Diners desperate for a post-lockdown treat have fuelled a surge in bookings that has seen some restaurants booked out until autumn but the rush has prompted some owners to ask for payment upfront.
Fed up owners struggling to stay afloat amid the coronavirus lockdown are now asking that customers pay for meals when they book a table in an effort to stamp out no-shows .
The move comes as the country gears up to open restaurants for outdoor dining once more on April 12.
Owner Kray Treadwell, who runs the 670 Grams restaurant in Birmingham, said their venue had already begun taking prepayments for bookings from customers wishing to try their ten course tasting menu - which costs up to £70.
Eating outdoors in Battersea, London, last September – due to be allowed again from 12 April. Photograph: Johnny Armstead/Rex
Eating outdoors in Battersea, London, last September – due to be allowed again from 12 April. Photograph: Johnny Armstead/Rex
Sun 14 Mar 2021 01.15 EST
Britons are planning to “eat, drink and be merry” once lockdown lifts, with many pubs and restaurants already fully booked for several months.
Those keen to make up for lost time have inundated venues in England with bookings for tables in beer gardens for when they are scheduled to reopen on 12 April.
When the Birmingham restaurant, Craft, started to take bookings on 24 February just after the April easing was announced by the prime minister, 147 groups – 601 people – reserved seats within 20 minutes.
Founder says Vend s $455m offshore sale will be good for NZ
12 Mar, 2021 04:45 AM
5 minutes to read
Vend founder Vaughan Fergusson began his company with a single customer - a clothing store in Remuera, but it was enough to gain the attention of early backer Sam Morgan. Photo / Jason Oxenham
Backers of Auckland-based retail software company Vend say its US$350 million ($455m) sale to a US competitor will be good for New Zealand. The sale has potential to reignite debate about why so many Kiwi tech companies end up in North American hands - particularly as it was announced within hours of news that Christchurch 3D modelling software outfit Seequent is being sold to Nasdaq-listed Bentley Systems for US$900m.
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Subscriber only IT S just as well Ipswich s everywhere player, coach and captain Sara Rogers is so fit and focused. Her impressive time management skills will be tested even further in three competitions and as a Queensland head coach this season. Rogers has mentored the Hancocks men and captained the Hancocks women in recent seasons along with her Brisbane competition (Ascot) and other representative commitments. She s added three more roles to her incredible list. Rogers is going to coach the Hancocks women as well as the men in the Ipswich competition starting on Friday night. The Hancocks men open the new season against Wests in a 7pm encounter at the Ipswich Hockey Complex.
INTERNATIONAL students required to undertake hotel quarantine as part of Scottish measures to prevent new Covid-19 variants are claiming prohibitive costs mean they are forced to use a travel loophole and return via England. Since February 15, all international travellers arriving into Scotland must enter supervised quarantine in a registered hotel at their own cost. However in other parts of the UK supervised quarantine is only required for those arriving from specified “at risk” countries. The Scottish Government has called on the UK Government to impose stricter restrictions. However figures suggest hundreds of travellers are meanwhile opting to avoid Scottish quarantine by arriving via England.