The ForStars blog
Practical guides for UK restaurant teams: bookings, no-shows, walk-ins and the rest of a busy service.
-
5 min read
How to reduce no‑shows at your restaurant
A practical guide for UK restaurants on cutting no-shows with clear booking policies, saved cards, deposits and a fuller waiting list.
-
2 min read
How to manage peak times at your restaurant
How UK restaurants can manage Friday and Saturday peaks by limiting covers per slot, spreading arrivals and protecting the kitchen from rushes.
-
2 min read
How to train your front of house team on a booking system
A short plan for training restaurant hosts and floor staff on a new booking system, so the switch goes smoothly on the first busy night.
-
2 min read
How to take table bookings in a pub
How UK pubs can take dining bookings without losing the drinkers and walk-ins, from bookable areas to Sunday lunch and match days.
-
2 min read
Does a café need a table booking system?
When a café benefits from table bookings, how to mix bookings with walk-ins, and what a small UK café should look for in a booking system.
-
2 min read
How to remember your regulars with guest profiles
How UK restaurants can use guest profiles and visit history to recognise regulars, note preferences and build loyalty without a loyalty scheme.
-
2 min read
Restaurant guest data and UK GDPR: the basics
What UK restaurants should know about collecting and using guest booking data under UK GDPR, from what to collect to marketing consent.
-
2 min read
How to plan Christmas bookings at your restaurant
A checklist for UK restaurants planning the Christmas season, from opening bookings early and party menus to deposits and the no-show policy.
-
2 min read
How to handle large group bookings at your restaurant
A practical guide for UK restaurants on taking large group bookings, from party size limits and deposits to set menus and the kitchen.
-
2 min read
How to set up your restaurant floor plan for bookings
How to map your tables, combinations and areas into a booking system so online bookings fill the room the way your team would seat it.
-
2 min read
How long should a restaurant table booking last?
How UK restaurants can set table times by party size, plan sittings and turn tables without rushing guests, with typical durations to start from.
-
2 min read
How to work out what no‑shows cost your restaurant
A simple way for UK restaurants to calculate the cost of no-shows, including lost covers, wasted prep and staff time, with a worked example.
-
2 min read
How to write a restaurant cancellation policy
What a fair restaurant cancellation and no-show policy should say, where to show it, and example wording UK venues can adapt.
-
2 min read
Card on file or deposit: which should your restaurant use?
The difference between holding a card on file and taking a deposit for restaurant bookings, and when each one works best for UK venues.
-
2 min read
Phone bookings or online bookings: which is better?
The pros and cons of phone and online table bookings for UK restaurants, and how to run both without losing track of the room.
-
2 min read
How to stop double bookings at your restaurant
Why restaurants end up with two parties on one table, and the practical steps that stop double bookings across phone, website and walk-ins.
-
2 min read
How to manage walk‑ins and reservations together
How UK restaurants can seat walk-ins without upsetting booked tables, by holding walk-in capacity, tracking table times and keeping one live list.
-
2 min read
How to add a booking button to your restaurant website
Where to put a table booking button on your restaurant website, what the booking form should ask, and how to link it from Google and Instagram.
-
3 min read
Booking marketplace or your own booking system?
How booking marketplaces and direct booking systems differ for UK restaurants on cost, guest data and brand, and when each one makes sense.
-
3 min read
How to choose a restaurant booking system
The questions UK restaurant owners should ask before choosing a booking system, from pricing model and guest data to walk-ins and no-show protection.
Run your next service on ForStars
Bookings, walk-ins and no-show protection on one live floor plan.
Start 28-day free trial