A charity which raises money for the homeless has an unusual request this Christmas – help us by dining out.

Now in its 11th year, StreetSmart, which runs throughout November and December, is asking diners in 11 restaurants across the city to pay an extra £1 per table on their bills, to be donated to the homeless.

This year the campaign, which runs in 18 cities across the UK, expects around 600 restaurants nationwide to take part in its unique enterprise and has some pretty impressive celebrity endorsement.

Stephen Fry said StreetSmart was: "As seasonal a presence on the menu as parsnips and winter greens," while Gordon Ramsay said: "It is everyone's chance to do the right thing at the right time, with only the gentlest nudge."

Money raised in Bristol will go directly to a number of charities in the city. Last year Bristol diners raised an impressive £8,000 which was split between: Caring at Christmas, the One 25 project, the Cold Weather Group and the Rainbow Centre.

Restaurants participating this year include: Fisher's, The Muset, Cafe Maitreya, Primrose Cafe, River Station, Harvey Nichols' second floor restaurant, Bell's Diner, Delmonico, Green's Dining Room, Budokan and Bistro La Barrique, with more likely to be added to the list over the next two months.

Bristol's StreetSmart organiser Bronwen Jones is hopeful that the recent economic downturn will not affect the campaign.

She said: "I'm hoping that, although it's a struggle for everybody, a pound is not too much to ask for. For a table of six it's really nothing is it?"

Ms Jones would like to see last year's total beaten.

She said: "I'd like to get to the £10k mark or beyond. Most of the Bristol homeless projects are on a very tight budget.

"StreetSmart makes such a huge difference to them and there are a lot more programmes in Bristol that we could help."