Kolkata: Restaurants and pubs or bars in the city recorded their strongest Durga Puja business in years, with sales rising 25% to 40%, well above the 10% to 15% annual growth seen in the past seven to eight years.Industry representatives from the National Restaurant Association of India (NRAI) and Hotel & Restaurant Association of Eastern India (HRAEI) said footfall and revenue could have been higher had Ashtami not been a dry day.Desi Lane owner Manish Sharma said his outlets saw a 40% jump in sales, the highest in 11 years. Sharma, also NRAI secretary, said most member restaurants reported similar growth and surge in footfall. HRAEI president Sudesh Poddar, who owns Manthan, Songhai and MS Bar & Lounge, said his restaurants witnessed a 20% rise in turnover.“There has been bumper Durga Puja sales with increase in the footfall of youngsters, who may have avoided pandals following the stampede,” he said. Poddar added that restaurants away from puja zones also benefited from state-sponsored decorations, especially on the Red Road. Park Street restaurants saw exceptional demand. Nitin Kothari, owner of Peter Cat, Peter Hu and Mocambo, said turnover increased to 25% to 30%. “At Peter Cat, the waiting crowd was more than last year,” he said.Peter Hu also reported record attendance, said its owner, Siddharth Kothari. Speciality Restaurants outlets saw a ‘significant’ rise in footfall. “This puja had an extra day so it was a bonus for us,” said the group’s CMD, Anjan Chatterjee. Oudh 1590, Chapter 2 and Chaudhury & Co also saw heavy crowds, said co-founder Shiladitya Chaudhury.Trincas, Kwality and other Park Street eateries also reported higher-than-usual Puja sales. “Footfall was more than recent years,” added Tanvi Ghai of Kwality.
