A record number of restaurants have signed up for this year’s Restaurant Weeks.

More than 50 eating places across the island are to take part in the three-week event which starts on Thursday and will run alongside the Bermuda Marathon Weekend and the Bermuda Festival of the Performing Arts.

Pat Phillip-Fairn of the Bermuda Tourism Authority said the agency was delighted to see the event get bigger.

She added: “For a market our size, three dozen restaurants is a great showing. To have 51 is outstanding.”

Ms Phillip-Fairn said: “It gives visitors and residents a wide selection to choose from and confirms that Bermuda Restaurant Weeks successfully drives revenue into local restaurants at a time when the extra business is very much welcomed.”

Participating restaurants include a mix of old and new, with some established businesses taking part for the first time.

Edward Barnes, manager at Mad Hatters in Hamilton, said the restaurant decided to sign up to highlight that it could offer its cuisine at a reasonable price.

Mr Barnes added: “Also, we have found Restaurant Weeks to be a very popular event and have seen the interest increasing over the past few years.

“It’s a great way for Bermuda restaurants as a whole to show their culinary delights and hospitality. People look forward to it.”

Special lunch and dinner menus will be on offer and many restaurants have created Bermudian-inspired dishes.

The prix fixe three course dinner menus are priced at $32, $42 and $52 per person.

The two course lunch menus will cost $22 per person.

A spokesman for the BTA said that the 37 participating restaurants who opted to showcase Bermudian-inspired menus would receive additional promotion.

They will also be eligible for the People’s Choice Award.

The spokesman explained: “The BTA created the award to motivate restaurants to feature Bermuda’s culinary heritage because food culture is central to the visitor experience.”

Diners who vote for their favourite spots at gotobermuda.com will qualify to win prizes.

Sharing images on social media using #BermudaRW will also qualify diners for draws.

The full list of 51 participating restaurants is available on the Bermuda Tourism Authority website.

Restaurant Week runs from Thursday until February 4.