Guide
How to take a phone booking
Phone bookings are still a big part of the week. If they are not in Tablez, the online diary will say you are free when you are not. It takes under a minute once you have done it a couple of times.
Watch: Take a Phone Booking
What to ask and type when the phone rings, and how to read the booking back. 64 sec
Read the transcript
Phone bookings are still a big part of the week. If they are not in Tablez, the online diary says you are free when you are not. Here is how to take one. On Today, press Add booking. Ask what day and time, how many people, and for a name and mobile number. Type them in. Ask about allergies, or anything special like a birthday. Put it under Requests, and allergies under Allergies, so the kitchen sees them in red. Leave Taken by on Phone, and leave the confirmation email ticked if they gave an email. Press Add booking. Tablez finds a table, and shows a message with the booking reference. Read the details back to the guest, and give them the reference. If Tablez says there is no table, offer a nearby time first. If your manager says to take it anyway, tick Book anyway. It goes in with no table, so ask a manager to sort it out before the night. That is a phone booking in Tablez. On the Free plan, phone bookings count towards your booking limit. On Standard and Pro, they are free and do not count.
What to ask, in this order
- What day and what time?
- How many people?
- Can I take a name and a mobile number, in case we need to reach you?
- Any allergies or anything special, like a birthday or a high chair?
- Would you like a confirmation by email? (Optional.)
What to type in
- On Today or Bookings, press Add booking. In the staff app, press Add a booking.
- Fill in Date, Time, Party size and Name. Add the Phone number.
- Put anything special in Requests. Put allergies in Allergies, so the kitchen sees them in red.
- Under Taken by, leave Phone selected.
- If they gave an email, leave Email the customer a confirmation ticked.
- Press Add booking. Tablez finds a table and shows a message with the booking reference.
If Tablez says there is no table
It tells you why, such as no table free at that time. Offer the guest a nearby time first. If your manager says to take it anyway, tick Book anyway, even if no table is free. The booking goes in with no table, so ask a manager to sort it out before the night.
Quicker from the floor plan
If your venue has the floor plan, tap a free table at the right time and press Book this table. You can set the time next to it.
Watch the video
Prefer to see it done? Watch Taking a phone booking on our video guides page. You may also like changing a booking and the owner version of this guide. Plans and prices are on the pricing page.
FAQ
Common questions
Does a phone booking count towards our limit?
On the Free plan, yes: phone bookings count towards the limit. On Standard and Pro, no: phone bookings are free and only online bookings count.
The guest does not want to give a number. Is that ok?
Name, date, time and party size are the only must haves. A phone number is very helpful if you ever need to reach them.
I got something wrong. Can I fix it?
Yes. Open the booking and press Edit booking. See the guide on late and changed bookings.
Can I take a deposit over the phone?
No. Deposits and card holds are taken on the online booking page. Ask the owner how your venue handles it.