One of Newcastle's most popular events has announced it will be returning in August and it is guaranteed to have people flocking to the city to dine out in style.
NE1 Newcastle Restaurant Week is to run from August 8-14 and its second outing of the year will mark its 21st birthday. Helping to celebrate will be newcomers to the dining scene - Hugo Brasserie, Victor’s Newcastle and The Grey Owl are all set to take part for the first time.
As regulars know, the week offers customers a chance to take advantage of a huge range of cut-price meals and special offers at top city restaurants and more than 100 of them have signed up. Part of NE1 Ltd's summer programme, the twice-yearly event - which also takes place in January - has grown steadily since its launch in 2011 and this August's run is set to be one of the biggest in its history.
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It always brings tens of thousands of diners into the city restaurants which this time will be offering reduced-price menus at £10, £15 and £20 per head. While Hugo Brasserie on The Side, Victor’s Newcastle on the quayside and The Grey Owl in Grey Street are newcomers to the event, there are others which have been involved since the start, such as Blackfriars, Dabbawal and 21 Newcastle.
Andy Hook, owner and operator of the Hooked On Group which includes Blackfriars, said Newcastle should be proud of the event which helps to showcase the city’s thriving culinary scene "and encourages diners old and new to enjoy the many and varied foodie delights that the city has to offer".
He added: "We have loved taking part in every event since the beginning and are gearing up to welcome our regulars and new visitors to Blackfriars and Dobson & Parnell to celebrate the 21st event. Restaurant Week has helped to encourage people back into the city and into restaurants after the long pandemic and we are grateful for those who continue to support us."
Angela Bowers of Hugo Brasserie, which is getting involved less than a month after its opening, said: “Even before we opened in Newcastle, we were aware of NE1’s Newcastle Restaurant Week and wanted to be part of the event. Knowing that the city has such a thriving restaurant scene, supported by events like Restaurant Week, was a major factor in attracting us to the city.
"We can’t wait to bring our distinctive brand of fine dining to the Newcastle restaurant scene and are delighted to be coming on board." She added: "We have a fantastic menu lined up.”
Ben Whitfield, director of communications at NE1, said they are delighted to be celebrating the event for the 21st time, calling it an important milestone which will be marked in style with more than 100 restaurants making it one of the biggest in the event’s history.
"It is a great way to celebrate the city’s thriving restaurant scene, which has played a huge part in the city’s bounce-back post-Covid and contributes so much to the vibrancy and economy of the city," he said. "The event always generates tremendous excitement within the restaurant community and the wider public.
"People know and love the event; it is quick and simple for restaurants to adopt and run and easy for diners to buy into. Originally, we chose the dates for Newcastle Restaurant Week in consultation with the times of the year.
"Since its launch in 2011, the two Restaurant Week events have become the busiest for participating restaurants. We are looking forward to another bumper week of culinary celebrations.”
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