7 Smart Strategies to Maximise Restaurant Seating Capacity Over the Christmas Period

The Christmas period in Australia is an opportunity for restaurants to maximise profit but it can also be an overwhelming time, with a marked increase in footfall.

Many venues have to turn down customers due to a perceived lack of space, but here are ways to manage your venue’s layout and reservation processes to increase capacity.

The country is expected to spend $30 billion over the December quarter and eating out will account for a big chunk of that.

Restaurants need to ensure they are prepared for the busy period and finding ways to use every square metre of your space efficiently can make a significant difference.

Here are seven strategies to help you maximise your restaurant’s seating capacity without sacrificing the dining experience.

1. Strategic seating

Quandoo for Restaurants helps venues create and manage different areas easily within the space by defining specific zones and adding table configurations.

Restaurant owners can also select which areas will be bookable online allowing customers to choose their preferred section when making a reservation.

Here are some examples of areas:

• Terrace: Perfect for guests who enjoy dining outdoors.

• Formal dining room: An intimate setting for those looking for a more formal dining experience.

• Bar: A casual spot for quick bites and drinks, ideal for guests in a hurry or looking to relax.

• Family section: A family-friendly zone with amenities like high chairs and a kid-friendly menu.

Using these different areas effectively ensures that every part of your restaurant is utilised to its full potential.

Plus, managing customer flow becomes much easier, reducing congestion and wait times, especially during peak hours. This strategic zoning helps you maximise seating capacity by catering to diverse customer preferences and optimising space.

2. Make the most of bar seating

Another strategic way to serve more customers without the need for additional tables is using bar seating effectively.

Bar seating provides a flexible and casual dining option that can accommodate more guests, especially during peak times. It’s perfect for solo diners, couples, or those looking for a quick bite or drink.

This works well for last-minute walk-ins, perhaps Christmas shoppers who are passing by.

3. Use outdoor seating

With our sunny festive season, it’s great to make the most of outdoor seating: tables and chairs set up outside your restaurant, such as on a patio, terrace or sidewalk.

This seating can be seasonal, available during warmer months or designed to be comfortable year-round with the right amenities.

4. Plan flexible layouts

Christmas celebrations often mean larger dining groups.

With a flexible layout, you can easily rearrange tables and chairs to create a long table that fits everyone comfortably.

But with a rigid layout, you might have to split the group across several smaller tables, leading to a fragmented dining experience and potentially underutilised space.

The key is to plan layouts that let you easily combine or separate tables and chairs as needed. This flexibility allows you to quickly adapt to different group sizes and dining needs, whether it’s accommodating a large party or creating more intimate settings during quieter times.

5. Set booking durations

Controlling how long guests occupy a table allows you to plan for multiple seatings within peak hours, ensuring more guests can dine without long wait times.

With tools such as Quandoo for Restaurants’ Dining Duration feature, you can customise how long each booking lasts to fit your restaurant’s needs. This flexibility helps you manage customer flow better and utilise your seating capacity more effectively.

6. Improve service flow

With the increased footfall at this time of year, a well-organised and efficient service flow ensures that tables are turned over quickly and guests have a pleasant dining experience.

When guests are seated, served, and leave on time, you can accommodate more diners throughout the day.

How do you achieve that?

• Optimise table layout: Arrange tables so staff can move easily and serve guests efficiently. Make sure there are clear paths for servers to navigate between the kitchen, bar and dining areas without any obstructions.

• Effective table management: Train your staff to manage tables well. This includes clearing empty dishes before guests leave, resetting tables quickly and checking in with guests to make sure they have everything they need.

• Staff training: Regularly train your staff on best practices for efficient service, such as time management, multitasking, and customer service skills. Well-trained staff can handle busy periods better, ensuring a smooth dining experience for guests.

7. Maintain real-time availability

Overbooking, no-shows and last-minute changes can quickly lead to empty tables and lost revenue. Quandoo for Restaurants allows restaurants to maintain real-time availability, helping to address these issues and maximise seating capacity.

Real-time availability ensures that your reservation system reflects the current status of your tables. By keeping your availability up-to-date, you can fill vacant tables quickly and reduce the chances of no-shows, ultimately maximising your seating capacity.

The beginning of December right through to Australia Day offers Australian restaurants a prime opportunity to make the most out of busy patronage.

To do this, it’s important to regularly evaluate and adjust your layout to make sure every part of your restaurant is working for you. These smart strategies not only help you seat more guests but also make their dining experience better, leading to happier customers and more revenue.