The Simple Answer
Ghost kitchen = Dark kitchen = Cloud kitchen — theyre all the same thing: a delivery-only kitchen with no dine-in space. The different names come from different regions (ghost kitchen = US, dark kitchen = UK/EU) and marketing preferences.
A virtual restaurant is different — its a brand that exists only on delivery apps, not a physical kitchen.
Kitchen Types Explained
Ghost Kitchen
Also known as: Dark Kitchen, Cloud Kitchen
A commercial kitchen that prepares food exclusively for delivery. No dine-in, no walk-in customers.
£1,500-3,500/month
Delivery-focused brands, multi-concept operators
A kitchen unit preparing food for 3 different delivery-only brands on Deliveroo
Dark Kitchen
Also known as: Ghost Kitchen, Cloud Kitchen
Exactly the same as ghost kitchen. A delivery-only kitchen with no customer-facing space.
£1,500-3,500/month
Delivery-focused brands, multi-concept operators
Deliveroo Editions facilities are dark kitchens
Cloud Kitchen
Also known as: Ghost Kitchen, Dark Kitchen
Another term for the same concept. Often emphasizes the technology and delivery platform integration.
£1,500-3,500/month
Delivery-focused brands, data-driven operators
Kitchen operated entirely through delivery apps with centralized management
Virtual Restaurant
Also known as: Virtual Brand, Delivery-Only Brand
A restaurant brand that exists only on delivery apps. NOT a physical kitchen - its a brand/concept.
No additional rent (uses existing kitchen)
Existing restaurants adding delivery brands, ghost kitchen operators running multiple concepts
A pizza restaurant also running "Wing World" and "Burger Lab" brands from the same kitchen
Shared Kitchen
Also known as: Commissary Kitchen
Kitchen space shared with other food businesses. Can be rented hourly or daily. Supports BOTH delivery and non-delivery businesses.
£15-35/hour
Caterers, food trucks, startups, part-time operators
A kitchen rented by the hour where a caterer preps for events
Quick Comparison
| Feature | Ghost/Dark/Cloud Kitchen | Virtual Restaurant | Shared Kitchen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Customer-facing space | No | N/A (brand only) | Usually no |
| Delivery-only | Yes | Yes | No (flexible) |
| Physical kitchen | Yes | No (uses existing) | Yes |
| Exclusive use | Yes (usually) | N/A | No (shared) |
| UK monthly cost | £1,500-3,500 | £0 additional | £640-2,500 |
| Best for | Full-time delivery | Adding brands | Starting out |
Which Should You Choose?
Choose Ghost/Dark Kitchen if...
- Youre focused 100% on delivery
- You need exclusive, dedicated space
- You want to run multiple brands
- You expect 60+ orders per day
Choose Shared Kitchen if...
- Youre just starting out
- You do catering or events
- You need flexibility in hours
- You want to test before committing
Written by
James Mitchell
Ghost Kitchen Operations Director & Industry Expert
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a dark kitchen the same as a ghost kitchen?
Yes, dark kitchen and ghost kitchen mean exactly the same thing. Both refer to a commercial kitchen that prepares food exclusively for delivery, with no dine-in space or walk-in customers. "Ghost kitchen" is more common in the US, while "dark kitchen" is more commonly used in the UK and Europe. "Cloud kitchen" is also used interchangeably.
What is a virtual restaurant?
A virtual restaurant is a restaurant brand that exists only on delivery apps - its NOT a physical kitchen. A virtual restaurant operates from an existing licensed kitchen (often a ghost kitchen or traditional restaurant). For example, a pizza restaurant might run a "Wing World" virtual brand from the same kitchen. Virtual restaurants have no additional rent cost since they use existing kitchen space.
What is a cloud kitchen?
Cloud kitchen is another term for ghost kitchen or dark kitchen. It typically emphasizes the technology and delivery platform integration aspect of the operation. All three terms - ghost kitchen, dark kitchen, and cloud kitchen - refer to the same concept: a delivery-only kitchen with no customer-facing space.
How much does a ghost kitchen cost in the UK?
Ghost kitchen rental in the UK costs £800-3,500/month depending on location. London costs £2,000-3,500/month, London suburbs £1,500-2,500/month, and regional cities £800-1,500/month. Total startup costs including equipment, inventory, and insurance range from £6,000-35,000. This is 60-80% cheaper than opening a traditional restaurant.
Should I use a shared kitchen or ghost kitchen?
Use a shared kitchen (£15-35/hour) if youre just starting out, testing a concept, operating part-time, or doing catering/events. Move to a ghost kitchen (£1,500-3,500/month) when youre doing delivery full-time and need exclusive, dedicated space. Shared kitchens are better for flexibility; ghost kitchens are better for scale and consistent delivery operations.
Can I run multiple virtual restaurants from one ghost kitchen?
Yes, running multiple virtual restaurants from one ghost kitchen is a key advantage of this model. Many operators run 3-5 different brands from a single kitchen, appearing as separate restaurants on delivery apps. This maximizes your kitchen utilization and delivery radius coverage. Remember to register all trading names with your local council.