Local SEO for Restaurants and Takeaways
Photos, menus, reviews and GBP setup that drive orders for UK restaurants and takeaways.
Quick answer
How do UK restaurants get more Google visibility?
Pick the right primary category (cuisine-specific, not 'Restaurant'), upload 50+ food photos, integrate your menu directly into the GBP, run a structured review request flow, and use weekly Posts for specials. Most restaurants do one of those five.
Restaurants and takeaways live or die on Google Maps. Most discovery happens there — and most independents are still leaving easy wins on the table.
Cuisine-specific category
'Restaurant' is the worst category you can pick. 'Indian restaurant', 'Italian restaurant', 'Vegan restaurant', 'Turkish takeaway' — pick the one that matches what you actually serve. This single change can lift Map Pack visibility within days.
Photos that drive clicks
Minimum 50, ideally 100. The single signature dish photographed in good light beats any other lever. Add them in batches, not all at once.
Menu integration
Use the menu URL field on GBP. Don't link a PDF — link a real HTML menu Google can crawl. Prices on the page matter more than you think.
Reviews
Train staff to ask at the table after the main course, not at the door. A QR card on the bill works for takeaways. Aim for 3–5 new reviews per week, never zero.
Posts and offers
Weekly Post: a special, an event, a seasonal menu change. The activity itself is a ranking signal.
Escaping the Deliveroo trap
Direct Google traffic brings calls and walk-ins you keep 100% of. Every customer who Googles you instead of opening Deliveroo saves you 30% commission. Make sure your GBP, website and reviews push them toward the direct path.
What to do next
Want this done for you? Our £197 GBP Fix & Foundation package handles all of this in one go. Free audit first.
FAQs
›Should I have a separate GBP for delivery and dine-in?
No — one GBP per physical location. Use 'Dine-in / Takeaway / Delivery' attributes inside the single profile.
›How important are photos really?
Restaurant GBPs with 50+ photos get measurably more direction requests and calls than those with fewer than 10. It's one of the highest-leverage actions.
›Do Posts on GBP help restaurants?
Yes — particularly for specials, events, and seasonal changes. They appear in the knowledge panel and feed the activity signal Google uses.
Want this done for you?
Get your free Google Maps audit — we'll tell you exactly what to fix first.