Newcastle's NE1 Restaurant Week boosts local hospitality sector with £500k

January’s NE1’s Newcastle Restaurant Week, held between January 15-21, delivered half a million pound business boost for over 100 restaurants that took part.

Results from participating restaurants showed an 11 per cent year-on-year increase in trade during the week, making this January’s NE1’s Newcastle Restaurant Week the most successful to date.

Many of the restaurants were said to be fully booked throughout the week, which prior to the Restaurant Week event would have been one of the quietest times of the year.

A number of the restaurants also reported record numbers of bookings for Restaurant Week even before Christmas.

Stephen Patterson, director of communications at NE1 Ltd, said: “The people of Newcastle love NE1’s Newcastle Restaurant Week.

“It didn’t take long for it to become a well-established and well-loved event in Newcastle’s event calendar. As soon as we announce the dates diners are quick to make their bookings to secure their place at one or more of Newcastle’s top restaurants.

“A number of restaurants were almost fully booked for January’s Newcastle Restaurant Week even before Christmas.”

Gary Hutchinson, managing director of Chrysalis Leisure Group, added: “January was Fat Buddha’s first NE1’s Newcastle Restaurant Week under our new management and we were bowled over by the success of the event.

“We did 2,111 Newcastle Restaurant Week covers, more than double the number of diners than last year. It gives us all focus and turns the spotlight on what the city has to offer. We’re already looking forward to and planning for August’s event.”

In 2011, NE1 Ltd came up with the idea for Restaurant Week in consultation with the restaurant community of Newcastle in a bid to support the industry at traditionally quiet times of the year.

The event now has its own momentum, and the weeks are among the most popular in the year and one of the most popular events in the NE1 calendar.

From an original cohort of only 13 venues, over 100 restaurants now take part in the event.