Paid Advertising

Facebook & Instagram Ads for UK Restaurants: Complete 2025 Guide

Learn how to run profitable ad campaigns that actually fill tables without wasting your budget.

Facebook and Instagram ads can be incredibly profitable for restaurants—if done right. This guide shows you exactly how to create campaigns that generate bookings, not just likes.

Essential Facebook Ad Strategies

1. Target Local Audiences Only

Radius targeting: 3-5 miles for sit-down restaurants, 1-2 miles for quick service. Don't waste money showing ads to people who'll never visit.

2. Use Video Content

Videos get 3x more engagement than static images. Show food prep, plating, ambiance. Keep it under 15 seconds.

3. Offer a Clear Incentive

"Book now and get 15% off" performs better than "Check out our menu." Give people a reason to act immediately.

4. Retarget Website Visitors

Show ads to people who've visited your website but didn't book. They're already interested—push them over the line.

5. Test Different Ad Formats

Carousel ads (multiple dishes), single image, video, Stories ads. Test to see what your audience responds to best.

6. Budget Wisely

Start with £5-10/day. Scale up only after you've proven an ad works. Most restaurants waste money by spending too much too fast.

Key Metric: Track cost per booking, not just clicks or impressions. If you're spending £8 to get a £30 booking, that's profitable.

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