Belfast’s hospitality businesses are hoping the return of the annual restaurant week will offer a boost to trade following the impact of inflation across the industry.
Belfast Restaurant Week 2024 takes place across October 7-13 with dozens of venues already signed up to participate.
Now in its fifth year, the annual event has traditionally involved special offer menus, but has evolved this year to allow hospitality venues to host more experiences such as food pairings and tasting menus to demonstrations and masterclasses.
More than 70 offers have already been confirmed across dozens of venues from the Michelin-starred restaurant Ox and Grand Central Hotel to some of the city’s newest additions such as Amelia Hall and Mr Deanes.
Last year saw 49 restaurants take part in Belfast Restaurant Week generating an estimated £190,000 in additional spending.
Stephen Haller, owner of Home Restaurant, said: “Moving beyond solely an offer-led experience to include unique events and experiences gives businesses the chance to really connect with our customers in new and exciting ways.
“Last year, the set menu we introduced for Restaurant Week was such a hit that we decided to keep it going even after the event had finished, and we’re eager to see what innovations we can bring this time around.
“The restaurant industry can be challenging, with rising costs and staffing shortages, so anything that brings a buzz and gets people excited to dine out is something we wholeheartedly support.”
The annual event is organised by Belfast’s three business improvement districts (BIDs): Belfast One, Cathedral Quarter BID and Linen Quarter BID.
“Belfast Restaurant Week is a highlight of our food and drink calendar, with thousands of foodies supporting the celebration year-on-year and taking a greater bite out of what they know to be the local food scene,” said Damian Corr, manager at CQ BID.
“The event is a celebration that is all about exploring and discovering Belfast’s rich culinary scene. “This year, we’ve enhanced the programme to ensure participating venues can include unique and experience-driven events.
“Our hospitality industry has shown incredible resilience over the past few years – signalling the quality of our offering and highlighting how important the culinary experience is to Belfast as a destination.”
