Disclosure: This article is written by Shaun McManus, founder of SmartPubTools and creator of the Restaurant Console. All operational claims reflect genuine experience at Teal Farm Pub, Washington.
Is a Dark Kitchen Profitable in the UK in 2026?
Key Takeaway: Dark kitchens live and die by delivery platform commission. At 30% Deliveroo commission on a £20 order you keep £14 — and 36% effective after VAT on commission. At 100 orders/week that is £31,200/year paid to platforms before food cost, labour, or rent. The margin maths are brutal at low volume. This guide gives you the honest numbers to decide before you commit.
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By Shaun McManus | Last Updated: May 2026
A dark kitchen (also called a ghost kitchen or cloud kitchen) is a commercial kitchen that operates exclusively for delivery — no dine-in, no front of house. The appeal is obvious: lower setup costs than a full restaurant, no FOH labour, and direct access to the UK’s growing delivery market. The reality is more complicated, and the margin maths require careful scrutiny before committing.
Dark Kitchen Setup Costs UK 2026
| Setup route | Typical cost range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Shared dark kitchen facility (e.g. Karma Kitchen, Deliveroo Editions) | £500-2,000 setup + monthly rent | Shared infrastructure — fastest to launch |
| Independent unit (industrial space fitted out) | £15,000-50,000 | Full fit-out: extraction, gas, electrics, refrigeration |
| Existing restaurant kitchen converting to delivery-only | £0-5,000 | Lowest barrier — uses existing infrastructure |
| Shipping container kitchen | £20,000-40,000 | Portable but requires planning and services |
The shared dark kitchen facility model has the lowest barrier to entry and is the right starting point for testing a concept. Monthly rents range from £1,500 to £4,000 depending on location and size. Most facilities include utilities, basic equipment, and platform onboarding support.
The Commission Maths — What Dark Kitchens Actually Keep
This is the honest number most dark kitchen guides avoid. On a £20 delivery order through Deliveroo at 30% commission: you keep £14.00 before food cost. But Deliveroo also charges VAT on its commission — the commission (£6.00) plus VAT on the commission (£1.20) = £7.20 total deduction. Your effective receipt is £12.80, not £14.00. Effective commission rate: 36%, not 30%.
| Platform | Commission | Effective rate (inc. VAT on commission) | On £20 order: you keep | 100 orders/week annual platform cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deliveroo | 30% | ~36% | £12.80 | £37,440/year |
| Uber Eats | 30% | ~36% | £12.80 | £37,440/year |
| Just Eat | 14% | ~16.8% | £16.64 | £17,472/year |
See the full commission breakdown at our Deliveroo commission calculator, Uber Eats commission guide, and Just Eat commission guide.
Dark Kitchen Profitability — The Break-Even Calculation
A dark kitchen’s P&L structure differs significantly from a dine-in restaurant. There is no FOH labour (labour% target 20-25% for kitchen only), no customer-facing premises cost, and all revenue comes through delivery platforms.
| P&L line | Dark kitchen example (100 orders/week, £20 avg) | % of gross |
|---|---|---|
| Gross order value | £2,000/week | 100% |
| Platform commission + VAT (Deliveroo at 36%) | -£720/week | -36% |
| Net revenue received | £1,280/week | 64% |
| Food cost (30%) | -£600/week | -30% |
| Kitchen labour (22%) | -£440/week | -22% |
| Unit rent | -£300/week | -15% |
| Packaging and sundry | -£80/week | -4% |
| Net profit | -£140/week (loss) | -7% |
At 100 orders/week at £20 average order value on Deliveroo, this dark kitchen loses £7,280/year. The break-even volume at these cost assumptions is approximately 175 orders/week — still achievable but requiring consistent high volume to sustain.
How Dark Kitchens Become Profitable
Higher average order value. Every £1 increase in AOV on 175 orders/week adds £9,100/year in gross receipts before commission. Dark kitchen menus should be engineered for higher spend — bundle deals, add-ons, and desserts all increase AOV without adding proportional cost.
Multiple brands from one kitchen. Running two or three delivery brands simultaneously from one kitchen multiplies volume without proportional cost increase. One kitchen, one set of equipment, one team — two sets of platform listings and revenue.
Just Eat over Deliveroo at scale. At 175 orders/week, the commission saving from using Just Eat (14% vs 30%) is £22,400/year. Many dark kitchens run Deliveroo for brand awareness and Just Eat for volume. See the delivery platform comparison guide.
Food cost below 28%. The dark kitchen food cost target is tighter than a dine-in restaurant (28-32%) because there is no wet sales margin to compensate. Portion control and recipe costing are essential — see the portion control guide and the food cost percentage guide.
HACCP and Food Safety in Dark Kitchens
Dark kitchens are food businesses and are subject to exactly the same food safety law as dine-in restaurants. You must register with your local authority, operate a HACCP-based food safety management system, maintain temperature records (fridge 1-4°C, freezer -25 to -18°C), and have a food hygiene rating. Delivery platforms require a minimum food hygiene rating to list you — typically 2 or above, with some requiring 3+.
EHO inspectors visit dark kitchens. The paperwork requirements are identical to a full restaurant. Do not launch without a HACCP system in place.
📦 Useful Equipment for This Task
Disclosure: These are affiliate links. We may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
🌡️ Food Probe Thermometer — essential for cooking temperature checks and delivery temperature verification.
❄️ Fridge Thermometers — place one in every cold storage unit. Required for accurate HACCP temperature records.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is a dark kitchen UK?
A commercial kitchen operating exclusively for delivery — no dine-in, no FOH. Dependent on Deliveroo, Uber Eats, and Just Eat. Lower setup costs but brutal commission maths.
How much does a dark kitchen cost to set up in the UK?
Shared facility: £500-2,000 setup + £1,500-4,000/month rent. Independent unit fitted from scratch: £15,000-50,000. Converting existing restaurant kitchen: £0-5,000.
Is a dark kitchen profitable in the UK?
At under 150 orders/week on Deliveroo, most are loss-making. The 36% effective commission rate leaves very thin margins. Profitability typically requires 150+ orders/week, higher AOV, or a mix of Just Eat volume with Deliveroo awareness.
What commission do dark kitchens pay to delivery platforms UK?
Deliveroo/Uber Eats: ~36% effective. Just Eat: ~16.8% effective. On a £20 order: Deliveroo gives you £12.80, Just Eat gives you £16.64. Annual cost difference at 175 orders/week = £22,400.
Do dark kitchens need a food hygiene rating?
Yes — same legal requirements as a dine-in restaurant. Food business registration, HACCP system, EHO inspection. Delivery platforms require minimum food hygiene rating (typically 2+) to list you.
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