Bumper month for hospitality as bookings are up by 27%

Hospitality bookings are up 28% nationwide in the three weeks since outdoor dining re-opened on 12 April. This is compared to the three weeks after the re-opening from Super Saturday weekend last year, when hospitality emerged from the first lockdown.

46% more bookings for the week of 17 May compared to the week of 12th April 2021.

London bookings alone are up 25% for w/c 17 May compared to w/c 12 April, and a staggering 130% compared to the seven days starting from Super Saturday weekend last year.

Patrick Hooykaas, UK Managing Director at TheFork, formally known as Bookatable, comments on hospitality bookings ahead of 17 May, “It’s been a bumper month for the hospitality industry. The craze for going out to restaurants is more prevalent than after the first lockdown last year. Bookings are up 28% nationwide in the three weeks since outdoor dining re-opened on 12th April. This is compared to the three weeks after the re-opening from Super Saturday weekend last year, when hospitality emerged from the first lockdown.

“April might have been the coldest on record but this hasn’t dampened people’s appetite from getting out and embracing al-fresco. Now, as people look ahead to indoor dining re-opening on 17th May, appetite for eating out is only set to increase. We’re already seeing 46% more bookings for the week of 17th May compared to the week of 12th April 2021. London bookings alone are up 25%, and a staggering 130% compared to the seven days starting from Super Saturday weekend last year.

“No-shows remain the biggest risk for the hospitality industry and will hinder post-Covid recovery. It’s vital people turn up, or cancel if they’re no longer able to attend. Anonymous bookings aren’t always the kindest way to book a table, and people booking multiple venues and hoarding those tables regardless of whether they use them will have a huge impact on the industry. Empty tables are expensive for a restaurant owner, and as the industry places greater emphasis on bookings over walk ins in its post-Covid recovery, these empty tables are unlikely to be filled at such short notice.”