If you own a restaurant, café or takeaway and you've started asking about a website, you've probably noticed something frustrating: nobody gives you a straight answer.
One agency quotes £7,000. A freelancer says £1,500. Someone online offers to do it for £250. So how much does a restaurant website actually cost in the UK?
The honest answer is that it depends on what you need and who builds it. This guide gives you real price ranges, explains what changes the cost, and shows you how to avoid paying for things your restaurant doesn't need.
The Short Answer
The price depends mostly on who builds it and what the website needs to do. Here are typical 2026 ranges for a UK restaurant:
Type of website | UK agency | UK-based freelancer | Asia-based freelancer |
|---|---|---|---|
Simple menu and info site (5 to 7 pages: menu, gallery, opening hours, location, contact) | £2,000 – £5,000 | £800 – £2,500 | £300 – £1,000 |
Site with online table booking (everything above, plus a booking system) | £3,000 – £7,000 | £1,200 – £3,500 | £500 – £1,500 |
Site with online ordering (takeaway, collection or delivery, with payments) | £6,000 – £15,000+ | £3,000 – £8,000 | £1,200 – £3,500 |
These are general market ranges, not a quote. Your final price depends on the factors below.
Why such a big difference?
Agencies charge the most because they pay for offices, project managers, designers and sales staff. You get a team, and you pay for it.
Freelancers have lower overheads, so they usually charge noticeably less for similar work.
Location matters. A freelancer in London or Manchester has UK living costs to cover, so their rates are higher. A freelancer based in Asia has lower living costs and can charge less, often with the same technical skills, because the work is done online.
Some restaurant owners like a local agency they can meet in person. Others care more about getting a fast, well-built website at a fair price. Neither choice is wrong.
What Decides the Price?
1. What the website needs to do
A simple site that shows your menu and opening hours is the cheapest. Adding table booking costs more, and adding online ordering with payments costs the most, because it needs menu management, order notifications, delivery or collection rules and a payment provider.
2. How complex your menu is
A short menu that rarely changes is easy. A large menu with options, extras, allergens, dietary labels and different lunch, dinner and weekend menus takes more setup.
3. Booking and ordering tools
You can either build these features into the site or connect a third-party tool. Third-party tools are quicker to set up, but many charge a monthly fee, so ask what the ongoing cost will be.
4. The platform you choose
WordPress is flexible and widely used, but needs good hosting and regular updates.
Shopify can work if online ordering is your main goal, but it has monthly fees.
Custom-built (for example with Next.js) gives you top speed and total control, but costs more, and it's only worth it if you need something specific.
5. Design, photos and content
Do you have good photos of your food and venue, plus a logo? If not, you'll need to pay for them or take them yourself. Food photography matters a great deal, because people choose restaurants with their eyes first.
6. SEO and Google setup
A website nobody finds is just an expensive brochure. Proper local SEO (page titles, a text-based menu, speed work and connecting your Google Business Profile) is either included in better packages or sold as an add-on. Don't skip it. If you want to understand what customers see before they even reach your website, read my guide on restaurant website mistakes that cost you bookings.
The Costs People Forget
The build price is only the start. Budget for these as well:
Domain name: roughly £10 – £20 a year
Hosting: from around £5 to £50 a month, depending on the platform and traffic
Booking or ordering tools: some charge a monthly fee, others take a small fee per booking or order
Payment fees: card providers take a small percentage of each online payment
Maintenance: updates, backups and security checks, often sold as a monthly plan
Menu updates: ask whether changes are included or charged each time
Photography and copywriting: if you need them
Always ask your developer for a full list of ongoing costs before you sign anything. A fair developer will tell you upfront.
Do You Really Need Your Own Website If You Use Delivery Apps?
Many owners ask this, and it's a fair question. Delivery apps bring orders, but they charge fees on every order and keep the customer relationship. Your own website lets you take direct bookings and orders, show your full menu, and build your own customer list. For most restaurants, the best approach is to use apps as an extra door in, and your own website as the main one.
Freelancer vs Agency vs DIY Builder
Asia-based freelance developer
The most affordable professional option. Everything happens online through video calls, WhatsApp and email, so you rarely lose anything by not meeting in person. Before hiring, check their portfolio, how fast they reply and how much of your working day you'll overlap.
