Best Restaurant Booking Systems in the UK | Tablein

With the hurdles present in running a bustling restaurant business, if you are currently relying on a poor booking system or don’t use one altogether, you are essentially allowing issues to persist in the long run.

If you are a restaurateur managing a UK-based restaurant and need a proper reservation system, this article is for you!

We will explore eight restaurant booking systems, each tried and tested by different eateries in the United Kingdom. 

Our focus will be on highlighting the most noteworthy features of these tools, covering some of their pros and cons, and looking at the pricing options available for each of them.

Let’s get started and help you find a booking system tailor-made for you.

Tablein

First off, there’s our very own software, Tablein.

Tablein is a table booking system that focuses on simplicity and efficiency. 

With its no-nonsense interface, Tablein is specially tailored for restaurateurs looking for a streamlined solution to manage reservations without any fuss and technical knowledge necessary.

Source: Tablein

Along with being one of the most easy-to-use options for you and your staff on this list, our tool’s friendly and intuitive booking interface, shown above, makes the reservation process straightforward for your customers as well.

This simplicity makes our software valued and used in businesses in over 47 countries worldwide. Some UK restaurants that use Tablein include Redcliffe Farm Shop, The Fairway, and Dark Horse Mumbles.

Behind the well-designed surface, Tablein has many powerful features, including the following:

• Floor plan organization
• Waitlist management
• Robust integration options
• Automatic email and SMS communication
• Reporting and analytics
• Free website
• Payment processing for deposits

Weighing up the good and the not-so-good, let’s look at Tablein’s pros and cons.

Regarding pricing, we offer two price tiers and a free 14-day trial.

Source: Tablein

Try out our tool yourself and join the roster of UK restaurants that use Tablein.

Eat App

Second on our list is Eat App, an advanced booking system that offers robust table management features and facilitates better connections with guests through its customer relationship management (CRM) features.

This tool has various integration options that give you access to an extensive network of customers. 

It’s also cloud-based, and the system is readily available on desktops, tablets, and smartphones, as shown in the following image.

Source: Eat App

Eat App is used by different restaurants worldwide, including many establishments from the UK.

Key features:

• Online reservations
• Table and waitlist management
• Comprehensive reports and analytics
• Marketing capabilities
• Contactless dining options
• Restaurant shift controls

Now for the pros and cons.

This booking system has a free option available that has very limited features, and is suitable for testing the product out. Let’s take a look at the other price options shown next.

Source: Eat App

You may have to spend a bit more to fully get Eat App's powerful functionality, but if you do so, you get a robust booking system in return.

Eveve

Eveve is a robust toolset designed to optimize the influx of diners to your restaurant utilizing the live restaurant booking system TELOS. 

With an impressive track record in the UK, where it claims to be the third largest supplier by online reservations volume, Eveve stands out as a leading provider in the industry. 

While this tool has many features in its arsenal, its interface, shown below, may seem dated to some.

Source: Google Play

The key features offered by Eveve include the following:

• Table maximization options
• Fully integrated EPOS
• Account management
• Multiple language options
• Real-time reservations

Here’s what you can expect from the system, in terms of its pros and cons.

As far as pricing is concerned, the team at Eveve doesn’t offer any price options on their website. Instead, you must contact them directly or submit an inquiry form for more information.

Source: Eveve

For a large establishment with a high volume of bookings, Eveve might offer the advanced functionalities and real-time support you need.

Favouritetable

Next up is Favouritetable. It’s a no-commission booking system that offers online booking and ordering, as well as various straightforward marketing options.

Established in February 2018, Favouritetable was designed with the goal of offering a dynamic and user-friendly tool for diners and restaurant owners in the UK. 

It is a constantly evolving platform, expanding its offerings along the way.

Source: Favouritetable

Key features:

• Booking diary
• Various integrations
• Waitlist and capacity management
• Branded emails and email marketing

Here’s an overview of its pros and cons.

Favouritetable’s pricing options include three paid tiers shown below, as well as one limited free option and a flexible pay-as-you-go option that costs £2 per cover.

Source: Favouritetable

Overall, Favouritetable is a more recent booking system that you can try out as an alternative to the more refined tools on our list.

Hostme

Hostme is an advanced restaurant booking system that boasts all the functionalities necessary for taking and managing reservations and more. 

It’s used by over 4000 restaurants in 27 countries, including UK restaurants such as Board and The Shisha Garden.

You can take a look at the intuitive and clean interface of this tool in the image below.

Source: Hostme

This system offers the following features:

• Server rotation and management
• Table and waitlist management
• Event management
• Online ordering
• Multi-language support

As for its upsides and downsides, they are as follows.

Hostme offers a two-week free trial where you can test out its features, and then pick between the three paid tiers shown below.

Source: Hostme

If these features and costs look agreeable to you, give Hostme a try.

