Restaurant Association refuses to be disappointed by low turnout

Just 600 restaurants signed up for this year's National Restaurant Week, which ended on Monday, the Restaurant Association has admitted.

The figure was well short of its 2,000 target, and even lower than the 1,000 who took part in the inaugural event last year.

But the association has pledged the event will continue, and has refused to be disappointed by the low turnout.

Organiser Sophie Brown said there was a better regional spread of restaurants that took part this year compared with last, when the event was poorly supported in Cornwall, Devon and Avon.

London and the South-east were strongly represented, as were the Midlands and North of England and there was a better turnout in the South-west, she said.

"In light of what has been going on in the market, we think 600 was really very good. The feedback we have been getting from people has been very, very positive."

She added: "We never expected it to be massive from the word go and it has to grow year on year. It is something that is important for the industry."

Top chefs who supported the week this year included Michael Caines, Aldo Zilli, John Burton Race, Cyrus Todiwala, Paul Heathcote and John Torode.

This year the event was opened up to non-members for the first time, who accounted for about half of the 600 restaurants who signed up.

by Nic Paton