Almost four in five participating venues (78%) in Belfast Restaurant Week experienced increased footfall this year, whilst almost two in three (62%) reported increased revenues during the week-long event.
This is according to an independent business survey, carried by CARD Group Research & Insight, among venue managers and owners, which shows that, where revenues did rise, they did so significantly, with the average increase in takings for the week up by 24%.
Belfast Restaurant Week, which has been running since 2018, is led by Belfast City’s three business improvement districts, which include LQ BID, CQ BID and Belfast One.
“All in all, Belfast Restaurant Week provided 105 experiences across 59 of Belfast’s most loved and exciting hospitality hot spots, from tasting menus to cocktail masterclasses to food pairings to demonstrations,” said Chris McCracken, managing director of LQ BID.
“The purpose of the week is to support the industry by encouraging people to explore and discover the dynamic food-and-drink offering our city has to offer.”
The CARD research also found that more than half (53%) of the participating venues saw a change in customer demographics during the event, with many attracting new customers.
A mix of venues based right across the city centre took part, including Bert’s Jazz Bar, Mourne Seafood Bar, Tetto, the Europa Hotel, Margot, Coppi, Roam and James St.
“The Belfast food scene is both vibrant and resilient, with new venues such as Amelia Hall, Nova and mrDeanes showcasing remarkable creativity and passion this year,” said Martina Connolly, CEO of Belfast One.
“The city centre’s three BIDs are collectively committed to ensuring that Belfast remains a thriving and vibrant city.”
