Mark your calendars as the much-anticipated NE1 Newcastle Restaurant Week dates for January are finally here.

Kicking off the culinary year, the restaurant week will run from January 15 to 21.

More than 100 restaurants in the city centre are geared up and ready to participate, offering meals for only £15, £20, and £25 per person.

Top restaurants in the city will once again join the popular events in the annual NE1 calendar.

Last year's NE1 Newcastle Restaurant Weeks, held in January and August, attracted more than 100,000 diners, breaking all attendance and economic impact records and bringing in more than £2 million for participating businesses.

Participating veterans, including 21, Blackfriars, and Dabbawal, who were part of the original line-up when NE1 launched the inaugural event in 2011, will return this January, accompanied by five new entrants.

Among the newly-listed restaurants is Salparo, an elegant Greek tapas restaurant located on The Side in Newcastle.

Adding to the mix, Manahatta on Collingwood Street, a vibrant New York-inspired restaurant that opened in November, will bring a different vibe with its signature party bar antics.

Sushi Me Rollin', the famed sushi restaurant on Grey Street, will debut in the restaurant week featuring exclusive £25 per person offers.

Rachel Barlow, marketing and events manager at Newcastle NE1 Ltd, said: "We are delighted to announce the dates for this January’s NE1 Newcastle Restaurant Week and we are excited to be launching the event with over 100 participating restaurants.

"Last year was a record-breaking year with the number of restaurants, and diners, as well as a huge £2 million boost for participating restaurants.

"We hope this year will be just as successful."

One of the original eleven restaurants that helped NE1 launch the first Newcastle Restaurant Week back in 2011, Dabbawal, and its owner, Jaf Ali, have been participating without fail since then.

Mr Ali said: "NE1’s Newcastle Restaurant Week has been transformational.

"It was designed to support the industry at two of the quietest times of the year, in January post-Christmas, and in August when people were traditionally away on holiday.

"These two weeks are now among the busiest."

Mr Ali sees the event as an opportunity for diners to try new places.

He said: "NE1’s Restaurant Week provides a great excuse for people to dine out knowing that they can enjoy a fixed-price meal, try somewhere new, or visit an old favourite, confident that it won’t break the bank."

Over the years, the event has grown from 11 to now more than 100 participating restaurants.