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The festive season is on its way, and for restaurant owners across the UK, this often translates into the busiest time of the year. Office gatherings, family get-togethers, and all sorts of Christmas shenanigans will pack your dining room. With the holiday cheer in the air, your patrons are excited to wine, dine, and indulge. But let’s not forget: this is also prime time for you to boost your revenue.
A surge in footfall during December is fantastic—and maybe just a little nerve-wracking. Overwhelmed staff, extended waiting times, and endless hustle at the bar can be enough to frazzle even the most seasoned restaurateur. One particular source of tension is the payment process. Picture the chaos: multiple groups paying at once, card terminals stretched to their limits, contactless transactions not going through because of network overload. All this can mar your brand reputation and irritate customers, who might be standing around under the mistletoe, frantic to settle their tab.
If your payment setup isn’t ready for the onslaught, you risk longer queues, staff frustration, and guests leaving with nothing more than a memory of a cumbersome payment experience. That’s a recipe for negative reviews and lost loyalty—particularly in today’s world, where convenience and speed are often valued as highly as the food itself. Fortunately, you can prepare in advance by optimising your hardware, exploring digital solutions like sunday, and training your team to manage payments efficiently, all while preserving the festive warmth you’re eager to share.
Holiday diners aren’t typically in the mood to wait around. They’re there to celebrate, catch up with friends or colleagues, and have fun. Slow or clunky payment processes can chip away at that cheer. Here are some key things to keep in mind about seasonal demand:
By understanding these seasonal challenges, you can develop a robust payment process that copes beautifully with the festivities.
Making sure your payment infrastructure is up to scratch starts with examining all your existing hardware and software. Here’s a quick checklist to guide you:
It’s best to make these assessments well before your festive bookings start piling up. If you wait until December, you might face equipment delivery delays or limited availability for installation support.
A great payment system does more than just process transactions. It can play a key role in elevating the entire dining experience, from the moment guests walk in to the farewell wave at the door. During the Christmas period, your guests are likely juggling gift shopping, work deadlines, and social events, so any time you can save them is a real treat.
When Aunt Lucy’s entire extended family or the entire Accounts Department from a nearby office shows up, you’ll need to handle complicated orders and varied dietary requests. Efficient, user-friendly payment tools let servers address more pressing tasks, like ensuring the correct cranberry sauce arrives at the turkey’s side. Not only does this reduce waiting times for other tables, but it keeps big groups surprisingly happy—even if they came in expecting mild chaos.
“I only had the fish and chips!” is a rallying cry that echoes across many festive tables. Bill splitting can become a performance if your tools aren’t up to the task. Modern EPoS solutions and QR code payment platforms let diners efficiently separate their charges. Some systems allow guests to scan a code, view the entire itemised bill on their phone, and tap on their portion before paying digitally. That frictionless approach often eliminates the confusion of mental maths and the fumbling of multiple cards.
December tends to be a rewarding month for hospitality staff, as long as the tipping process isn’t awkward. Adding a polite prompt for tips within the payment interface can make a big difference. For example, you can let diners choose from a few percentage-based tip suggestions, or encourage a custom amount. By simplifying this process, you increase staff happiness and retention, because they see tangible rewards for working during typically anti-social hours.
You’ve likely heard about contactless and mobile wallet payments a thousand times before, but let’s also talk about QR code payments, a technology that’s rapidly transforming the restaurant industry. Rather than waiting for a card terminal to free up, your customers can simply scan a code with their phone, review the bill, tip if they wish, and settle up in moments. It’s quick, it’s convenient, and it suits the modern diner’s expectation for immediacy.
One of the key advantages of a QR code payment system is how it puts the customer in control of their time and privacy. They can finalise the payment without flagging down a waiter. There’s less scurrying around for staff, fewer conversations in a noisy environment, and more empowerment for your guests to leave on a positive note.
Of course, you want to pick a solution that seamlessly integrates with your EPoS, has robust security features, and is user-friendly. sunday, for instance, is a payment solution that ticks these boxes. It enables diners to pay via QR code, leave a tip, and even share a Google review if they choose—all in one continuous flow. Such a digital approach during Christmastime can slash queuing times and lighten the workload for staff, who might otherwise be juggling multiple card terminals and exasperated diners.
Waiting is an unpleasant experience, and nothing hollows out the jolly mood faster than a queue at the till. Reducing waiting times is not just about efficiency—it’s also about nurturing a positive atmosphere. People want to dine, laugh, and dash off to their next holiday party or Christmas market.
So how do you minimise these dreaded queues?
When lines are short, your staff can devote more attention to upselling, plating, and maintaining the festive vibe. It’s a classic win-win scenario.
