Guide
Switching from a paper diary to online bookings
Lots of pubs still run on a paper diary and a phone. It works, until the one person who understands the diary is off sick. You can switch in a weekend, and nobody has to throw the diary away on day one.
Watch: Switching from a paper diary
Switch from a paper diary to online bookings in a weekend, and keep the diary as a backup while you settle in. 67 sec
Read the transcript
Still running on a paper diary and the phone? You can switch to Tablez in a weekend, and you do not have to bin the diary on day one. First, set your opening hours, then your tables. Group identical tables together, like two seaters, times five. Name special ones, like The Snug, on their own. Open Bookings and press Add booking. Copy in the bookings from your diary. You only need a name, date, time, party size and a phone number. Set Taken by to Phone. These bookings take up tables, so nobody can book the same table online. On the Free plan they count towards your monthly limit, so just copy in the next few weeks. Coming from another booking system? Use Import bookings and upload the file it exports. Nobody gets an email or a text from an import, and imports do not count towards your limit. Then share your booking link on your website, Facebook, Instagram and Google. Print the QR poster too. Keep the paper diary for a week or two as a backup. When the day view is the one you trust, retire the diary. The Free plan covers up to 60 bookings a month. Start free at tablez.co.uk.
Set up the room
Start with Opening hours, then Tables, then Turn times. Under Tables, group identical tables, for example "2 seaters" times 5. Add named tables like The Snug as a group of one. The quick start guide walks through it.
Copy in the bookings you already have
Go to Bookings, press Add booking, and enter each future booking from the diary. You only need a name, date, time, party size and phone number. Email is optional. Set Taken by to Phone. These bookings take up tables, so nobody can book the same table online.
Coming from another system? Under Import bookings (owner login) upload the file it exports. No emails or texts go to anyone, and future bookings go on your calendar. If you get stuck, send the file to [email protected] and they will do the import for you.
Tell people the new way
Put your booking link on your website, Facebook, Instagram and your Google Business Profile. Print the QR poster. When someone rings, you can still take the booking by phone, as normal. See phone bookings.
Keep a safety net
Keep the paper diary for the first week or two. On Standard and above, you can also get a Table list backup email, a copy of the day's bookings sent to your inbox, under Notifications.
Step by step
- Create your account. Start free at tablez.uk.
- Set hours and tables. Complete Opening hours, Tables and Turn times.
- Add your venue details. Under Venue details, add your address, postcode and phone.
- Copy in future bookings. Press Add booking for each one, or use Import bookings if you have a file.
- Share your link. Copy it from Share and embed and post it.
- Keep the diary for a while. Check both for a week, then retire the diary.
Watch it and read more
Prefer to watch? The matching video is on the video guides page. More reading: import bookings and pricing. See the plans and prices if you are not sure which plan you need.
FAQ
Common questions
Do I need to be good with computers?
No. The steps above use the same details you write in the diary. Free set up help is available if you want it.
What if a customer has no email?
Email is optional when you add a booking. A name and a phone number is enough.
Will old bookings get emails when I import?
No. No emails or texts go to any customer from an import.
What does it cost?
There is a free plan. See the pricing page for the paid plans.