Finding new and creative ways to promote your restaurant can be one of the most time consuming and continuous efforts an owner will undertake.  Targeting niche markets is one of the most effective strategies for bringing in new customers.  Theme nights provide you an opportunity to reach different customer bases to see which are most successful and where to place future marketing dollars.  They also help to keep your restaurant fresh while providing variety and energy to your atmosphere.  These nights give customers an opportunity to interact with you, your staff and other customers.  That familiarity builds brand loyalty by giving patrons insight into the human side of your business.  The key to a successful theme night is getting everyone involved and ensuring a fun environment.  Here we’ve compiled some great theme night ideas to reach new customers and increase revenue.

Holiday

There are dozens of holidays scattered throughout the calendar that can be used for theme nights.  Popular celebrations like Halloween, Christmas and Independence Day are always on the radar and good ideas for reaching a wide audience.  To make your restaurant stand out consider promoting some lesser known holidays and events.  This will show off your establishment in a unique light and help you reach a variety of customers.  There are dozens of interesting and eclectic holidays that can be used for such an event.

Test Kitchen

One of the great ways to showcase the skills of your cooking staff is to host a test kitchen night where chefs are given the opportunity to bring new tastes and techniques to the table.  This will create excitement within your current customer base and help garner interest from potential patrons looking to try something new.  A test kitchen promotes creativity within your staff and allows you to test new menu items.  These events can breed innovation and give your restaurant a reputation of providing a cutting edge menu.

Movie

Movie nights can be geared towards an intimate evening, family outing or a night on the town with friends.  You’ll want to make the movie title and setting you will provide known to patrons prior to the event and change things up depending on which ones draw in the biggest crowd.  Investing in a projector and a big screen will add extra incentive for people to attend.  Arranging your interior to allow for customers to interact and to ensure everyone has a great view is essential to the success of your movie night.

Live Music

If you’ve got the space for it there can be no better draw than quality live music.  Local bands can bring their own following and expose your business to customers you may not otherwise reach.  You’ll want to schedule and promote your acts well ahead of time to ensure a smooth process.  Seek out performers who fit the vibe of your restaurant and convey the image you want for your business.

Trivia

There are a lot of trivia fans out there and most of them enjoy displaying their knowledge in a public setting.  Trivia nights allow for a great deal of interaction between customers and staff.  Offer prizes for the each correct answer as well as the overall victors.  This keeps things interesting and gives everyone a chance to feel like a winner.

Dancing

Finding a nice restaurant to bring your significant other for a romantic night of dinner and dancing can be a challenge.  Years ago they were much more common but there is still a market for the occasional dancing night event.  The environment should be intimate and participation should be encouraged.  Brining in professionals to teach the moves and get people on the dance floor will give you the best chance for success.

Tapas

While many restaurants have added tapas to their menu they take a different approach overseas.  Many Europeans countries offer tapas for free for each drink that is ordered.  It is a wildly popular practice and has shown to bring in droves of customers.  The food and drink pairings should make sense and reflect the cost of the drink being purchased.

Funding The Fun

While not every night should have a theme they are a great way to keep your restaurant fresh and unique.  Quikstone Capital Solutions specializes in helping independent restaurants grow by providing merchant cash advances.  If you’re looking for more ways to increase restaurant and bar revenue click below to download our Free Restaurant Investment Guide or simply click apply now for more information