Business slowly returns to normal at Brussels restaurants

While a number of restaurants in Brussels continue to struggle with the effects of a drastically reduced clientele two months after the terror attacks of 22 March, various organisations have reported that a modest recovery is underway. One particularly sunny holiday weekend in mid-May contributed to the boost in customer numbers, writes Bruzz.

"There is a notable increase in activity. The worst is behind us," says Olivier Willocx, managing director of the Brussels employers' organisation Beci. Ascension weekend is when things started to look up for the hotel and restaurant sector in Brussels, he says. "The weather definitely helped us to bounce back."

Willockx stressed that not all businesses were affected by the attacks, and noted that some of the activity moved away from the city centre towards Uccle, Waterloo and Wavre, where the sector is “booming”.

Philippe Trine, president of the local hospitality industry federation, confirms the start of a modest recovery: "The industry is now running at 50- to 60% of normal turnover. Shortly after the attacks, this was 30%,” he told Bruzz.