I run a Newcastle eatery and Restaurant Week helps us stay away from a quiet January period

The festive period is a key time for sites across the nation, but often results in a quiet or stagnant January period while money is stretched for households after a more lavish December.

Newcastle Restaurant Week, which is set to kick off on Monday, January 13, is a key way to keep business rolling, as well as a chance for the public to try new sites across Tyneside.

Over 100 restaurants are taking part in this month’s Restaurant Week.

“It’s always a nice thing to do” explained Phil BOARDMAN, Manager of Social Bird in the city centre.

“After New Year it’s definitely taken a noticeable dip. It seems to be quieter” he added.

“This is the first January I’ve done at this current venue, at my other venues in town it usually picks up around February but this gives us a bit of a boost.”

It isn’t only the company which is benefitting from the campaign, with staff also able to continue into the new year with additional support.

“You’ve usually got all your staff for Christmas and everyone’s used to [busier periods], then you don’t want it to affect your team. These sorts of things always really do help out to just get people into the building.”

It is a sentiment backed up by owner of Dakwala on Grainger Street, Ranjiv Tiwari.

He said: “I’m very excited!

“This is our second restaurant week and after the last one we had lots of people where it was their first time dining with us. We only opened in April and the week was in August.

“Since then we’ve had so many people who like the food and they keep coming back, they’ve been really excited to book.”

And it shows for the restaurant. The site is fully booked every evening through the week, with only a handful of daytime slots remaining, something which is hugely beneficial to the restaurant.

“After Christmas and into the first days of January it’s ok” explains Tiwari. “After the first week of January it’s always quiet - not just for the restaurants.

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“It brings us new energy. The chefs are working hard, they’re trying to create something new and they’re excited.

“There’s a lot of positivity in the business. Over Christmas we have been very busy and now we are sold out throughout the week, except from a few lunchtime tables.”

Tables at Dakwala on Grainger Street and and Social Bird on Fenkle Street are available to book ahead of Newcastle Restaurant Week, which runs from Monday, January 13 until Sunday, January 19.