Ask the Collective
The questions independent drinks founders ask most — answered. Distilled from years of community knowledge so the good stuff never disappears in the feed again.
What are the best affordable venue booking systems for restaurants and bars?
Members highlighted several booking systems with different pricing models, ranging from per-cover charges to flat fees and commission-based options. **ResDiary** — A popular choice among members; now owned by The Access Group. **Design My Night (DMN)** — Charges a subscription plus per-seat fee for bookings coming through their platform. Easy website widget integration. Part of The Access Group. **Stampede** — Charges a single all-in fee, roughly equivalent to DMN pricing but without the per-cover charge on top, making it simpler for budgeting. **Fare Harbour** — Described as offering an "incredible deal" with no upfront charges, only a small percentage taken from each booking—worth exploring for cost-conscious venues. **OpenTable** — Generally considered "pretty good" and generates genuine bookings via the OpenTable website; easy widget for your own site. However, it's expensive at £300/month plus per-cover charges on bookings, making it one of the pricier options. **Caveats:** Members noted that OpenTable's dual pricing (monthly fee + per-booking charge) adds up quickly. The landscape has consolidated recently—The Access Group now owns both ResDiary and DMN, so it's worth checking if they're still priced/featured differently.
What booking systems do hospitality venues use and how do they integrate with websites?
Members recommend **Design My Night (Collins)** for restaurant and bar bookings, which integrates to websites via a widget. This appears to be the primary solution mentioned by the community for venues looking to add booking functionality to their sites.