Paying the full balance for Christmas dining

[amispeakingintongues]

Anyone had to do this before?
I've already paid a £70 deposit at £10 per head but now they want the full balance (2 weeks before our booking) and it's rubbing me up the wrong way.

Since when did this become a thing, or have i been living under a rock?

Pretty standard for Christmas bookings in my experience, although I’d imagine it’s even more common now given the difficulties hospitality has experienced I recent years, staff/food costs and the number of no shows they’re struggling with, even with deposits.
its usually made clear at the time of booking though.

I'm aware of paying a deposit and that's the norm but I have been asked to pay the balance in advance because it stops last minute cancellations and allows the restaurant to pre order what food will be needed.

I am going to a Christmas works do on 16th and in January going for a meal: had to pay in full for both around 20 nov as I paid on payday and that that was the cut off point.
i suppose restaurants are really struggling since covid. some have had to cancel 16 dec now at work because of train strikes.

Very standard

Not particularly uncommon for Christmas bookings

I've always had to make full payment for the meal before the event, I would say it's pretty standard for Christmas dining.

This shouldn’t be a thing but I can imagine it is because some folk book multiple deposits at different venues and then cancel leaving the venue holding stock but no valuable bookings

Yep, totally standard. It's usual to finalise menu choices and pay the balance (for food) several weeks before.

A £10 deposit will not act as much of a deterrent for people cancelling last minute

I imagine in the current financial climate the drop out rate is higher than ever so businesses need to protect themselves

I dont see the issue with this.

If you dont turn up on the day I assume you will be a table of 4 minimum. Thats 240 pound they would be down with absolutely no chance of any walks in to replace. They would have double time wages to pay, bought all the food already for the people booked.

I dont blame them at all.

It's standard practice now
I don't blame them

People are flakey and will pay the deposit buy then not show up.

The hospitality industry have been absolutely smashed over the last few years and with the cost of living crisis, profit margins are disappearing fast.

The chef Tom Kerridge said recently that his fuel bill had gone up 700%.

It's a busy time if year so if people are not going to show, then you want to make sure the covers are filled. Can you imagine if you'd turned away a possible table of 7 and then the original booking hadn't showed.

If you are opening up, heating the restaurant, firing up the ovens, pre- ordering food and paying chefs/wait staff to come in on, then I think it's reasonable to ask for the payment in advance.

What exactly is rubbing you the wrong way? All the preparation, planning and ordering the restaurant is already doing that will go to waste when people are flakey and cancel at the last minute? All the costs from getting staff in and staff who they will have to pay even if the restaurant is only 1/3 full? The hospitality sector has had the hardest time over the past few years and it is worse since Covid.

This is becoming more common and it’s a good thing. You’ve booked a table for 7 people and they need to protect themselves and not risk you all not turning up as it’s too much money for them to lose.

If you have every intention of going, then what’s the problem?

Perfectly normal, surely?

People may still drop out if they've only paid a tenner and businesses can't afford that loss when they could have made other bookings. Asking for full payment this time of year is completely reasonable.

Pretty standard for set xmas menu booking

I had to book a dental appointment the other day and was asked for a deposit. That surprised me to be honest. I've always had to pay a deposit to see the hygienist but never the dentist.

Standard at Xmas, but thinking about it, should be standard all year round due nice restaurants who have to buy and prep food in advance of people coming.
It's just not fair on restaurants to have people cancel all the time.

I really don’t understand your reasoning. Businesses have the right to protect themselves at the busiest time of the year. There’s also double time for each staff member to pay, ordering enough of each menu item to cover every booking, extra alcohol / wine / prosecco , there’s usually different table wear used(napkins, crackers). Also seating plans to arrange, who’s going to get priority the table who paid balance in full or the table who’s paid £70 - which would only cover one 3 course Christmas Day meal for an adult at some venues.

Alright. I'll suck it up. I've never booked anywhere and especially paid a deposit to then not show up at all so it seems ridiculous to me, but i accept there are many who do do this.

Also i've never dined here before so i really hope i'm not dissatisfied with food or service, its more about that really.

i really hope i'm not dissatisfied with food or service, its more about that really
That would be the same regardless of whether you pay in advance or not. Although now it sounds like you will be looking for things to complain out because you are already unhappy about the situation!

Maybe they need the funds to source the ingredients in advance. Ultimately they have business overheads they need to cover as well. I think most businesses with policies like this must have been done dirty but customers in the past.

Standard for Xmas. Busy day. Can't be dealing with no shows

I hadn’t realised in my earlier post it was actually a Christmas Day booking. I would definitely expect to pay in advance, even more so than for other Christmas bookings.

Absolutely standard for a Xmas booking.
I booked Xmas day out dec 2018 and had to pay in full by dec 10th I believe