Restaurant Week shines spotlight on Liverpool’s booming food scene

Liverpool’s love affair with food is showing no signs of slowing down, with new figures revealing just how vital the industry has become to the city centre economy.

As Liverpool Restaurant Week gets underway from 18–26 April, it’s been revealed that the food and drink sector is now worth more than £322 million to the city centre accounting for 36% of all spend.

Organised by Liverpool BID Company, the week-long celebration shines a spotlight on the city’s ever-growing restaurant scene, with venues offering exclusive deals and set menus to encourage diners to explore more.

And it’s big business too, almost one in ten jobs in Liverpool are now in hospitality, with more than 20,000 people working across restaurants, bars, cafes and hotels, according to Liverpool City Council.

The sector has seen steady growth in recent years, with spending up more than 16% since 2019 and continuing to rise year on year following the pandemic.

Liverpool Restaurant Week has become a key part of that success story. This year, thousands of offers have already been snapped up, including £35 dining experiences across some of the city’s best-known venues.

Food lovers can expect everything from three-course menus to afternoon teas, with popular spots like The Art School, Wreck Bistro, Zenn Liverpool, The London Carriage Works and Nord all taking part.

In total, around 100 venues are involved this year, building on the event’s growing popularity – with many visitors choosing to try multiple locations across the week.

Katie Bentley, Director of Strategic Partnerships and Communications at Liverpool BID Company, said the sector plays a huge role in shaping the city.

She said: “Food and drink is becoming one of the biggest sectors in Liverpool city centre, and it’s vital we continue to support it. Our restaurants, bars and cafes bring energy to our streets and are a huge part of our visitor economy.

“The growth we’ve seen over recent years has helped transform areas like Castle Street and Bold Street, showing how food and drink can drive regeneration and breathe new life into the city.”

With hundreds of deals, packed venues and a thriving hospitality scene, Liverpool Restaurant Week is once again serving up a reminder of just how important and exciting the city’s food scene has become.

Get more info on Liverpool restaurant week here.

Check out these six new food and drink venues to discover across Sefton.

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