Bookings, Dietary Questions and Opening Hours

The questions never stop

Opening hours, whether you have a table, what the vegan options are, is there parking, do you take dogs, can we book for twelve.

They arrive constantly and largely while your team is serving customers, which is exactly when answering them costs most.

What to publish for the bot

1. Opening hours, including holidays and any seasonal changes
2. The full menu with allergen and dietary information
3. Booking policy — group sizes, deposits, cancellation
4. Parking, access and accessibility
5. Private hire options, capacity and pricing

Allergen information is the one to get exactly right. It must be current and it must be precise, because people rely on it.

Bookings

The bot can answer policy questions and hand over to your booking system. Where you use a booking platform, link straight to it rather than collecting details separately.

For large groups and private hire, capture the details and route them to a person — those are worth a conversation.

Out of hours is most of it

People plan meals in the evening for the following week. That is precisely when your team is busiest or closed.

Answering then is the difference between a booking and a visitor checking the next restaurant on the list.

Keep it current

• Menu changes, immediately — especially allergens
• Holiday opening hours, before the holiday
• Seasonal availability and last bookings
• Anything about a refurbishment or closure

Frequently asked questions