The dishes have been cleaned, the napkins washed and put away, and the results of the latest York Restaurant Week are in.
And it turns out that it has was the best yet.
A record-breaking number of vouchers were downloaded from the website, generating thousands of pounds of revenue for participating restaurants.
York Restaurant Week is organised by the York BID (Business Improvement District) and was set up to encourage people to celebrate the wealth of great food and drink that’s on offer in the city.
The event first ran in April 2019, with the most recent event being the fifth time it’s taken place. Since that first event, the number of vouchers downloaded has doubled.
The number of businesses participating has also grown to a high of 67, with the most successful venue on this occasion generating at least £10,540 of sales on voucher value alone.
Overall, the event has generated at least £152,800 at what is traditionally a quiet time of year for hospitality.
‘Going from strength to strength’
Rob Scott-South, group general manager at participants Ambiente Tapas said:
After what has been a very difficult couple of years, we were delighted to yet again support this wonderful initiative that allows both visitors to the city and our loyal regulars to enjoy a fantastic value offer over a very busy week.
On a broader scale, York restaurant week showcases the huge number of excellent independent restaurants we have here, and we’re delighted to see it go from strength to strength.
Michele Damiano, from new participants Hungate Reading Café was also pleased with the results. “We’re absolutely thrilled to be part of the event and have been amazed at how many people visited to access the offer,” she said
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Feedback from diners was also positive. “It’s a great chance to try new places and see the variety in York. I use every restaurant week to try somewhere new,” were typical comments.
BID business manager Chris Bush co-ordinates the event. He said:
The event is so popular now that we feel confident enough to run it twice a year. We ran the event a couple of times in October during the pandemic which got a positive response from businesses.
We’re pleased to announce that the next Restaurant Week will take place from 10 to 16 October.
People can receive news and updates about York Restaurant Week by signing up for the newsletter at the website at or following the event on social media.