Yahoo News Sunderland Restaurant Week adds treat to September's menu with chance to bag free travel and gifts
As preparations gather pace for the return of Sunderland Restaurant Week in September, another treat has been added to the menu bringing diners a chance to win prizes.
Sunderland BID - the organiser of the twice-yearly event which, like Newcastle Restaurant Week, lays on seven days of cut-price meals at venues across the city - has teamed up with Nexus to offer even more temptations to encourage people into the city. Ahead of its September 14-22 return with a pick of £10, £15 and £20 deals, it has announced it is this time joining forces with the Tyne and Wear Metro operator to launch a 'food passport'.
This will be at available at all participating restaurants, bars and cafés - which will include newcomers such as The Botanist, I Scream for Pizza and Vito’s Osteria - and it means that customers who keep their receipts can collect stamps. Those who collect five stamps will be in with a chance of winning a £300 Sunderland gift card plus a £50 travel voucher - a Tyne and Wear Metro Pop Pay As You Go card - so that people can enjoy free travel to help the get around.
And the gift card prize can be redeemed at around 200 venues throughout the city, including bars, restaurants, shops including the Bridges centre, salons and therapy centres as well as Sunderland Empire Theatre and the Omniplex cinema. Huw Lewis, customer services director at Nexus, said the Sunderland Restaurant Week celebration of international cuisine promises "to showcase everything which is good about the city" and he reminds people that Nexus also currently has a Kids Go Free offer on the Metro so taking advantage of all that's on offer can mean "an affordable, fun and delicious day out for families.”
Also among the restaurants taking part in the upcoming discount week will be returning favourites such as Asiana Fusion Restaurant; Angelo's Ristorante; the Ivy House pub and Port of Call. Sharon Appleby, chief executive of Sunderland BID, said the Restaurant Week has been “instrumental in making Sunderland a ‘go-to’ destination for food lovers".
She added: “Over the past few years we have developed a really strong reputation not just for the quality of our restaurants but for their diversity. They offer a vast range of cuisines in every style, from street food to fine dining and with dishes to suit all budgets.
“And with Restaurant Week offering even greater discounts, it’s a fantastic opportunity to either revisit or to try somewhere new.” For the full range of restaurants involved and details on how to obtain their discount vouchers see here.
Sunderland BID says there is still time for other restaurants to sign up to take part. Those interested can email info@sunderlandbid.co.uk for details.
