Take deposits

With space at a premium this December, make sure you’re taking deposits from all bookings, whether they’re Christmas or footie bookings. Be clear with your cancellation policy, and when you will be keeping those deposits if parties reduce numbers or cancel last minute, ensuring that you won’t lose out or have empty tables.

Our in-built booking system allows you to easily email payment links to customers, making the whole process of taking a deposit super simple for you and them, as the money is allocated directly to the booking. Then when guests arrive you can pull up the booking on your pub EPOS system, and either refund the deposit, or switch it to a credit on a tab to be spent.

Also consider minimum spends across both footie bookings and parties – we’ve all had guests who might only have 1 pint across a whole midweek or afternoon match. When you could book out your tables 10 times over, you want to make sure you’re making the most from them.

Encourage early Christmas parties

The opening ceremony and first matches fall on the 21st November, so why not look to incentivise companies bringing their Christmas ahead of this date, perhaps offering a discount, or round of drinks to any parties held before the World Cup kicks off.

We’re obviously all keeping fingers & toes crossed that there isn’t going to be a winter resurgence of the dreaded C word again this year, but having Christmas parties spilling into November could mitigate against the sort of losses our industry felt over the past two years, when December parties were cancelled last minute.

Consider your menu

Most venues switch to a Christmas menu for the whole festive period – but on match days you might want a reduced menu, food that is quick and easy to make and deliver, but also easy to eat as it’s likely that not everyone will have a table if you’re busy. Plan ahead, and if you are going to be switching menus, make it clear what food is available on what days, the last thing you want is a booking turning up on a match night expecting Turkey and all the trimmings.

Having a reduced menu that is still Christmas themed (turkey and cranberry burgers, pigs in blankets on sharers etc.) will mean you’re using the same stock and not risking loads of wastage.

Utilise all your space

Don’t be afraid to make use of outside spaces to increase capacity. One of the things that the pandemic taught us, was that people are willing to meet outside, if you provide the right environment. If you’ve got shelter or heaters outside, and can set up a screen, you can increase your capacity and find a way to accommodate both your footie and festive customers.

Reduce queue times at the bar

Technology that has become common place in pubs and bars are apps allowing you to order and pay at your table. These will be popular during football matches, as customers don’t need to miss a minute of the action to place their orders. There was a huge influx of these during the pandemic, but the ones that have survived are those that are integrated with your EPOS system, meaning orders can’t get missed and stock and sales can be effectively tracked, as everything sits in one system and end of day report.

Check match timings

Due to the heat, match times will be later in Qatar, which is good news the for the UK, as even accounting for time differences, matches are still on at much more reasonable times. FIFA have confirmed matches will kick off at 10am, 1pm, 4pm & 7pm UK time. Check if you need any additional licences for 10am kick offs and apply in good time. The final rounds matches will kick off at 3pm & 7pm UK time, with a 3pm kick off for the final on Sunday 18th December.

With some careful consideration & planning, this could be a well-deserved bumper November and December for the pub & bar industry, with both the festive season and World Cup to capitalise on. Let’s just hope those Lions do as well as the Lionesses!