SRA joins Earth Hour with candlelit dinners

This year, diners will have the chance to celebrate WWF’s Earth Hour with a candlelit dinner in one of the SRA’s affiliated restaurants. 

The Sustainable Restaurant Association has teamed up with the WWF and a number of award winning restaurants across the UK to dine with the lights out at 8.30pm on Saturday, March 28, for an hour.

The UK’s only hotel observatory, Battlesteads in Northumberland, will be taking part. The hotel, situated in the largest Dark Sky Park in Europe, will offer a unique experience for the event. One couple will be given the chance to stargaze from the new observatory, whilst the rest of the guests dine by candlelight.

Richard Slade, owner of Battlesteads, said: “There’s no quicker way to remind ourselves of the scale and magnificence of our universe and how great is our responsibility to protect it, than by staring up at the night sky. To do so, accompanied by a delicious candlelit dinner that doesn’t cost the earth, is even better.”

Other SRA members will be taking part in the event, including selected Wahaca restaurants (Mexican street food group), the Food and Fuel pub group, The Savoy and OXO Tower Restaurant, Bistro and Bar in London.

Thomasina Miers, co-founder of Wahaca, said: “Turning out the lights and eating delicious sustainable Mexican food by candle light is the best possible way I can think of for people to enjoy themselves this Earth Hour, while at the same time reflecting on what we all need to be doing for the other 8759 hours in the year to ensure a bright future for this amazing planet we live on.”

Earth Hour is a worldwide movement set up by the WWF, which aims to unite people in protecting the planet by switching off lights and electrical items at the same time across the globe.

Last year, nine million people took part in the UK, with over 1000 businesses and organisations also supporting the movement. Earth Hour sees major landmarks switch off for an hour to celebrate the planet.

Shareen Brown, spokesperson for WWF-UK, said: “We’re thrilled that so many SRA Member restaurants will be taking part in Earth Hour this year and hope that they’ll inspire many others to get involved.”

By taking part in the event, diners will be in with a chance to win dinner for two at a sustainable restaurant of their choice. Participants will need to get involved and submit a photo of the event to the SRA’s website.

For more information about the event and for competition details, visit the SRA website. Follow the SRA on Twitter @the_SRA and the event here: #EarthHourUK #CandleLitDinner

By Ashley Chalmers