Best Online Booking Systems for Restaurants & Pubs in the UK
From table management and deposits to no-show reductions and Google integrations, this guide compares UK-friendly booking platforms and helps you pick the right one for your venue.
Today’s diners expect to reserve online in seconds, especially on mobile. The right booking system keeps your floor running smoothly, reduces no-shows, protects margins with deposits where needed and gives you usable customer data for remarketing. The wrong one adds friction, fees and admin.
This review looks at the most common systems used by UK restaurants and pubs, the trade-offs between marketplaces (that send you traffic for a commission) and direct booking (subscription + your own demand), and the features that matter for different venue types.
How to Choose: Key Criteria That Actually Matter
- Customer data ownership Do you get full access to names, emails and booking history? Can you export and use it in your CRM/email?
- Fees & model Marketplace commission vs flat subscription. Consider volume, margins, and whether you need discovery traffic or just a slick widget.
- Deposits & no-show tools Pre-auth or prepaid? Variable deposits for peak times or group sizes? SMS/email reminders?
- Table management Floor plans, pacing rules, walk-in/waitlist, auto-seat by section, turn-time logic for different dayparts.
- Integrations POS, gift cards, vouchers, Google Reserve, Instagram Reserve, payment providers, loyalty, email platforms.
- Mobile UX 2-tap booking on phones, Apple/Google Wallet for deposits, autofill, and accessible forms.
- Marketing & upsells Promo codes, experience tickets (e.g., tasting menus, events), add-ons (wine flights), abandoned booking follow-ups.
- Support & reliability Setup help, training, weekend support, uptime and performance at peak times.
Marketplace vs Direct Booking: Which Model Fits?
Marketplaces (e.g., OpenTable, Quandoo) bring discovery traffic and can help you fill early days or quiet midweek slots, but you’ll typically pay per cover and may not own all the customer data. Direct booking platforms (e.g., ResDiary, Tock, SevenRooms) prioritise your own website and brand, usually on subscription, with stronger CRM tools and lower per-cover costs as volume grows.
- Choose Marketplace if: you’re new, in a competitive area, or want visibility in high-intent directories quickly.
- Choose Direct if: you already have steady demand, care about margins & data and want tighter UX on your own site.
- Hybrid: many venues run a marketplace for discovery + direct booking for returning customers via the website and socials.
Platform Snapshots (UK Hospitality Favourites)
OpenTable (Marketplace + Widget)
- Best for: high-traffic city restaurants, venues wanting discovery and reviews in a well-known directory.
- Strengths: Huge diner network, strong consumer trust, Google/Instagram Reserve options, decent pacing tools.
- Trade-offs: Per-cover fees can bite at scale; data ownership can be limited vs direct systems.
- Good to know: Consider steering repeat guests to book directly on your site to reduce ongoing commissions.
ResDiary (Direct, UK-Centric)
- Best for: independents and groups wanting a UK-familiar system, robust table management and deposits without per-cover costs.
- Strengths: Floor plans, pacing/turn times, voucher support, deposits/pre-auth, POS integrations, strong UK support.
- Trade-offs: Less marketplace discovery than OpenTable; interface learning curve for complex setups.
- Good to know: Pairs well with your own website growth plan and local SEO.
Tock (Direct + Experiences)
- Best for: tasting menus, prepaid experiences, events, chef’s tables, and venues wanting deposits/prepayment baked in.
- Strengths: Experiences & ticketing, dynamic pricing options, strong no-show control, polished mobile UX.
- Trade-offs: Different model to traditional UK systems; staff training needed for workflows.
- Good to know: Fantastic for special events, Valentine’s, Christmas parties, wine dinners.
Quandoo (Marketplace)
- Best for: venues seeking additional discovery beyond Google – especially for casual dining and tourists.
- Strengths: Global reach, consumer app, can bolster off-peak bookings.
- Trade-offs: Commission model; limited control vs direct tools.
- Good to know: Works well as a top-of-funnel channel if you keep clear attribution.
SevenRooms (Direct + CRM-Led)
- Best for: multi-site groups and premium venues wanting deep guest profiles, loyalty, and marketing automation.
