May marks Coeliac Awareness Month and to mark the event food hygiene experts at Alliance Online have analysed thousands of restaurant reviews to identify the UK’s best cities for gluten-free dining.
Swansea is the UK’s second best city for gluten-free eateries according to the research. Scoring 89.7 out of 100 in the ranking.
The data ranked cities based on the number of gluten-free friendly eateries per 1,000 residents as well as the percentage of highly rated gluten-free friendly restaurants overall.
According to Coeliac UK, there are around 676,000 affected by Coeliac disease, impacting 1 in 100 of the UK population. It is also estimated that nearly 8.5 million people follow a gluten-free diet.
Analysing data from Tripadvisor for major towns and cities around the UK, the research explored the number of gluten-free eateries available per 1,000 residents and accounted for the percentage of gluten-free restaurants with traveller ratings of five – the highest score awarded on the site.
In first place with a total score of 92.4 is the Scottish capital of Edinburgh. With 559 gluten-free restaurants to choose from and one gluten-free restaurant per 1,000 residents, Edinburgh had the highest number of gluten-free restaurants outside of London. In fact, Edinburgh was the only location in the rankings which had at least one gluten-free location per 1,000 people. Almost 11% of all gluten-free eateries in Edinburgh had a traveller rating of five meaning the odds of getting a top quality, gluten-free meal were strong across the city.
Swansea was the second best city in the UK for gluten-free diners and coeliacs, scoring 89.7 out of 100. With 15% of eateries highly rated, from gluten-free bakeries, pizza and more the coastal city had the highest percentage of high quality gluten-free eateries across the whole of the UK, showcasing the best coeliac friendly fare.
Newcastle upon Tyne took its place as the third most gluten-free friendly city with a score of 88.1. 12% of the North East city’s 239 gluten-free restaurants were ranked a five by travellers across Tripadvisor as locals and visitors can enjoy anything from a gluten-free burger to French cuisine and a classic Chinese banquet.
The UK’s top ten gluten-free towns and cities
| Ranking | City | Final Score |
| 1 | Edinburgh | 92.4 |
| 2 | Swansea | 89.7 |
| 3 | Newcastle upon Tyne | 88.1 |
| 4 | Brighton and Hove | 87.3 |
| 5 | Leeds | 84.2 |
| 6 | Cardiff | 83.4 |
| 7 | Milton Keynes | 82.7 |
| 8 | Plymouth | 81.6 |
| 9 | Bristol | 81.5 |
| 10 | Sheffield | 79.4 |
Gluten-free dining in Wales
Swansea came in second across the UK while Cardiff, the Welsh capital, still secured a spot in the top ten with a total score of 83.4 out of 100. Cardiff boasts 217 gluten-free restaurants across the city with over 12% ranked five by visitors. For those following a gluten-free diet, you can expect to tuck into tasty treats like gluten-free churros, brownies and pies.
Newport came third in Wales and 14th in the UK rankings scoring 77.8 in total for its gluten-free options. While a more modest offering of 62 gluten-free restaurants were on offer a respectable 11% scored a five.
Speaking on the research, Rachael Kiss at Alliance Online said: “With nearly 8.5 million people across the UK now following a gluten-free diet, our research highlights the growing importance of catering for gluten-free diners. From Edinburgh to Swansea, the demand for safe, high-quality gluten-free options is clear.
“As well as hoping to highlight all the brilliant places across the UK which offer gluten-free options, there is a valuable opportunity for hospitality businesses to expand their gluten-free offering. From training staff on allergens and gluten-free menus to investing in dietary advice labels and recipe development, there’s lots of ways businesses can improve their offering and help give those with dietary restrictions peace of mind when eating out.”