OpenTable

OpenTable is a highly popular tool designed for restaurants, bars, hotels, and similar establishments. 

It offers a comprehensive table and reservation management system, along with marketing solutions, CRM features, POS integrations, and booking and delivery services partnerships.

Source: OpenTable

This feature-packed tool is widely recognized in the hospitality industry and used by many businesses, such as the Italian eatery TOPOLINO, and Pho Cardiff.

Key features:

• Table and reservation management
• Marketing and reputation management options
• Integrated POS
• Payment API
• Feedback collection system
• Detailed reports and analytics

The advantages and disadvantages of this solution are listed below.

As far as pricing goes, your options are shown next.

Source: OpenTable

The basic option will have too few features for most establishments, so you’ll most likely have to go with the Core or Pro options which have a fee for any bookings made through the OpenTable discovery channels.

If you’re running a larger establishment and are interested in a boost to your visibility for a higher price, try OpenTable.

Quandoo

Quandoo is a feature-rich piece of advanced software that can greatly improve your restaurant operations and grow your business through its extensive discovery platform.

It’s used by over 17000 restaurants in 12 different countries, with a great presence in the UK with a myriad of restaurants throughout the country employing the system. 

Source: Quandoo

Quandoo is available in 12 countries worldwide.

Key features:

• Integrations with multiple platforms
• Access to guest data
• Reports and analytics
• Various integrations
• Live chat-support

If you need help deciding whether the system is suitable for your needs, take a look at the table below.

Concerning pricing, Quandoo has two options available, shown in the next image.

Source: Quandoo

While the monthly subscription fees are lower than most tools on the market, the hefty setup fees and the costs per cover gained through Quandoo’s network can make this tool inaccessible for some.

However, if you are looking for a robust system that can greatly increase your visibility and assist you in managing a large number of reservations, Quandoo is the tool for you.

ResDiary

ResDiary is an all-in-one restaurant booking tool that sets itself apart from other systems by offering a set of unique features, including the ability to set up online orders and deliveries, as well as customer loyalty features like vouchers and rewards.

The booking widget, which can be integrated with many different platforms, is uncomplicated and tries to make the booking process as straightforward as possible for customers.

Source: ResDiary

This feature-rich tool is used by over 9000 restaurants worldwide, including many UK establishments.

Key features:

• Reservation and event management
• Pre-orders, online ordering, and takeaway orders
• Loyalty program options
• Automated telephone service

Now for its advantages and drawbacks.

ResDiary has a flexible payment model that modifies the prices for Express and Multi-site tiers according to the monthly reservations, as seen in the following screenshot.

Source: ResDiary

ResDiary offers no free trial, but if the unique features and integrations sound appealing, consider going for this system.

ResyOS

ResyOS is a versatile booking system that delivers a wide range of features designed to improve the dining experience at a restaurant throughout the guest’s experience, which means before, during, and after the service itself. 

It provides highly customizable options for managing tables and reservations, which allows it to cater to the needs of a variety of different restaurants. 

You can see this tool’s detailed reservation management screen below.

Source: Resy

These powerful features are used by many establishments in the United Kingdom, including London-based Amaro Bar and Kilig.

Key features:

• Integrations with various platforms 
• Cross-device booking widget
• Pre-pay options
• Group and brand-level reports and insights

A brief overview of its pros and cons can be found below.

ResyOS has three price tiers available, with no free trial option to choose from. 

Source: Resy

Overall, ResyOS is another high-end tool on our list. So, if you are operating a high-volume restaurant, you can utilize the cutting-edge features offered by this tool.

Tock

Last on our list, we have Tock.

Tock is a cloud-based reservation system developed by Squarespace initially as a way to prevent no-shows with a deposit and prepayment system. 

It gradually became a complete reservation management software solution with various features, making it more of a sales engine than a classic reservation system.

Source: Tock

Some UK restaurants that use Tock include the Michelin-star restaurant Roots, as well as The Black Swan.

Key features:

• Reservation management
• Extensive deposit and prepayment options
• Online ordering and delivery options
• Event management features
• Feedback collection
• Automated waitlist management

As for its pros and cons, here’s a quick rundown.

Tock offers two pricing options, shown in the following screenshot. 

Source: Tock

As you can see, there are no free trial options available, and prepaid reservations include a 2% fee in the Plus tier, so this tool is also one of our more costly options on the list.

To conclude, Tock is a powerful reservation system, mainly focused on improving your restaurant’s revenue.

Conclusion

And with that, we’ve finished exploring the various restaurant booking systems used and trusted by restaurants in the UK. 

Our intention was to equip you with all the essential information to help you make an informed choice.

By comparing the various tools we presented, you can select a system that best suits your business’s needs. 

Remember that finding the right balance between your requirements, the tool’s features, and your budget is key.

Take your time to weigh the options and choose wisely, as the right booking system can be a valuable asset to your restaurant, leading to smoother operations and increased customer satisfaction.