Are restaurants booking only in your town?

[Jamfirstest]

Friday night we took the kids bowling at 6.30. Tenpin was really busy - great family and teens atmosphere. It was really nice. We didn’t book a table for dinner as it’s on a retail park with several chain restaurants. We came out about 8 and were turned away from all of them which were about 1/5 full. Bookings made the day before only. They wouldn’t budge. It was all fine we ordered pizzas on the way home and I would never get aggy with a waitress - policy is policy. I’m not aggrieved.
It was just quite jolting. I assume they can’t staff the restaurants speculatively any more. It was Friday evening and no customers and no atmosphere.
is it like this everywhere? How chilling for the catering trade.

In my area I would probably book a table on a Friday night as most places would be busy and don’t accommodate walk ins. In this situation though, I would probably expect that they want to close early or have later bookings. Seems strange not turn away potential customers since they haven’t booked 24 hours earlier.

There was acres of room in the restraurants -like 10 plus tables in each at least.

I always book a table if I’m going out to eat. I get very stressed out if I don’t. I’ll even book when we’re going to a restaurant in half an hour or so.

No, as far as I know they all take walk ins round here, as long as they have space. It's not a touristy area. I don't think DH and I have ever failed to get a table for two on impulse, although occasionally there's been a wait for order to be taken which is fine.

@mynameiscalypsoif I had planned instead of dp I would have 😂 it really was no issue. Dd1 wanted to go home anyway. I’m just stunned at the turnover being so low

@CeciliaDuckiePond it’s a south west city with moderate tourism I think.

Just a little update. A really popular local cafe chain which has 2 branches has gone take out only. I’m gutted for them and the community but I understand. Another sad sign of the times though.

Our local Indian always asks if you’ve booked , always do on a Friday or Saturday , but Wednesday at 6pm , figured we are safe . They make a big deal out of it tho, despite restaurant being mostly empty , no idea why

Plenty of places take walk ins near me, or will put your name on a list and call you if a table becomes available (when they are busy)
We sometimes go to Nandos which won't take bookings at all.
However we are a family of 5 so I would generally try and book if we want to go out.
My local high street is now all restaurants and cafes (and nail bars 😂) and they are always busy

It will be due to staffing levels. They may get an extra member of staff in if they have bookings over a certain number. But also don't want to have more customers than they can attend to and give poor service so no walk ins.

We would always book for most places, especially in a Friday night. We have one place locally who don't do any bookings at all. Walk in only.

Most places do walk ins (SW town and go to the nearest city often too)

But I have had what you describe OP, empty restaurant and 'no tables available'. Obviously they can't give a table that's booked within the next hour or so, but seemed unlikely they all would be.

Went outside, got on their website to see when the next table would be free and if it was worth waiting, and booked a table for 10 minutes later.
I usually book a table as we're walking to a restaurant now on spur of the moment stuff. Saves faffing about.

Actually OP, if your Tenpin was full of Janners, it was probably the same restaurant!

I agree. I don’t go anywhere without booking.

I find it more stressful to book, because you then have to plan the rest of your day around getting to the restaurant on time and actually wanting to eat then. I'd much rather not have to rush or wait around. Most of the time we can get in somewhere, but we don't eat in chains and it's usually just me and DP.

Or if we're in the city, there's a big street food court in the shopping centre, so will eat there if we've not got into a proper restaurant.

It's probably due to the restaurants minimising staffing and also not expecting staff to work with no notice.

We usually book for evening dinner but not lunch.

We went to an American diner recently, it’s an authentic steel one with booths that was shipped over from the States so quite small. You have a slot there and not just an open booking. It was worth the slot booking as such good food and was a great atmosphere.