Just as the January blues threaten to set in - with January 21 dubbed the most depressing day of the year - the return of NE1 Newcastle Restaurant Week has plenty on offer to brighten the mood.
Running from August 5-11, the event is seeing top restaurants across the city - including first-timers - serving up lots of special offers.
And food lovers are snapping up the chance to eat out in style for around only £10 or £15 per head as more than 100 restaurants are taking part in the first week-long run of what is a twice-yearly treat for diners.
Big name restaurants involved include some of the founding fathers who have taken part in every Newcastle Restaurant Week since organisers NE1 first launched the initiative back in 2011.
Terry Laybourne’s 21 Hospitality Group and Andy Hook’s Blackfriars are among the original 13 who helped launch the ideas and have remained firm supporters of the event ever since, specially-created menus attracting hordes of diners.
The event takes place in both winter and summer and the last event and this August's is set to include new restaurants which have opened their doors in the city and long-established ones, some taking part in the event for the first timne.
The full-line up on the NEI website reveals a full range of the cracking deals on offer.
Laybourne, whose 21 restaurant will be offering two courses for £15, has described in the past how Restaurant Week events offer diners high value deals while promoting the restaurant sectors at traditionally quiet times of the year.
And the support of business improvement district company brings the restaurants together for a celebration.
"It is no coincidence that the growth of dining in Newcastle and the growing popularity of NE1 Newcastle Restaurant Week have gone hand in hand," he said.
"Success breeds success."
The idea for NE1 Newcastle Restaurant Week came from New York where twice a year restaurants offer diners the chance to eat out at some of the city’s best restaurants for a fixed priced menu. The idea translated well to Newcastle and the event has grown each time it has been held with more restaurants taking part and more diners enjoying the offer.
Newcastle’s restaurant scene has changed dramatically since the first NE1 NRW was held in 2011. From that initial 13 restaurants taking part in the event, this year's involves 104 restaurants across a city which has more restaurants per square mile than any other in the north including a Michelin starred restaurant.
Last year's the week attracted more than 45,000 diners and gave a half-million boost to business and the local economy.
The venues taking part now tend to find the two Restaurant Weeks have become their busiest of the year.
To take advantage of the deals on offer this August, customers need to download vouchers at the NE1 Newcastle Restaurant Week website where it announces the list of participating restaurants - and their individual menus and deals - from which they can make their pick.
Then it's just a matter of placing their reservation with the restaurant - although don't be surprised if several top venues have by now booked up.
Newcastle Restaurant Week August offers
21
2 courses for £15
Antler
2 courses for £10 or 3 courses for £15 – Tuesday to Sunday, 12pm until 4pm.
2 courses for £15 - Tuesday to Sunday (excluding Saturday from 4pm), 4pm until 9.30pm.
As You Like It
2 courses for £10, 3 courss £15
Aspers
£10 offers 6oz Rump Steak, fries, salad and peppercorn sauce + Pint of Fosters/ Pork Loin Steak , fries, salad and peppercorn sauce + Pint of Fosters
Aveika
2 courses £10, 3 courses £15
Babucho
2 courses £15
Banyan
2 courses £10, 3 courses £15
Barluga
2 courses £15
Bealim House
2 courses £10, 3 courses £15
Beeronomy
2 courses £10, 3 courses £15
Bella Italia
2 courses £15
Big Mussel
2 courses £10
Blackfriars
£15 offers - 3 course lunch for £15, or a 2 course dinner for £15.
Lunch (12-2:30pm Monday to Friday): £15 for 3 courses
Dinner (5.30pm-late Monday to Friday): £15 for 2 courses
Broad Chare
2 courses £15
Cafe 21 at Fenwick
2 courses £15
Cafe Royal
2 courses £10, 3 courses £15
Carluccio's
2 courses £10, 3 courses £15
Central Oven + Shaker
3 courses £15
Chaophraya
2 courses £10, 3 courses £15
Charts
2 courses £15
Chez Mal
£10 offer - a Chez Mal Burger and Drink in the Chez Mal Bar.
Burger - Chez Mal, Ayrshire Bacon and Gruyère Cheese, Burger Relish and Pommes Frites
£15 offer - 2 courses for £15 in the Chez Mal Restaurant
City Tavern
2 courses £10 or 3 courses £15
Colonel Porters
2 courses £10 or 3 courses £15
Coop Chicken House
£10 Offers - 1/2 Chicken + 2 Sides + 1 Sauce
20 House or Chilli Wings + 2 Sides + 1 Sauce
15 Buffalo Wings with Blue Cheese or Ranch + 2 Sides + 1 Sauce
£15 Offer - Any £10 Deal with 2 Incredibe R Place Homemade Donuts
Dat Bar
2 courses £10
Dabbawal
2 courses £15
Dobson & Parnell
3 Course Lunch for £15, or a 2 Course Dinner for £15.
Don Vito's
2 Courses £10, 3 Courses £15
El Coto
3 Tapas £10
El Torero
3 Tapas £10
Empire
2 Courses £15
Fat Buddha
2 courses for £10 or 3 courses for £15 – Tuesday to Sunday, 12pm until 4pm.
