diff --git a/backend/backendServer.js b/backend/backendServer.js
index c562dbb..919025b 100644
--- a/backend/backendServer.js
+++ b/backend/backendServer.js
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ app.use(express.json());
 // ####### ROUTES #######
 app.get("/backend/test", async (req, res) => {
   console.log("test");
-  res.json({ test: "test" });
+  res.json({ env: process.env.NODE_ENV });
 });
 // ### GET ALL RECIPES ###
 app.get("/backend/recipes", async (req, res) => {
@@ -81,6 +81,7 @@ app.get("/backend/recipe/:id", async (req, res) => {
 
 // ### ADD RECIPE ###
 app.post("/backend/add-recipe", async (req, res) => {
+  if (process.env.NODE_ENV === 'demo') { return; };
   const { name, author, cuisine, stars, ingredients, steps, prep_minutes, cook_minutes } = req.body;
   try {
     const [id] = await db("recipes").insert(
@@ -118,6 +119,7 @@ app.post("/backend/add-recipe", async (req, res) => {
 
 // ### SET STARS ###
 app.post("/backend/set-stars", async (req, res) => {
+  if (process.env.NODE_ENV === 'demo') { return; };
   const { id, stars } = req.body;
   try {
     await db("recipes").where({ id: id }).update({ stars: stars });
@@ -130,6 +132,7 @@ app.post("/backend/set-stars", async (req, res) => {
 
 // ### DELETE RECIPE ###
 app.delete("/backend/delete-recipe", async (req, res) => {
+  if (process.env.NODE_ENV === 'demo') { return; };
   const { id } = req.body;
   try {
     await db("recipe_steps").where({ recipe_id: id }).del();
diff --git a/backend/knexfile.js b/backend/knexfile.js
index 0ffe60e..78f22d8 100644
--- a/backend/knexfile.js
+++ b/backend/knexfile.js
@@ -20,6 +20,25 @@ module.exports = {
     },
   },
 
+  demo: {
+    client: "postgresql",
+    connection: {
+      host: "db",
+      port: process.env.DB_PORT,
+      database: process.env.DB_NAME,
+      user: process.env.DB_USER,
+      password: process.env.DB_PASSWORD,
+    },
+    pool: {
+      min: 2,
+      max: 10,
+    },
+    migrations: {
+      tableName: "knex_migrations",
+      directory: "./migrations",
+    },
+  },
+
   production: {
     client: "postgresql",
     connection: {
diff --git a/backend/package.json b/backend/package.json
index 9eac5ca..bc51cbe 100644
--- a/backend/package.json
+++ b/backend/package.json
@@ -3,8 +3,8 @@
   "version": "1.0.0",
   "main": "index.js",
   "scripts": {
-    "test": "echo \"Error: no test specified\" && exit 1",
     "dev": "node backendServer.js",
+    "demo": "node backendServer.js",
     "production": "node backendServer.js"
   },
   "keywords": [],
diff --git a/docker-compose.yaml b/docker-compose.yaml
index 370fef2..26e5f54 100644
--- a/docker-compose.yaml
+++ b/docker-compose.yaml
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 services:
   db:
-    container_name: recipes_postgres
+    container_name: recipes_postgres_${ID}
     image: docker.io/library/postgres:17
     # restart: always
     env_file:
@@ -15,13 +15,13 @@ services:
       - ./postgres/db:/var/lib/postgresql/data
   backend:
     image: recipes_backend
-    container_name: recipes_backend
+    container_name: recipes_backend_${ID}
     build:
       context: ./backend
       args:
         NODE_ENV: ${NODE_ENV}
     ports:
-      - "3000:3000"
+      - "${BACKEND_PORT}:3000"
     volumes:
       - ./backend:/usr/src/app
     environment:
@@ -31,13 +31,13 @@ services:
       - DB_NAME=${DB_NAME}
   frontend:
     image: recipes_frontend
-    container_name: recipes_frontend
+    container_name: recipes_frontend_${ID}
     build:
       context: ./backend
       args:
         NODE_ENV: ${NODE_ENV}
     ports:
-      - "8081:80"
+      - "${FRONTEND_PORT}:80"
     volumes:
       - ./frontend:/usr/src/app
     environment:
diff --git a/frontend/package.json b/frontend/package.json
index 3be63aa..bdad101 100644
--- a/frontend/package.json
+++ b/frontend/package.json
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
   "scripts": {
     "dev": "vite --host 0.0.0.0 --port 80",
     "production": "vite --host 0.0.0.0 --port 80",
+    "demo": "vite --host 0.0.0.0 --port 80",
     "build": "tsc -b && vite build",
     "lint": "eslint .",
     "preview": "vite preview"
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/CookbookRecipeTile.tsx b/frontend/src/components/CookbookRecipeTile.tsx
index 9fcc668..4be30bd 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/CookbookRecipeTile.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/CookbookRecipeTile.tsx
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import React, { useState } from 'react';
 import { type RecipeSmall } from "../types/Recipe"
 import Modal from '../components/Modal.tsx'
+import DemoModal from '../components/DemoModal.tsx'
 import { Link } from 'react-router-dom';
 
 interface CookbookRecipeTileProps {
@@ -9,13 +10,19 @@ interface CookbookRecipeTileProps {
 }
 
 function CookbookRecipeTile({ recipe, handleDelete }: CookbookRecipeTileProps) {
-  const [isModalOpen, setIsModalOpen] = useState(false);
+  const [showConfirmModal, setShowConfirmModal] = useState(false);
+  const [showDemoModal, setShowDemoModal] = useState(false);
 
