Question 1

What is the National Living Wage rate from April 2026?

Accepted Answer

From 1 April 2026, the National Living Wage (NLW) for workers aged 21 and over rises to £12.71 per hour, up from £12.21 — a 4.1% increase. The 18–20 rate rises from £10.00 to £10.85/hr (8.5%), and the apprentice/16–17 rate rises from £7.55 to £8.00/hr (6.0%).

Question 2

How much will the April 2026 NLW rise cost my Thai restaurant?

Accepted Answer

A typical small Thai restaurant with 6 full-time staff aged 21+ working 40 hours a week faces an additional £6,240 per year in wage costs. A mixed-age team of 8 can face £7,400–£9,800 extra annually when factoring in the higher percentage rise for younger workers.

Question 3

What is the average food cost percentage for a Thai restaurant in the UK?

Accepted Answer

Raw food cost for most Thai dishes runs between 20–32% of the menu price when sourcing from UK wholesale suppliers. Pad Thai sits at around 20–22%, green curry at 22–25%, and premium dishes like Weeping Tiger or Lamb Shank Massaman reach 28–32%.

Question 4

How much does Uber Eats, Deliveroo, and Just Eat charge Thai restaurants?

Accepted Answer

Platform commission rates in 2026: Uber Eats charges approximately 30%, Deliveroo approximately 32%, and Just Eat approximately 14%. On a £13.50 Pad Thai via Deliveroo, you receive roughly £9.18 before VAT, leaving around £2.10–£2.60 actual margin after food cost.

Question 5

How many Thai restaurants are there in the UK?

Accepted Answer

As of October 2026, the Food Standards Agency lists 1,263 registered Thai food establishments across 254 UK cities and towns — 1,000 dine-in restaurants, 241 takeaways and 22 Thai pub kitchens. London has the highest concentration with 275 Thai businesses, followed by Leeds (26), York (24) and Manchester (18). This data covers FSA-listed food businesses; the total number including market stalls, delivery-only kitchens, and unregistered operators is likely higher.

Question 6

Where can Thai restaurants in the UK buy wholesale ingredients?

Accepted Answer

The main UK wholesale suppliers for Thai restaurants are: JK Foods (Nottingham), Manning Impex (Surrey), Midlands Food Service (Burton-on-Trent), Lung Wah Chong (London), Thai Food Direct (Letchworth), and Sing Kee Foods (Leeds). For fresh aromatics, Thai Fresh Direct offers weekly refrigerated nationwide delivery.

Question 7

What is a good GP margin for a Thai restaurant?

Accepted Answer

For dine-in, a common planning target is 65–75% gross profit on food (food cost at 25–35% of selling price) — a target, not a measured average. For delivery platforms, after a 30–32% commission and 20% VAT, your effective GP on a 70%-margin dish can fall below 40% net. The UK industry average for overall restaurant net profit is around 4.2% for a well-run independent (UKHospitality research, 2024).

Question 8

How much does it cost to open a Thai restaurant in the UK?

Accepted Answer

A small independent Thai restaurant (30–50 covers) in a UK regional city typically costs £80,000–£180,000 to open. London venues can run £200,000–£400,000+ due to higher rents and fit-out costs.

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