Steaming ahead to Sunderland Restaurant Week!

TRIED and tested favourites and the new kids on the block are all signing up to be part of the first Sunderland Restaurant Week of 2023.

And with almost 50 restaurants, bars and cafes already taking part, the event is shaping up to be one of the most successful to date.

The event - which is organised by Sunderland BID and supported by Sunderland City Council - will see a number of offers available from 4 - 12 March.

And that's great news for anyone who wants to return to a much-loved eatery or try one of the city's latest openings.

Those taking part for the first time include the recently opened Buddha Beat, Good Apple Café and Roma Italian.

Some of the other restaurants taking part include Chilli Mangoes, 808, Asiana, ENFES, My Delhi, Spice Empire and Spent Grain, with coffee shops Grinder, Sweet Petite, Rainbow Hub and Crumb On In also involved.

Anyone wanting to participate needs to download the relevant voucher www.sunderlandbid.co.uk/restaurant-week/ which will also show all the £10, £15 and £20 offers available.

Sharon Appleby, Chief Executive of Sunderland BID, said there was a huge variety of businesses taking part.

"The Sunderland food scene is growing rapidly and we're delighted that we're able to showcase some of the newest places during Restaurant Week," she said. "We've had a fantastic response and we are still adding more names so we should really have a strong line-up of places to eat across the whole week." 

The event is being sponsored by Bradley Hall and Helen Wall, senior surveyor at the firm said: "We are delighted to be working with an organisation such as the BID that is so proactive when it comes to investing in the improvements of Sunderland. "We became the first of Sunderland BID's corporate partners in 2022, and we are very excited for the events calendar that is in the pipeline for 2023. "Restaurant Week is a fantastic opportunity to invite the City of Sunderland to eat out for £10, £15, or £20 across some of Sunderland's favourite eateries and we are sure it will be a great success."

Councillor Linda Williams, Portfolio Holder for Vibrant City at Sunderland City Council, added that the council was fully behind the event.

"Following the success of previous Sunderland Restaurant Weeks, we're looking forward to supporting another for 2023," she said. "We're lucky to have some fantastic and varied restaurants in Sunderland so there is plenty for everyone to enjoy as they support some of our local food and drink businesses this March."