2 courses for £15 - Tuesday to Sunday (excluding Saturday from 4pm), 4pm until 9.30pm.
Fat Hippo (Underground)
Starter, Main and Milkshake £15
Filmore & Union
Bench press bowl and cake - £10
Fuego
2 Courses £10 or 3 Courses £15
Fujiyama
8 courses £15
George's Great British Kitchen
2 courses £10 or 3 courses for £15
Gusto
2 courses £10 or 3 courses £15
Harry's
2 courses £15
Hotel du Vin & Bistro
2 courses £15
Junk It Up
Any burger or kebab with fries and a bottle of beer for £10.
Kafeneon
2 courses £10 or 3 courses £15
Kaltur
2 courses £15
King Neptune
2 courses £15
La Yuan
2 courses £15
Lane 7
Bowl and Dine £10
Las Iguanas
2 courses £10
Lola Jeans
3 courses £15
Longhorns
2 courses £10, 3 courses £15
Mantra
2 courses £15
Marco Pierre White Steakhouse
2 courses £15
Marco Polo
2 Courses £15
Meat:Stack @ The Dog and Parrot
£10 Offer Any cheeseburger (inc. Triples) with a side of beef dripping fries.
£15 Offer
Any cheeseburger (inc. Triples) with a side of loaded fries and wings.
Miller & Carter
2 Courses £15
Nancy's Bordello
2 Courses £10, 3 Courses £15
Nudo Noodle House
2 Courses £10, 3 Courses £15
Piccolino
3 courses £15
Pitcher & Piano
Breakfasts, a ‘regular’ hot drink, and a ‘regular’ glass of fruit juice for £10.
Pizza Punks
£10 offer - a 'Newcastle Loves' Pizza and Drink
£15 offer - Create Your Own Punked Up Pizza and a Side and Drink
Pizzastorm
11" pizza, a side and a drink for £10 or a 14" pizza, a side and a drink for £15.
Pleased to Meet You
3 courses £15
Porterhouse Butcher and Grill
2 Courses £15
Prima
2 Courses £15
Redhouse
2 Courses £10
Revolucion de Cuba
£10 Offer - 3 Tapas
£15 Offer - Tapas, Main Plate and Churros
Revolution
2 Courses £10
Route
3 Courses £15
Sabatini
2 Courses £15
Sachins
2 Courses £15
Saltwater Fish Co.
2 Courses £15
Signor Prosecco
3 Cicchetti for £10, 5 for £15.
Silk Room
2 Courses £15
Simla
3 Courses £15
Simply Greek
2 Courses £10, 3 £15
St Vincent
Menu coming soon
Super Natural Cafe
2 Courses £10
Tapas Revoluton
3 Tapas £10, or 3 Tapas + 1 'upgrade' Tapas for £15
The Alchemist
Main meal off the 'to have and behold' section of the menu and a cocktail up to the value of £8.50 for £15.
The Botanist
2 Courses £10, 3 Courses £15
The Continental
3 Courses £15
The Earl of Pitt Street
2 Courses £15
The French Quarter
2 courses for £10 at a lunch time and 2 courses for £15 on a dinner time.
The Head of Steam
2 Courses for £10 or 3 Courses for £15
The Holy Hobo
2 Courses £10, 3 Courses
The Hudson
2 Courses £10, 3 Courses £15
The Maven
2 Courses £15
The Muddler
3 Dishes £15
The Purple Bear
2 Courses £10, 3 Courses £15
Tomahawk Steakhouse
3 Courses £15
Toro's Steakhouse
2 Courses £10, 3 Courses £15
Turtle Bay
2 Courses £10, 3 Courses £15
Tyneside Bar Cafe
2 Courses £10, 3 Courses £15
Umai Mi
2 Courses £10, 3 Courses £15
Union Rooms
2 Courses £10, 3 Courses £15
Ury
3 Courses £15
Vujon
3 Courses £15
Wafi Lounge
3 Courses £15
Yo! Sushi
Large plate and a drink for £10 or a large plate, drink and dessert for £15
Yolo Townhouse
2 Courses £10
See here for the participating restaurants and information about how to download vouchers.
