Can I stop big groups booking online completely?

Set Largest party online to a lower number and larger groups are asked to ring. You then book them in yourself.

Do I need Pro for group deposits?

Yes, deposits and card holds are on Pro. The party size limit and table joining work on every plan.

How do I record that a group wants a birthday cake?

Put it in Requests on the booking, or add a note on the guest profile.

What if they do not turn up?

Mark the booking as a No show. If you took a card hold, you can then charge it. See the deposits guide.

How to Handle Large Groups and Parties Without the Stress

Handling large groups and parties

A table of twelve is good money and a good way to ruin a Friday if it goes wrong. The trick is a few simple rules that keep big groups booking properly, instead of surprising you at the door.

Quick answer. Set Largest party online under Tables, so bigger groups ring you. Allow combining two tables for big parties. Use a deposit and pre-orders (both Pro) for the groups that matter, and write the group rules under Booking terms.

Decide your online limit

Go to Tables. Under Party sizes and capacity, set Largest party online. The default is 8. Bigger groups are asked to ring you, which gives you a chance to talk about the menu, the time and the deposit. You can also say it in your Welcome text, for example "Parties over 8 please ring us."

Join tables together

On the same page, tick Allow combining two tables for large parties. The booking system can then use two tables for a group when no single table is big enough. Read turn times and table combining for the detail.

Give big groups longer

Under Turn times, the last row covers every party bigger than the one before. The default is 150 minutes. Change it to what a big group really takes.

Take a booking on the phone

When they ring, go to Bookings, press Add booking, fill in the details and set Taken by to Phone. Put the plans in Requests. You can add a note on the guest too. See phone bookings.

Deposits and pre-orders (Pro)

Under Deposits, fill in Only for parties of with your cut off, for example 8. Under Events and menus, tick Ask big parties to pre-order from a set menu and set the same size. The kitchen then sees the totals before the night.

Stap voor stap

Set your online limit. Go to Tables and fill in Largest party online.
Allow joining. Tick Allow combining two tables for large parties and press Save.
Check turn times. Go to Turn times and set the last row to suit big groups.
Say it on the page. In Booking page look, add a line to Welcome text and your rules to Booking terms.
Add a deposit. On Pro, open Deposits and fill in Only for parties of.
Ask for pre-orders. On Pro, open Events and menus and set the party size for pre-orders.