- Strengths: Unified CRM, guest tags (VIP, allergy, spend), advanced automations, email journeys, POS data.
- Trade-offs: Heavier implementation, higher cost tier than entry-level tools.
- Good to know: Brilliant if you’re serious about lifetime value and personalised service.
Tablein / Eveve / Others (Lean Direct Options)
- Best for: smaller independents wanting simple direct booking without marketplace commissions.
- Strengths: Lower cost of entry, straightforward widgets, essentials covered.
- Trade-offs: Fewer integrations/advanced marketing features; assess support quality and uptime.
- Good to know: Great stepping-stone while you build demand and processes.
Quick Selector: What Fits Your Venue?
| Venue Type | Primary Goal | Likely Fit | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| New independent in city centre | Discovery + covers fast | OpenTable / Quandoo (hybrid with direct) | Tap into marketplace traffic while you build your own demand |
| Established bistro/gastro pub | Margin & data ownership | ResDiary / SevenRooms (direct) | Lower per-cover cost long-term; stronger CRM and deposits |
| Fine dining / events-led | Prepaid experiences | Tock | Tickets, deposits, and upsells suited to tasting menus and events |
| Multi-site group | Guest data + loyalty | SevenRooms | Deep profiles, POS sync, marketing journeys |
| Small café / brunch spot | Simple reservations | ResDiary / Tablein | Straightforward setup, low friction on mobile |
Implementation Checklist (So It Actually Works on Day One)
- Define rules: turn-times by daypart; pacing (covers per 15 mins); max party size; deposit rules for peak/large groups.
- Design mobile flow: sticky “Book” CTA; minimal fields; Apple/Google Wallet for payments; confirmation page with “Add to Calendar.”
- Sync everywhere: website header/footer/CTA; Google Business Profile “Reserve” button; Instagram profile; Facebook action button.
- Staff training: floor plan updates, moving tables, handling waitlists, no-show policy scripts, and deposit refunds.
- No-show reduction: SMS/email reminders; clear policy on the booking page; optional prepaid events for high-risk slots.
- Data & privacy: collect consent for marketing; push to email platform; tag VIPs, allergens, regulars for service notes.
- Measure: weekly covers by channel; conversion rate from website; no-show rate; yield by time slot.
Integrating with Your Website (WordPress/Kadence Tips)
- Use native widgets from your provider, they’re usually faster and more reliable than generic iFrames.
- Load smart: defer non-critical scripts so your hero content (menu, opening times) appears first; keep Core Web Vitals green.
- Persistent CTAs: add “Book a Table” in the header and a sticky mobile footer; add CTAs on menu pages and the homepage hero.
- Testing: check the full booking flow on a real phone over 4G; test deposits, emails & calendar invites.
- Analytics: track clicks to booking widgets and completed reservations; tag campaign links so you know what drives covers.
If your site isn’t hitting the speed and mobile basics yet, start with our hub guide: What Every Restaurant Website Needs in 2025, plus the deep dives on mobile UX and site speed.
Deposits, Policies & Guest Experience
- Deposits smartly: apply only to peak times or groups; explain clearly on the booking page; keep refund rules fair and simple.
- Accessibility & inclusivity: communicate wheelchair access, high chairs, dietary info; allow allergy notes in the form.
- Upsells: offer pre-orders for sharing menus; promote set menus or experiences in confirmation emails.
- Service notes: integrate guest tags (birthday, anniversary, VIP) so FOH can deliver moments that matter.
- Aftercare: automated “thank you” + review request; invite to join your newsletter for priority booking on events.
Still deciding? Read our foundation guide: What Every Restaurant Website Needs in 2025 (Menus, Bookings & More). Want a second opinion on your setup? Try a Full Digital Audit and we’ll give you a clear, jargon-free action plan.
The “best” booking system is the one that fits your venue’s goals, margins and guest experience — and it’s even better when it’s integrated beautifully into your website.
Snack That Media can help you choose, configure and integrate the right platform, set up deposits and reminders, and build a mobile-friendly website that converts hungry searches into confirmed covers.
