Working for a new client has involved a Bradford public relations team offering city workers free samples of restaurant food in a bid to bring back the traditional lunch hour.

They have been supporting the owner of a restaurant in a doorstep campaign to offer quality food at affordable prices to encourage workers to take a break.

Armed with flasks of cream of mushroom soup, Verity Hudson and Rebecca Campbell of Bradford-based Approach PR, joined Denis Lefrancq, owner of Leeds brasserie No 3 York Place, in visiting some of the city’s businesses to encourage workers to make time for lunch. The restaurant is trying to keep people eating out by expanding its range of lower-priced dishes.

Mr Lefrancq said: “Many people feel that eating at independent restaurants is off the social menu because of the cost, so they’re eating at home, ordering takeaways and sticking to what they know. We want to reverse the trend for eating out less and spending more to eating out more and spending less.

“For independent restaurants to thrive in this time of recession, there needs to be a move away from ‘special occasion only’ dining and a move towards affordable menus, quality and choice to bring people through the doors.”

Mr Lefrancq is carrying the cost of his expanded menu, offering free tasters for businesses and lowering prices.