Member Article

Newcastle Restaurant Week set to include some of city’s newest eateries next month

Next month will mark the fifth anniversary of NE1’s Newcastle Restaurant Week, a week offering Newcastle’s diners discounted deals in a bid to attract custom during traditionally quiet times of the year.

Launching in 2011, the week has brought an average return of 44% increased trade for participating restaurants during the week. Last January, over 35,000 people took advantage of offers, equating to over £350k worth of extra business for participating restaurants.

Newcastle’s restaurant scene is one of the city’s largest growth sectors with more restaurants per square mile than anywhere else in the North East of England.

This January, running between Monday 18 and Sunday 24, people will be able to dine for fixed price menus of either £10 or £15 per person, with some of the city’s newest restaurants added to the list.

Newcomers this year include the likes of Bealim House, The Botanist, Viva Brazil, The Bottle Shop and Ko Sai, from the new Fenwick Food Hall.

Originally, 13 of Newcastle’s top restaurants were involved in the first event. Now over 80 restaurants take part and the weeks, one in January, the other in August, are a firm fixture in the city’s events calendar with over 60% of NE1’s Newcastle Restaurant Week customers visiting 2 or more restaurants during the week with some dining out every night of the week.

Chef and restaurateur Terry Laybourne, of 21 Hospitality Group was one of the founding restaurateurs who came up with the idea for the event and has supported every NE1’s Newcastle Restaurant Week since.

Terry said: “NE1’s Newcastle Restaurant Week has become a keenly anticipated calendar fixture among foodies and general diners; it’s a wonderful opportunity to go out and try several restaurants for a fraction of the normal cost. It’s great to see those passionate about food and hospitality working together to promote NE1’s Newcastle Restaurant Week.”

Stephen Patterson, Director of Communications at NE1 Ltd, said: “We’ve reached a 5th anniversary milestone for NE1’s Newcastle Restaurant Week at a time when the city’s restaurant scene is expanding and getting ever stronger.

“We are proud of the event and of the restaurant community it supports and promotes. Over the last five years 43 new restaurants have opened in the city and this growth looks set to continue with 26 scheduled to open in 2016 alone. I’m struggling to choose which restaurants I’ll be booking into this January.”

Andrew Shiel-Redfern, General Manager of The Botanist said: “The Botanist has become a firm favourite with Newcastle diners since it opened just over a year ago and we are looking forward to taking part in our first NE1’s Newcastle Restaurant Week this coming January, made all the more special by it being the event’s 5th anniversary.

“We are fortunate to command a great vantage point in the city and we intend to put this to good use offering diners not just excellent views but excellent NE1’s Newcastle Restaurant Week offers.”