Walk-ins Versus Bookings: How Many Tables to Hold Back
Every publican has the same Friday night dilemma. Take too many bookings and the locals who drop in find nowhere to sit. Take too few and you have empty tables at six that fill at eight.
The answer is not guesswork. It is a simple rule you can adjust each week.
Know your split
Look back over your last four or five Fridays and Saturdays. Roughly how many covers came from bookings, and how many walked in? That ratio is your starting point.
Hold tables back, on purpose
- Cap the number of bookable tables in each slot, so the rest stay free for the bar and the walk-ins.
- Keep your best tables for regulars who drop in, and give your online bookings the rest.
- Use different limits for different nights. A quiet Wednesday can be nearly all bookings, and a Saturday needs a bigger walk-in buffer.
Avoid empty tables
A table that is booked for 7pm and unused until 7.30 is lost money. Keep an eye on when your walk-ins actually arrive, and release held tables to walk-ins if the booking list is light.
Check it every month
Your pub changes with the seasons, the football and the weather. Review your split once a month and nudge the limits. A few minutes of tidying saves a lot of Friday headaches.
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