How to Fill Empty Restaurant Tables on Slow Nights? 5 Proven Ways to Increase Bookings

Of course, you have a great, tasty menu and lovely ambience in your restaurant, but you still see empty tables on slow nights, especially on weekdays. Weekday nights are often less busy than weekends, but that does not mean you will not have enough guests. There are several ways to fill tables on quiet nights, but we will talk about the five most powerful ways to fill empty tables:

1. Launch an Off-Peak Promotion

2. Turn on the tap of your guest data

3. Target the Local Community

4. Adjust the Atmosphere

5. Google Reserve & your website booking widget       

1. Launch an Off-Peak Promotion

This is one of the best ways to promote your restaurant, especially during the off-peak time. Restaurateurs often think a heavy discount is the only way to fill tables, but this strategy devalues your brand. Hence, the best way to promote is to create value for diners, for instance, by offering a special menu or a bottle of wine on arrival.

But a question arises for most restaurant operators about how to run off-peak promotions. What tools should they use? There are plenty of marketing platforms available, but it is hard to find a simple, effective and user-friendly marketing system. 

Favouritetable has developed its own Marketing and CRM system, which many restaurant owners highly recommend. In Favouritetable, the marketing system is integrated with the booking system, so all your data is in one place, making it easy to schedule campaigns.

2. Turn on the tap of your guest data

Data are the backbone of your long-term success. If you are not collecting and storing your guest data in one place, you are missing the opportunity. But the question is, how do you capture your guest information without hassle? The answer is simple: you need restaurant booking software that captures all your guest data and stores it in one place. Most table booking software collects data, but it is disconnected from your marketing system.

Tip: Favouritetable's marketing system is integrated into its table booking and restaurant management system, so it is super easy to use your guest data to schedule special promotions.

3. Target the Local Community

The connection with the local community is a great way to promote your empty tables. You may partner with nearby gyms, offices, and local businesses. However, you need to come up with a unique reason to come during a quiet time. You can organise corporate nights, host a local trivia or invite a guest chef for the testing menu.

4. Adjust the surroundings

Show the slow night as an active atmosphere, a happy and vibrant place, rather than an empty room. When you see fewer bookings and walk-ins, close some of the less visible areas and make sure new guests sit near the windows or the bar area. It will show your restaurant as an active, energetic space.

5. Google Reserve & your website booking widget

Capturing the digital footprint is important for your long-term success. Diners searching for “places to eat near me” can be converted into real guests if you are available on Google Maps with Google Reserve. To have your restaurant listed on Google Reserve, you need a booking system integrated with it.

To fill empty tables on slow nights, leverage spontaneous demand and avoid long-term discounts. You should be able to send flash promotions directly to your guests and partner with the local community and businesses to build your restaurant's local footprint.