expect 2–4 weeks for approval. They require professional menu photography. Uber Eats: Apply via Uber Eats for Restaurants. Similar timeline. They have specific packaging requirements. Just Eat: Generally faster to onboard. Good for volume in suburban London areas. Tips to get approved faster:

• •Have your food hygiene certificate ready
• •Invest in professional food photography (or use a franchise that includes it)
• •Have your menu fully planned before applying
• •Be responsive to platform queries — delays in replies slow down approval

FoodVerse handles all platform setup, photography and listing as part of your onboarding. Most partners are live within 2–4 weeks of signing.

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Step 5: Optimise Your Listings from Day One

Getting listed is just the start. Your ranking on each platform depends on:

• •Order acceptance rate — accept orders quickly, every time
• •Preparation time — keep it accurate and as low as possible
• •Customer ratings — quality and packaging matter enormously
• •Menu photography — professional photos get significantly more clicks
• •Pricing — competitive but not so low you kill your margins

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Step 6: Manage Your Operations

Running a dark kitchen efficiently requires:

• •Clear SOPs for every dish — consistency is everything for ratings
• •Inventory management — running out of ingredients during peak hours kills your rating
• •Staff training — everyone needs to understand the delivery-first model
• •Peak hour planning — Friday and Saturday evenings are your highest-volume periods

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How Much Can You Make?

A realistic revenue model for a London dark kitchen running 6 brands:

• •Average order value: £18–£22
• •Orders per day (across all brands): 20–40
• •Monthly gross revenue: £10,800 – £26,400
• •After platform commission (30%): £7,560 – £18,480

Your profitability depends on your kitchen costs, staff costs and how well you manage your platform presence.

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The Fastest Way to Start

If you want to minimise risk and get live as quickly as possible, a multi-brand franchise is the most practical route. You skip the brand-building phase, the platform setup headaches, and the trial-and-error of menu development.

FoodVerse partners in London go live in 2–4 weeks with 6 fully operational brands on all three major platforms. Apply today and get a personalised plan within 48 hours.