UK-based freelancer
A good middle ground if you like working with someone in your own time zone and country. Expect higher rates than overseas freelancers.
Agency
Good for restaurant groups and larger businesses with bigger budgets and complex needs. You get a team, but you also pay for the overhead, and smaller restaurants can end up as a low priority.
DIY (Wix, Squarespace, restaurant website templates)
Cheapest upfront, and fine for a very simple start. The catch is time. Setting it up properly takes many hours, and templates often limit speed, SEO and design. Many owners end up paying a developer later to fix it.
Red Flags When Hiring a Web Developer
Be careful if someone:
Quotes a price without asking about your restaurant, menu or goals
Offers online ordering and booking for a suspiciously low price with no explanation
Won't say who owns the website and domain once it's built (it should be you)
Has no examples, reviews or past work to show
Promises "number one on Google" in a few weeks. Nobody can honestly guarantee that
Locks you into a long hosting or maintenance contract without clear terms
Puts your menu in a PDF or image instead of real text on the page
How to Get an Accurate Quote
Before contacting any developer, write a short brief:
Do you want customers to book a table, order food, or just see your menu and location?
How big is your menu, and how often does it change?
Do you offer takeaway, collection or delivery?
Do you have photos, a logo and a menu ready?
Are there restaurant websites you like as examples?
Do you want help with Google Maps and local search?
With this, a developer can give you a clear fixed quote instead of a vague guess. It also saves you both hours of back-and-forth.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a restaurant website cost in the UK?
A simple restaurant website can cost roughly £300 – £1,000 with an Asia-based freelancer, £800 – £2,500 with a UK freelancer, and £2,000 – £5,000 with an agency. Adding online booking or ordering raises the price.
How much does a restaurant website with online ordering cost?
Roughly £1,200 – £3,500 with an Asia-based freelancer, £3,000 – £8,000 with a UK freelancer, and £6,000+ with an agency, plus payment fees and any monthly tool costs.
Can I get a restaurant website for under £500?
Yes, if it's a very simple site with a text menu, photos and contact details, especially with an overseas freelancer. At that price in the UK, expect corners to be cut on design, speed or SEO.
How long does it take to build a restaurant website?
A simple site can take 1 to 3 weeks. A site with online ordering often takes 4 to 8 weeks, depending on how quickly you provide your menu, photos and details.
Do I need a website if I have Instagram and a delivery app?
Yes. Social media and delivery apps are useful, but you don't control them. A website gives you a permanent home where customers can find your menu, book directly and learn about your restaurant.
Who should own my restaurant website?
You should. Make sure the domain, hosting accounts and website files are in your name or fully transferable.
So, What Should You Budget?
For a small independent restaurant, a realistic starting point for a good-quality website that's fast, mobile-friendly and set up to be found on Google is:
£300 – £1,000 for a simple menu site with an Asia-based freelancer
£800 – £2,500 for a simple site with a UK freelancer
£2,000+ for a simple site with an agency
Add booking or online ordering if you need them, and spend where it matters: a text-based menu, good photos, clear opening hours and proper SEO. Skip the fancy extras until bookings justify them.
About the Author
I'm Mohammad Awais, a web and mobile software engineer based in Lahore, Pakistan. I build fast, modern, search-friendly websites for businesses, including restaurants, furniture stores, roofing companies and e-commerce shops, using tools like Next.js, React and WordPress. You can see examples in my portfolio.
I work with business owners in the UK, the USA and Europe remotely, which keeps my prices lower than many local agencies. I keep things simple: a clear fixed quote, no hidden fees, no jargon, and quick replies on WhatsApp or email. Whether you need a brand new website or want to improve your current one, I'll keep it clear and straightforward.
Get a Clear, Fixed Quote for Your Restaurant Website
Whether your restaurant already has a website that isn't performing, or you don't have one yet and want to get it right from the start, I can help.
Already have a website? Send me the address and I'll give you an honest review of what's holding it back, with no pressure and no obligation.
Don't have one yet? Tell me about your restaurant and what you'd like customers to do (book, order or visit). I'll recommend what you need and send you a clear, fixed quote, with no hidden fees and no jargon.
Get Your Free Review or Quote →
Prefer to chat first? Message me on WhatsApp or email contact@awaiscoder.com.
