How much do UK food YouTubers earn?

CPMs range from £3-£7. A channel with 200K monthly views earns £600-£1,400 from ads. Supermarket partnerships, meal kit affiliates (HelloFresh, Gousto), and digital product sales can double or triple total earnings.

Do I need professional equipment for a food YouTube channel?

No. A smartphone with good natural lighting is sufficient to start. An overhead camera mount (£20-£50), a basic tripod, and a clean cooking surface are the only essentials. Upgrade equipment as your channel grows.

Can I create a faceless food channel?

Yes. Overhead filming showing only your hands and the cooking process is common and effective. For non-cooking food content (reviews, guides, compilations), AI tools like FluxNote can create professional videos without any filming.

What food content works best for UK audiences?

Budget cooking, supermarket comparisons, British classic recipes, multicultural cooking, and baking content all perform well. Content referencing UK-specific supermarkets and costs resonates strongly with domestic audiences.

Guide

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Starting a UK Food YouTube Channel (2026 Guide)

British food culture has undergone a revolution. From Bake Off to Borough Market, from budget meal prep to fine dining recreations, UK audiences are hungry for food content. Food YouTube in the UK offers strong audience growth, accessible brand partnerships with supermarkets and food brands, and the universal appeal of cooking content.

Last updated: February 26, 2026

Step-by-Step Guide

Define your food content angle

Choose between budget cooking, baking, cultural cuisine, meal prep, or reviews. Your angle determines your audience and brand partnership opportunities.

Set up your filming area

You don't need a professional kitchen. Good natural lighting (near a window), a clean worktop, and an overhead camera mount are sufficient. Total investment: £50-£200.

Create your first 20 recipes on camera

Film complete cooking processes. Edit down to 8-15 minutes. Include ingredient lists and costs in the description. Post 2-3 times per week.

Join meal kit and kitchen affiliate programmes

Sign up for HelloFresh, Gousto, and Amazon Associates. Include referral links in every video description. Affiliate income often exceeds ad revenue for food channels.

Pitch UK supermarkets and food brands

Once you have 5,000+ subscribers, start approaching Tesco, Aldi, Sainsbury's, and food brands for partnerships. Supermarket partnerships are among the most common in UK food content.

The UK food content opportunity

Food is one of the most accessible YouTube niches because everyone eats. The UK food YouTube market has specific characteristics that make it attractive for new creators.

The audience is massive and diverse. Budget cooking content appeals to students and families feeling the cost-of-living squeeze. Meal prep content serves busy professionals. Cultural cuisine content reflects Britain's multicultural population. Baking content taps into the Bake Off effect that shows no sign of fading.

CPMs are moderate (£3-£7) but brand partnership opportunities are abundant. UK supermarkets (Tesco, Sainsbury's, M&S, Aldi, Lidl) have active creator programmes. Food brands (Heinz, Cadbury, Warburtons) run regular influencer campaigns. Delivery services (HelloFresh, Gousto, Mindful Chef) have generous affiliate and sponsorship budgets.

Faceless food content is possible but less common. Overhead cooking shots (hands and ingredients only) work well and maintain privacy while showing the cooking process. AI tools like FluxNote can be used for recipe compilation videos, food tourism guides, and restaurant review content without requiring on-camera presence.

The biggest advantage of food content: it's culturally universal but locally specific. A UK food creator can build a domestic audience with British recipes and supermarket-specific content, while also attracting international viewers fascinated by British food culture.

Best UK food content ideas

These content categories consistently perform well for UK food channels.

Budget cooking: Meals under £1 per portion, weekly meal plans for under £20, reducing food waste, and supermarket budget comparisons. The cost-of-living crisis has made this the fastest-growing food content category in the UK.

Supermarket-specific content: 'Best Aldi finds this week', 'M&S vs Aldi taste tests', 'Tesco meal deal ranking'. These videos attract both viewers and supermarket partnerships.

British classic recipes: Full English breakfast variations, proper Sunday roast, fish and chips, shepherd's pie, sticky toffee pudding. International audiences love watching British food being made authentically.

Multicultural British cooking: Curry (Britain's favourite takeaway), Chinese takeaway recreations, Caribbean British fusion, Polish-British food. Reflects modern British eating habits.

Baking content: The Bake Off effect means UK baking content has a built-in audience. Technical challenges, bread making, cake decorating, and seasonal baking (Christmas, Easter, bonfire night) all perform well.

Meal prep and planning: Weekly meal prep for families, batch cooking, freezer-friendly meals, and lunchbox ideas. Practical content that viewers return to repeatedly.

Restaurant and food reviews: Local restaurant reviews, food market tours, and high street chain comparisons (Nando's, Wagamama, Five Guys). Location-specific content builds local audiences.

Monetising a UK food channel

Food channels have diverse monetisation opportunities beyond ad revenue.

Ad revenue: CPMs of £3-£7 provide a baseline. A food channel with 200K monthly views earns roughly £600-£1,400 from ads. Recipe-focused content accumulates views over time as viewers search for specific dishes.

Supermarket and brand partnerships: This is where UK food channels excel. Supermarkets like Tesco, Sainsbury's, and M&S have dedicated creator budgets. Food brands run seasonal campaigns (Christmas, Easter, summer BBQ) with creator partnerships. Rates: £200-£5,000 per video depending on channel size.

Affiliate marketing: Kitchen equipment (Le Creuset, KitchenAid, Ninja), cookbooks, and meal kit services (HelloFresh, Gousto, Mindful Chef) all have affiliate programmes. HelloFresh and Gousto are particularly aggressive with UK creator partnerships, often paying £5-£15 per trial signup.

Cookbooks and recipe ebooks: Digital cookbooks sold through your website or Gumroad. UK food creators report £200-£2,000/month from digital product sales. Physical cookbooks through publishers are possible at larger channel sizes.

Merchandise: Branded aprons, mugs, chopping boards. Food channels have naturally merchandisable branding opportunities.

Cooking classes and workshops: Both online (through platforms like Skillshare or your own website) and in-person. UK food creators charge £20-£50 per online class and £50-£150 per in-person workshop.

Food content is also seasonal gold: Christmas recipe content earns premium CPMs in November-December, and recipe compilations can accumulate millions of views over time.

Pro Tips

Budget cooking content is the fastest-growing food category in the UK. Cost-of-living concerns make this content genuinely useful
Overhead (hands-only) filming lets you create food content without showing your face while still demonstrating cooking techniques
Supermarket brand partnerships are more accessible than you might think. Many UK supermarkets have dedicated creator programmes
Include recipe costs using UK supermarket prices. British viewers appreciate knowing exactly what a recipe costs at Tesco or Aldi
Seasonal content (Christmas recipes, summer BBQ, Easter baking) earns premium CPMs and attracts seasonal brand partnerships