-  const openModal = () => { setIsModalOpen(true) };
-  const closeModal = () => { setIsModalOpen(false) };
+  const openModal = () => { setShowConfirmModal(true) };
+  const closeModal = () => { setShowConfirmModal(false) };
   const confirmDelete = () => {
-    handleDelete(recipe.id);
-    closeModal();
+    if (process.env.NODE_ENV === 'demo') {
+      closeModal();
+      setShowDemoModal(true);
+    } else {
+      handleDelete(recipe.id);
+      closeModal();
+    }
   };
 
 
@@ -30,12 +37,19 @@ function CookbookRecipeTile({ recipe, handleDelete }: CookbookRecipeTileProps) {
         </button>
       </div>
       <Modal
-        isOpen={isModalOpen}
+        isOpen={showConfirmModal}
         onClose={closeModal}
         message="Are you sure you want to delete this recipe?"
         confirmAction={confirmDelete}
         cancelAction={closeModal}
       />
+      {showDemoModal && (
+        <DemoModal
+          isOpen={showDemoModal}
+          onClose={() => setShowDemoModal(false)}
+          closeModal={() => setShowDemoModal(false)}
+        />
+      )}
     </div>
   );
 };
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/DemoModal.tsx b/frontend/src/components/DemoModal.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c3b1d0f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/frontend/src/components/DemoModal.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+import { Link } from 'react-router-dom';
+
+interface DemoModalProps {
+  isOpen: boolean;
+  onClose: () => void;
+  closeModal: () => void;
+}
+
+const DemoModal = ({ isOpen, onClose, closeModal }: DemoModalProps) => {
+  if (!isOpen) return null;
+
+  return (
+    <div className="modal-overlay fixed top-0 left-0 w-full h-full bg-black bg-opacity-50 flex justify-center items-center" onClick={onClose}>
+      <div className="modal-content bg-amber-200 p-12 rounded-md shadow-md" onClick={(e) => e.stopPropagation()}>
+        <div className="modal-msg">
+          <p>Thanks for checking out my app! Database write operations are disabled in demo mode.</p>
+          <p><a className="text-blue-600" href="mailto:access@fredzernia.com">access@fredzernia.com</a> to request access to the production build</p>
+          <p>Find out more about this app <Link to={'/about'} className="text-blue-600">here</Link></p>
+        </div>
+        <div className="modal-buttons">
+          <button className="bg-amber-600 rounded-md m-4 pt-1 pb-1 pr-2 pl-2" onClick={closeModal}>OK</button>
+        </div>
+      </div>
+    </div>
+  );
+};
+
+export default DemoModal;
diff --git a/frontend/src/pages/AddRecipe.tsx b/frontend/src/pages/AddRecipe.tsx
index b73f054..35172ca 100644
--- a/frontend/src/pages/AddRecipe.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/pages/AddRecipe.tsx
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import { useNavigate } from "react-router-dom";
 import AddBulkIngredients from "../components/AddBulkIngredients.tsx"
 import AddBulkSteps from "../components/AddBulkSteps.tsx"
 import StarRating from "../components/StarRating.tsx"
+import DemoModal from '../components/DemoModal.tsx'
 // import { type Step } from "../types/Recipe";
 
 interface Step {
@@ -23,9 +24,14 @@ function AddRecipe() {
   const [stars, setStars] = useState(0);
   const [prepMinutes, setPrepMinutes] = useState(5);
   const [cookMinutes, setCookMinutes] = useState(5);
+  const [showDemoModal, setShowDemoModal] = useState(false);
 
   const addRecipeForm = async (event: React.FormEvent) => {
     event.preventDefault();
+    if (process.env.NODE_ENV === 'demo') {
+      setShowDemoModal(true);
+      return;
+    }
     const stepsHash = Object.fromEntries(
       steps.map(step => [step.step_number, step.instruction])
     );
@@ -139,6 +145,13 @@ function AddRecipe() {
           submit
         </button>
       </form>
+      {showDemoModal && (
+        <DemoModal
+          isOpen={showDemoModal}
+          onClose={() => setShowDemoModal(false)}
+          closeModal={() => setShowDemoModal(false)}
+        />
+      )}
     </div>
   )
 }
diff --git a/frontend/src/services/frontendApi.js b/frontend/src/services/frontendApi.js
index 3a83ce7..4158c4a 100644
--- a/frontend/src/services/frontendApi.js
+++ b/frontend/src/services/frontendApi.js
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-const baseUrl = process.env.NODE_ENV === 'production'
+const baseUrl = process.env.NODE_ENV !== 'dev'
   ? '/'
   : 'http://localhost:3000/';
 
diff --git a/frontend/vite.config.ts b/frontend/vite.config.ts
index 7b700dd..d07a6bf 100644
--- a/frontend/vite.config.ts
+++ b/frontend/vite.config.ts
@@ -5,7 +5,6 @@ import react from "@vitejs/plugin-react";
 export default defineConfig({
   plugins: [react()],
   server: {
-    host: "ec683cee72d30c5030.fredzernia.com",
-    allowedHosts: ["ec683cee72d30c5030.fredzernia.com"],
+    allowedHosts: ["recipe-prod.fredzernia.com", "recipe-demo.fredzernia.com"],
   },
 });