The best technology in the world looks lacklustre if your team isn’t confident using it. During the frantic holiday period, servers and managers must know how to operate all payment processes seamlessly—from card terminals to QR code solutions.
Before December’s madness begins, arrange training sessions or refresher courses. Highlight common pitfalls, like how to handle partial payments or apply staff discounts for holiday events. Encourage staff to do test transactions and become comfortable with any new technology you’ve introduced.
Also, ensure your team can answer diners’ queries about digital payments. When a customer sees a QR code on the table and asks how it works, your team should be prepared with a concise explanation. A friendly, knowledgeable server is someone a guest will remember, possibly leading to a higher tip or a glowing review.
If your staff genuinely believe in the merits of your improved payment system, they’ll communicate that enthusiasm to guests. Emphasise how new solutions lighten their load, reduce errors, and might just secure bigger tips. Show them the ways digital payments can create a more relaxing environment, free from repetitive tasks.
Finally, offer incentives or competitions around the holiday season to boost morale. For example, the server who receives the highest feedback rating might get a small bonus or a day off in January. Combine that with an effective payment solution, and your staff will sparkle like tinsel on a Christmas tree.
It’s not just about having the right equipment and software—preparation for surge periods is crucial. The lunch-to-dinner switch can be a hectic time, especially with Christmas parties bridging both.
Preparation is everything. A bit of forward-planning can save you from brink-of-tears stress levels when those excited revelers flood your restaurant at 7 PM on a Friday night.
In the digital age, good reviews aren’t just a perk—they’re a lifeline. If you’re providing excellent service during the festive rush, why not encourage happy customers to share their experiences online?
Some payment systems, like sunday, offer diners a prompt to leave a Google review right after paying. It’s pleasantly unobtrusive and appears the moment they settle their bill—when their satisfaction is fresh. If they had a wonderful experience, they might fill out a glowing review immediately.
Make sure your Google My Business listing is updated with correct opening hours, any holiday season offers, and special menu highlights. If potential diners see a flurry of five-star reviews posted in December, they’re more likely to consider your place for their own celebrations.
For more tips on optimising your business listing, look at Google’s own guidelines. It’s always worth polishing your online presence, especially during a season when so many people are searching for the perfect venue.
Murphy’s Law states: “Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong.” In the restaurant business, that usually happens on the busiest night of the year. Protect your reputation by having a backup plan in place for technology failures.
Your priority is to keep the Christmas vibe intact. A well-rehearsed backup plan ensures minimal disruption—and that diners leave cheering, not jeering.
We all love the warmth and goodwill that defines Christmas. At the same time, you need to maintain professional standards so that your restaurant can deal with the onslaught of demands. Here are a few practical considerations:
Balancing the intangible magic of the season with the grounded reality of running a business is challenging, but feasible. A thoughtful approach to your payment system can help you maintain both sides of the equation.
Once the decorations come down and January arrives, it’s worth taking a moment to reflect on what worked—and what didn’t. Capture data on average transaction times, busiest periods, tips collected, and staff feedback.
If your card terminals stalled during peak times, or if certain staff struggled with the intricacies of your system, note it down. Did QR code payments account for a significant share of transactions? Did your online reviews jump? Collecting these metrics allows you to refine your approach, making next Christmas even more profitable and stress-free.
According to UKHospitality, December typically provides a hefty revenue boost for many venues. By carefully evaluating your successes and bottlenecks, you can position your restaurant to make the most of next year’s opportunities.
Below are some common queries restaurant owners have about preparing payment systems for the Christmas surge.
The simplest method is to use technology that automates bill splitting. Modern EPoS systems can quickly divide individual orders. Alternatively, solutions like QR code payments let diners select their items from a shared bill. This approach reduces errors and speeds up the process.
It depends on your venue size and service style. Generally, each section or zone should have at least one, especially during peak season. Consider a spare to handle emergencies or huge parties that might need multiple transactions simultaneously.
Yes, when implemented with reputable providers, QR code payments are just as secure as card-based transactions. The key is to choose a trusted payment partner, ensure data encryption, and educate staff and customers on safe usage.
Incorporate a tipping prompt into the payment process. Offer suggested tip percentages (e.g., 10%, 12.5%, or 15%) and a custom tip option. This gentle reminder increases tipping frequency but remains optional for those who’d rather skip.
Not necessarily. Some card terminals and EPoS solutions have an offline mode. You can store transactions for processing once the connection is restored. As a safety net, keep an additional terminal or device that uses a different internet network (e.g., 4G/5G).
Provide superb service and a stress-free payment experience, then invite satisfied customers to share feedback. Some payment systems, like sunday, automatically prompt diners to post a Google review right after settling up, capturing positive sentiment instantly.
