Eating Out

deposits on booking a table

Are restaurants allowed to demand a deposit of £5 per head up front when taking a booking over the telephone?

deloupie Wed 30/04/08 21:15

<< Previous

Next >>

Subscribe to question

Post an Answer

Cakeboy
Wed 30/04/08
21:17

They can do what they want, it's their restaurant. if you've got a big party of people, then they will take a deposit incase you decide to not turn up and they end up with a half empty restaurant for the night.

if you don't like the idea, then go somewhere else

Buenchico
Thurs 01/05/08
03:34

As Cakeboy states, it's their business, so they're free to determine their own rules.

Taking a deposit actually makes a great deal of sense. Let's suppose that you book for a party of 8 people but fail to turn up. The restaurant turn down bookings because they're expecting you to arrive (and all other tables are booked). The restaurant knows that, on average, they make £15 profit from each diner consuming a 3 course meal with drinks. The restaurant then has a legal right to demand that you pay the £120 profit that they've lost. However, chasing you through the courts is a time-consuming business. It's easier for them (and less expensive for you) if they simply insist upon a £5 per head non-refundable deposit when you book.

I've only once failed to turn up for a restaurant booking but I posted a cheque to pay the full cost of the meal that the four of us would have eaten since I recognised that the restaurant should not be left out of profit because our plans had changed. If a few more customers took the same attitude there might be fewer restaurateurs going out of business.

Chris

Post an Answer

Submit the above question and answers

add to del.icio.us	add to digg	add to furl
add to reddit	add to Technorati	add to Blinklist
add to StumbleUpon	add to squidoo	add to ma.gnolia
add to Cocomment	add to Netscape	add to Fark