Pubs, restaurants and cafes from coastline to countryside are set to welcome customers eager to try new places, discover different cooking styles and enjoy great meals at fantastic prices.
Restaurant Week is a celebration of food in North Yorkshire, and over the next few weeks, the initiative comes to both Whitby on the North Yorkshire coast and the rolling countryside of Helmsley and the Howardian Hills with more than 50 businesses already having signed up.
Delivered by Visit North Yorkshire, our destination marketing and management service, the first Helmsley and the Howardian Hills Restaurant Week takes place from Monday 23 February to Sunday 1 March, while, following a successful debut last year, Whitby Restaurant Week returns from Monday 2 March to Sunday 8 March.
In the Helmsley, Malton and Easingwold areas, venues will be offering special menus at five set prices of £15, £20, £25, £30 and £35. In Whitby the prices will be £10, £15, £20 and £30.
Our executive member for open to business, Cllr Mark Crane, whose responsibilities include the visitor economy, said: “It is fantastic to see Restaurant Week come to two completely contrasting areas of North Yorkshire.
“We have been delighted with the response with 31 businesses signing up in the Helmsley area and 23 in Whitby, meaning customers will have a fantastic choice when it comes to supporting these events.
“While very different, both locations are equally vibrant and together they showcase the remarkable diversity of our county’s food scene. Restaurant Week gives people the perfect excuse to try something new and celebrate the talent on offer.”
Helmsley and the Howardian Hills was named The Good Food Guide's Most Exciting Food Destination in 2024, citing the area as "a picture-perfect patch of rural North Yorkshire with a rich natural larder to inspire seasonal and locally-led menus".
Kirkbymoorside restaurant, The Feather and Beak, is one of the businesses taking part in Restaurant Week.
The business opened its doors in November 2021 with the aim of creating a place where people feel looked after and ‘good food is done properly’.
Founder and co-owner, Karen Auker, said: “From the outset, the focus has been on seasonal ingredients transformed into familiar, well-judged dishes, served without gimmicks or fuss, in a space that works just as well for a special occasion as it does for a simple midweek meal.”
She said Restaurant Week was a brilliant opportunity to showcase what they do to a wider audience and to invite people through the door who may not have visited yet.
Mrs Auker added: “It allows us to offer something a little special at great value, while still staying true to our style of cooking.
“For customers, it’s a chance to try new places, explore menus they might not normally choose and enjoy a really good dining experience without feeling it has to be a big occasion.
“For us, it helps build relationships, introduce new guests to The Feather and Beak, and celebrate being part of such a vital local food scene.”
In Whitby, Botham’s is a long-established venue probably best known for its Whitby Lemon Buns.
Elizabeth Botham set up her bakery over 150 years ago, selling her bread and cakes from a basket at the local market. She eventually bought the premises on Skinner Street and her traditions are now proudly continued by the fifth generation of her family.
Kay Dickinson, director at Botham's of Whitby, said: "Whitby Restaurant Week was a great success for us last year and we're really looking forward to taking part again.
“This week is a celebration of the amazing culinary experiences Whitby has to offer and, for us, it's a great way to encourage customers out in the quieter months.
“During this week, we also enjoy talking about the other great eateries to be found in Whitby and feel it unites us all.
“Every business comes up with different ideas, so the customer choice is great, and it encourages customers to try something new."
Mrs Dickinson said she would encourage everyone to take part, adding: “Whitby has some amazing restaurants and cafes, so I would urge people to take a look at the offers then plan your week to make the most of Whitby Restaurant Week, trying as much of the delicious food on offer as possible.”
Find out more about the Helmsley and the Howardian Hills Restaurant Week.