New virtual restaurant known as a ‘dark kitchen’ selling doughnuts, cakes and drinks could be coming to Sheffield

If approved by Sheffield Council, part of the current garage on the site at Clifton House, Princess Street, Darnall, will be transformed into the new eatery with a drive-in takeaway service from the car park.

In the planning application documents, Sajjad Mehmood, applicant, said the proposed opening hours are 10am to 2am every day of the week.

He said: “The internal premises will not be open to the public, only for staff.

“Customers will phone in their order and these will be brought out to them in their cars.

“Customers may also drive into the car park, where their order will be taken by members of staff at their cars, prepared inside and brought out to them…

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“The proposals will provide a suitable alternative use to this premises and assist in revitalising this area.”

The plans are a resubmission of earlier proposals for the same business which were refused by the council because there was not an up-to-date flood risk assessment.

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What is a ‘dark kitchen’?

Dark kitchens – also known as ghost kitchens, cloud kitchens, shadow kitchens or virtual restaurants – are businesses that provide delivery-only takeaway.

They have surged throughout the country, with the rise in food deliveries during Covid, and they help businesses save on the costs associated with dining in.

So far there are no comments from members of the public on the plans.

To view the plans in full or comment, visit https://planningapps.sheffield.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=R5YBUINY0MK00&activeTab=summary