Aberdeen Restaurant Weeks have served up another huge success with some businesses reporting a 35% increase in customers while figures show an increase in city centre footfall.
Feedback on the Foodie Fortnight, which ended on Sunday, March 4, has been overwhelmingly positive from discerning diners, too, said Aberdeen Inspired, which organises the hugely popular celebration of the best cuisine in the city.
Shona Byrne, project manager with Aberdeen Inspired, said the latest outing for Aberdeen Restaurant Weeks – which saw almost 80 eateries take part – has been one of the best since the initiative was launched in 2018.
She said: “The feedback from both customers and restaurants has been fantastic with so many people praising the Foodie Fortnight for giving them the chance to dine in both old favourites and new places at excellent prices with delicious special menus.
“And the restaurants, bars and cafes who joined in have been telling us of seeing increased covers of up to 35% at a time when the hospitality sector needs all the help it can get.
“On top of that, footfall figures for the city centre show an increase 4.3% year on year and 10.8% week on week while Aberdeen Restaurant Weeks was running.”
As well as special deals and menus – starting from as little as a fiver – the Foodie Fortnight also offered special events. These included the sell-out Secret Suppers held at Pittodrie Stadium and No. 10, as well as unique “Sundae Schools” at Mackie’s 19.2 Ice Cream Parlour and the chance to dip your own donut at Dough & Co.
Diners were also given the chance to win £500 Aberdeen Gift Card with a Foodie Passport, inviting them to eat at four different restaurants.
Aberdeen Inspired invited both venues and visitors to give their views on Aberdeen Restaurant Weeks after service closed on Sunday and have been delighted by glowing reviews.
Some of the comments from restaurants included Amarone and Café Andaluz being well up on January covers while also being tagged in social media content, increasing their profile.
Meanwhile, Bistro Verde reported a 30% to 35% increase in covers during the Foodie Fortnight, while 210 Bistro said they were two to three times busier.
Praise from diners included comments such as:
- “I think it is a great promotion for the city. I managed to try new places that I enjoyed. So much so I am returning less than two weeks later.”
- “Lots of choice this time and running for two weeks worked well, too.”
- “I really enjoyed more workshops and activities being brought in which made for more of a day out. Would be great to see more of this.”
Adrian Watson, chief executive of Aberdeen Inspired, said: “By any metric you look at, be it increased spend in participating restaurants, increase footfall in the city centre and the positive response of diners, Aberdeen Restaurant Week has the recipe for success.
“That success isn’t just for the venues or their visitors but for the whole of the city centre and its economy. “I am delighted that Aberdeen Inspired has once again delivered a Foodie Fortnight that has been such a boost for the Granite City – and we’ve already started planning for the return of Aberdeen Restaurant Weeks this autumn.”
