A council-backed initiative encouraging people to dine locally will return this November after attracting a record number of participating businesses last year and helping introduce diners to new cafés, restaurants and hotels across Aberdeenshire.
Aberdeenshire Restaurant Weeks will take place from 2 to 15 November, offering diners special menus, discounts and exclusive offers at participating venues throughout the region.
The event, organised by Aberdeenshire Council, has grown steadily since its launch in 2024. What began as a one-week pilot has developed into a two-week celebration of local food and drink, with participation rising from 75 businesses in its first year to 77 venues in 2025. More than a third of those taking part last year were new to the campaign.
Hospitality businesses are now being invited to register for the 2026 event, which aims to encourage residents and visitors to explore Aberdeenshire’s cafés, restaurants, hotels and pubs during November, traditionally one of the quieter periods for the sector.
The initiative is part of the council’s wider efforts to support local businesses and encourage more spending within Aberdeenshire’s towns and communities.
Early results suggest the campaign has succeeded in raising awareness of the area’s food and drink offering.
Following the inaugural event in 2024, customer surveys found that 85 per cent of respondents rated the range of participating venues as good or excellent. More than half said Restaurant Weeks encouraged them to try somewhere they had never visited before or travel to another part of Aberdeenshire, while almost a third said they also spent money with other local businesses during their trip.
The event website attracted more than 30,000 visits, with hundreds of people signing up to receive future updates.
Individual businesses also reported positive experiences.
Aspire Restaurant in Portsoy said demand was strong enough for its Restaurant Week menu to be extended after the event, while the Garlogie Inn reported welcoming both new and returning customers throughout the promotion. Other participating venues described the campaign as an opportunity to introduce their business to diners who might otherwise never have visited.
The 2025 event expanded to a full fortnight, giving customers more time to visit multiple venues across the region.
Feedback gathered afterwards suggests many appreciated the longer format, saying it made it easier to fit visits around work and family commitments while encouraging them to explore different parts of Aberdeenshire.
Customers also offered constructive suggestions for the future. Some called for participating menus to be published earlier, while others said they would welcome more vegetarian and vegan options, additional family-friendly offers and greater participation in areas where relatively few venues took part.
Several respondents suggested introducing another Restaurant Week at a different time of year, while others said the November event had become an enjoyable annual tradition.
Councillor Alan Turner, chair of Aberdeenshire Council’s Infrastructure Services Committee, said the growing number of participating businesses reflected the strength and diversity of the region’s hospitality sector.
“We’re delighted to welcome Aberdeenshire Restaurant Weeks back for a third year following the tremendous success of the previous two events,” he said.
“Each year has seen more restaurants, cafés and hotels getting involved, helping to showcase the incredible quality and diversity of food and drink experiences available across Aberdeenshire.”
He encouraged hospitality businesses from across the region to register, describing the event as an opportunity to attract new customers during a quieter trading period while celebrating local food and drink.
Although the council says participating businesses reported increased footfall and strong weekend trading during last year’s event, it has not published an overall assessment of the programme’s economic impact across the region.
Even so, participation continues to grow, businesses are returning for another year and customer feedback suggests the campaign is helping more people discover the variety of independent hospitality venues that Aberdeenshire has to offer.
Businesses wishing to participate can register by emailing restaurantweek@aberdeenshire.gov.uk.
Sources
Aberdeenshire Council – Hugely-Successful Aberdeenshire Restaurant Weeks Set To Return In November
https://www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/news/2026/jul/hugely-successful-aberdeenshire-restaurant-weeks-set-to-return-in-november
Aberdeenshire Restaurant Weeks – Official Website
https://www.aberdeenshirerestaurantweek.com/
Aberdeenshire Restaurant Weeks – Business Registration
https://www.aberdeenshirerestaurantweek.com/business-registration
Engage Aberdeenshire – Aberdeenshire Restaurant Week 2025 Feedback
https://engage.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/aberdeenshire-restaurant-week-2025
Aberdeenshire Restaurant Weeks – August 2025 Newsletter (2024 Results and Participation Data)
https://www.aberdeenshirerestaurantweek.com/uploads/Issue-1-%E2%80%93-August-2025.pdf
Aberdeenshire Council – Restaurant Week Back On The Menu For A Bumper Fortnight (2025)
https://www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/news/2025/jul/aberdeenshire-restaurant-week-back-on-the-menu-for-a-bumper-fortnight
