Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To hope that pubs keep their ordering apps

32 replies

SteveArnottsbeadyeyes · 05/09/2020 10:18

I am loving being able to order drinks from an app and have them bring them out to the table.

Less stressful, no “who’s going to the bar”, easy to choose a bottle of wine without worrying if you’ve accidentally picked the £30 bottle by accident etc.

OP posts:
GiantPinesAhem · 05/09/2020 10:20

Me too! And it's brilliant with disabilities.

QueenofmyPrinces · 05/09/2020 10:20

Completely agree!! And ordering foods in pubs is so much easier this way too.

I think pubs will realise how well this service works and continue using it even when Covid is long gone!!

Reader1984 · 05/09/2020 10:22

Yeah I love it.

Original poster
SteveArnottsbeadyeyes · 05/09/2020 10:24

@GiantPinesAhem I didn’t even consider that - another win!

OP posts:
MarshaBradyo · 05/09/2020 10:24

Yep it’s easy isn’t it

Smallsteps88 · 05/09/2020 10:25

I can’t see why they wouldn’t. Presumably they’ve invested money in setting up the app ordering facility so they’ll not abandon it. Is there a downside to the pubs with the app ordering? Table service taking staff away from the bar maybe?

Original poster
SteveArnottsbeadyeyes · 05/09/2020 10:27

@Smallsteps88 I do wonder how it would work if the pubs were say, Christmas Eve busy, as there’s an added element of a check the order, pour drinks, bring to table etc -

OP posts:
ChristmasinJune · 05/09/2020 10:28

Oh yes I hope so too, I love it!!

Smallsteps88 · 05/09/2020 10:29

Yes busy times could prove a problem but I guess that’s up to the pubs to hire more staff or cancel the app. I think most hire more staff for Xmas times anyway don’t they?

Ifailed · 05/09/2020 10:31

most pubs are struggling to keep afloat, having to hire extra staff to provide table service may be the last straw.

WaffleCash · 05/09/2020 10:32

Wetherspoons and a few others already had these systems in place pre-pandemic. I think they're likely to stay.

Although one of the impacts of the pandemic for me has been no more space on my phone as everything has their own app for booking!

HexyAndIKnowIt · 05/09/2020 10:32

Greene King had it long before Covid so I imagine it will remain with them at least.

ProfYaffle · 05/09/2020 10:33

Agree, I love them too. Pre lockdown it's one of the things I used to like about 'spoons.

Smallsteps88 · 05/09/2020 10:36

@Ifailed

most pubs are struggling to keep afloat, having to hire extra staff to provide table service may be the last straw.
Good point!
EggysMom · 05/09/2020 10:38

I've had mixed experiences - the food ordering is fine, but it's generally less flexible for swapping sides e.g. swap chips for mash; the food turns up very quickly, presumably as the order goes directly to the kitchen. Drinks ordering is simple, but we've often had to wait 20 minutes for the poured drinks to be delivered - even during EOTHO - to the point where I've gone and helped myself to what is obviously the tray of drinks for our table.

GreyGardens88 · 05/09/2020 10:54

It could work whereby there is a designated space on the bar where you collect your order when the app tells you it's ready? Thereby still eliminating bar queues but don't need staff waiting on tables

Oysterbabe · 05/09/2020 10:55

Wetherspoons have been using it for ages before Covid. The more pubs and restaurants that embrace this the better.

Reddog1 · 05/09/2020 11:00

It’s brilliant, especially for people who physically struggle to get back and forth to the bar. I hope it stays.

Ifailed makes a great point about staffing, though. Would people be prepared to pay an extra 10p (or whatever) per drink so that the pub can hire an extra couple of teenagers per shift?

DishRanAwayWithTheSpoon · 05/09/2020 11:01

I am loving it for pubs

The only problem is qith food I feel everything happens top fast. Was in and out nandos in 20 minutes the other day! Although no awkward waiting around for the bill which is great

nosswith · 05/09/2020 11:01

The use of Contactless and apps I think is going to be one of the legacies of the pandemic, along with more wfh.

DishRanAwayWithTheSpoon · 05/09/2020 11:03

I think because of the ease people are more likely to order more drinks. So the pubs will probably recoup the extra cost of someone to deliver drinks quite easily. If theres a queue at the bar for example your not going to order drinks

It takes away the dead time of waiting at the bar as well, so again more time to buy drinks. Yes youve got to wait for the drinks but Ive not had any problems with this so far

CigarsofthePharoahs · 05/09/2020 11:05

It's great. We have a local pub/eatery that's started this and it's great. No more waiting in a queue, no more forgetting something.

lyralalala · 05/09/2020 11:09

They won't need that many more staff as they'll have less people wanting served at the bar so some of those staff can be used for table service.

People will just have to accept that it'll take a couple of minutes longer to get your order than it would to wait at the bar for it.

ParadiseLaundry · 05/09/2020 11:10

I agree, I love the system.

user1471500037 · 05/09/2020 11:12

Double stack and make me come back