Hungry? Us too, and we can’t wait for the food event of the year, Jan 17-23
After two years of pandemic-induced ups and downs, we’re more than ready to throw ourselves into the joyous food fest that is NE1 Newcastle Restaurant Week.
Now celebrating its 20th year, Restaurant Week is a highlight, bathing midwinter in light and inspiring foodies with new experiences at great restaurants serving exciting special menus. And this year, as ever, the city centre’s restaurant family join together to offer Restaurant Week menus priced just £10, £15 and £20 per person, which means we can shed the winter blues and savour warmth, hospitality and new journeys in food.
The event run by Newcastle NE1, the city-centre’s Business Improvement District, is the first Restaurant Week since January 2020, which means there’s a special atmosphere of celebration and hope in the air.
The January 2020 event was the biggest ever; a record number of venues welcoming more than 48,000 diners who, in this traditionally quiet period, spent some £610,000 over seven days. This year promises to be a joyous return to going out, gathering to savour hospitality at leading venues including Dabbawal, Blackfriars, Fat Hippo and scores more, all of them relishing the opportunity to showcase their food to new customers and loyal regulars, and in doing so giving us all a much-needed boost.
As Stephen Patterson, chief executive of NE1 Ltd, says: “It’s absolutely wonderful to be able to welcome people back to NE1 Newcastle Restaurant Week at a time when we’re all ready to celebrate Newcastle’s fantastically vibrant food scene.
“With scores of brilliant restaurants welcoming enthusiastic customers curious to try new places and revisit old favorites, Restaurant Week is a major milestone in the city’s event calendar. It was initially designed to support restaurants at a traditionally quiet time of the year, and because of this event, the week is now among the most vibrant for restaurants in the city.
“As a city, we’re rightly proud of our food scene. People may not realise that we have more independents per capita than any other city outside London, and a wealth of big-name brands too, many of whom are hugely enthusiastic about getting involved in January’s event. We can’t wait to bring NE1 Newcastle Restaurant Week back to the city.”
To enjoy this year’s event, all you need to do is go to the website (address at the bottom of the page), check out the offers from each restaurant, and download the vouchers you need to present to qualify for offers. Venues traditionally fill up quickly, so make sure to book in advance, and take note of any special booking conditions.
For offers and menus, and to download your vouchers go to: www.getintonewcastle.co.uk/restaurant-week
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Foodie thoughts on NE1 Newcastle Restaurant Week’s return
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Jaf Ali
Dabbawal and Khai Khai
We’re looking forward to getting back into the busy, vibrant celebration of Newcastle food that is the annual NE1 Newcastle Restaurant Week. Coming out of the festive period is traditionally very quiet in the restaurant business, and over the years NE1 has got the timing right with Restaurant Week. Not only does the event deliver a vital boost to business in January, it’s also an exciting opportunity to showcase our food and share it with lots of people. We’re proud to have been part of every Restaurant Week so far and to have seen it become such an important part of the calendar. Here’s to another successful week of great food.
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Andy Hook
Blackfriars Restaurant and Dobson & Parnell
It’s amazing how much things can change in 12 months. This time last year we had the hatches battened down with little prospect of reopening. But reopen we did and we will be eternally grateful to all the people who have turned out to support us and keep us afloat. Obvioulsy, we hope 2022 brings us all better fortune, and what better way to start than with the great gastronomic give away we call Restaurant Week. It’s fantastic to welcome it back, and for all the diners out there, it’s time to grab yourself a culinary bargain!
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Jane Pikett
Appetite magazine
Here at Appetite, we never need an excuse to eat out, and NE1 Newcastle Restaurant Week is a higlight of our year. It’s a huge part of the North East’s vibrant and exciting food scene; a great opportunity to try new places and head back to old favourites without feeling guilty for eating out three, four, even five times in one week.
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Howard Eggleston
Tomahawk Steakhouse
We love how vibrant the city is at the best of times, and when Restaurant Week comes around each January it really does heat up! The event attracts foodies from all over the UK, and people travel for miles to sample the huge selection of restaurants we have to offer. It’s a fantastic way for us all to come together as an industry, and showcase what the city has to offer. We’re so proud to be a part of it.
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Rosie may Edge
Leila Lily’s
We’re delighted to be taking part in NE1 Newcastle Restaurant Week again. It’s a fantastic event for the city centre, inspiring established and new customers to enjoy brilliant food, and enabling us to showcase our menus and the skill of our brilliant chefs.
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Laura Middleton
Instagram: @geordie.scran
I eat out as much as possible, and Newcastle’s Restaurant Week has always been a great opportunity to do just that. It’s a great chance to try somewhere new or extra special, and go back to some old favourites. My first visit to Route on the Quayside was part of Restaurant Week a few years ago and I plan to return this time around. I’ll also be heading back to Blackfriars, Dobson and Parnell, and Coop as well, as it’s been a while since I was there. I’m really looking forward to the week and can’t wait to make the most of it.
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Jeff Lyall
Instagram: @newcastle_eats
After a tough period for hospitality, it’s no surprise everyone’s ready to get out and try new and exciting restaurants. Just remember the old favourites too!
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