Video guides

See how Tablez works

Short, plain English videos for each part of Tablez, 44 in all. Watch them before you sign up, or alongside your own dashboard. Logged in venues also get these on the matching page in the app, under "Watch how".

Get set up · Running your day · Fewer no-shows, more money · Know your guests and grow · Order and Pay · Your account · Getting set up (more) · Running your day (more) · Messages and marketing (more) · Order and Pay (more) · For your staff (more) · Run a better business (more) · Compare and choose (more) · Common questions (more) · Account and plan (more)

Get set up

Everything to get your booking page live and found.

Set up Tablez in 5 minutes

The fastest route from sign up to a live booking page, step by step. 82 sec

Table booking for pubs: how Tablez works

A friendly tour of Tablez for a busy pub, from walk ins and phone bookings to no shows and Christmas. 82 sec

Your Tablez dashboard tour

A quick walk down the left menu, with one line on what each page is for. 2 min

How to take restaurant bookings online

Set up your booking page, opening hours and tables, then get bookings coming in from Google, your website and Instagram. 3 min

Set up your hours, tables and rules

Opening hours, tables, turn times, booking rules, emails and the look of your booking page, page by page. 3 min

Booking rules: party sizes, notice and cut-offs

Choose how bookings are accepted, how far ahead guests can book, party size limits and the cancel cut-off. 2 min

Make your booking page look like you

Add your logo, pick your colour and write your own welcome words. 76 sec

Add Tablez to your website

Put a booking page or a Book a table button on WordPress, Wix, Squarespace or any website. 2 min

Add a Book now button on Facebook and Instagram

Put one booking link on your Facebook page and Instagram bio. 75 sec

Move across from Quandoo, OpenTable or ResDiary

Upload your old system's export and your bookings and customers come with you, in about a minute. 82 sec

Your booking page in other languages

Customers can book in their own language, and your team can use Tablez in theirs. 43 sec

Running your day

Bookings, tables and your team, day to day.

Your bookings, day to day

Today, the bookings list, the calendar, the table list backup and the kitchen screen. 2 min

Taking a phone booking

Add a booking from the phone in seconds, so the diary is always right. 21 sec

Set up and use your floor plan

Build your room once, then seat walk-ins, free tables and see your whole night at a glance. 2 min

Turn times and joining tables

Set how long tables are held, group your tables, and fit big parties by joining two. 89 sec

Waitlist and guest notes

Fill the tables that come free, and help your whole team remember your regulars. 2 min

The staff app and booking alerts

Every booking on every phone, an alert the moment someone books, and live check so you can say yes while the customer waits. 3 min

Staff accounts and access

Give your team their own logins and choose what each person can do. 74 sec

Closing and special hours

Close for bank holidays and private parties, and set your last booking time. 67 sec

Add to calendar: fewer no-shows

One tap calendar buttons for Apple, Google and Outlook on every confirmation, with a reminder on the day. 43 sec

Fewer no-shows, more money

Reminders, deposits, vouchers and Christmas.

Text message reminders

Confirmations, a reminder the day before and a quick still coming check, to cut no-shows. Pay as you go bundles from 6p a text. 2 min

Text bundles

See what texts cost and how to top up your text balance. 78 sec

Customise your booking emails

Choose how emails are sent, who hears about bookings and your thank you. 77 sec

Card deposits

Take a deposit or a card hold on bookings to cut down on no shows. 80 sec

Events and set menus

Set up a quiz night or festive menu guests can book, with a price, deposit and pre-orders. 89 sec

Christmas party bookings

Set menus, pre-orders, deposits and big groups, set up in October so December runs itself. 4 min

Sell gift vouchers

Sell vouchers from your booking page, paid straight into your own Stripe or PayPal, and take them off at the till. 76 sec

Know your guests and grow

Reports, your mailing list and referrals.

Reports and your mailing list

Your busiest days and times, regulars who have gone quiet, and a mailing list that grows itself. 73 sec

Mailing guests an offer

Email an offer to guests who have said yes, the safe and legal way. 80 sec

Powered by and recommend a friend

What the small Powered by line does, and how to earn a free month. 77 sec

Order and Pay

Guests order and pay from their phone, and you run it all from your dashboard. First 14 days free. Written guide: Order and Pay.

Build your menu

Add sections and items, with sizes, choices, allergens and calories, so it is ready for ordering. 82 sec

Turn on ordering

Show your menu, switch ordering on and print QR codes for your tables. 72 sec

Connect your payments

Link Stripe, PayPal, SumUp or Square so card payments go straight to you. 78 sec

Customers ordering from their phone

See how guests scan, order and pay, and add your venue to their home screen. 61 sec

Kitchen and bar screens

See each order on the right screen, then move it from new to done. 83 sec

Takeaway and delivery

Offer collection and delivery, with your own charge and distance limit. 62 sec

Offers, codes and refunds

Make an automatic offer or a secret code, and refund an order. 85 sec

End of day and past orders

Print your day's takings and find any older order in seconds. 73 sec

Your account

Security, plans, several venues and the API.

Two-step login and Sign in with Google

Add a second lock to your dashboard with an authenticator app, and see how Google sign in works. 81 sec

Change plan, cancel or delete

See how to change your plan, cancel the renewal, or close your account, all from your dashboard. 77 sec

Several venues, one account

Switch between your venues on one login, and ask us about the Group plan and a single invoice. 63 sec

API keys and webhooks

Connect your own kiosk, till or screen to your bookings. 81 sec

Getting set up: more videos

Take Table Bookings Online

Set up hours, tables and rules, then share your booking link. A quick tour of taking bookings online. 53 sec Read the guide

Reserve with Google

What Reserve with Google is, why it is not live for Tablez yet, and the free booking link you can add today. 48 sec Read the guide

Set Your Venue Details

Where to set your venue name, email, phone and address so they show on your booking page and emails. 70 sec Read the guide

Choose Who Gets Told About Bookings

Choose who gets booking alerts, edit decline reasons and turn on the after visit thank you email. 67 sec Read the guide

Your First Login

What happens on your first login: choose a plan, then eight short setup pages to a live booking link. 65 sec Read the guide

Running your day: more videos

Reduce No-Shows

Reminders, easy cancelling, calls for groups and card holds: practical ways to cut no-shows. 48 sec Read the guide

Print or Email Your Table List

Print, download or email a plain list of the day's bookings, so you always have a backup. 69 sec Read the guide

Guests and Guest Profiles

Search your guests, spot regulars and no-shows, and keep notes your team sees on every booking. 62 sec Read the guide

Read the Calendar Month View

See bookings, covers and how full each day is, all on one month screen. 62 sec Read the guide

Use the Day View

One page for any date: bookings by service, the waitlist, and which tables are in use. 64 sec Read the guide

Messages and marketing: more videos

Take Deposits on Bookings

Deposits and card holds: when to ask, how much, and how to set it up with Stripe. 68 sec Read the guide

Order and Pay: more videos

Order and Pay: Start Your Free Trial

Customers order and pay from their phone. 14 days free, then ten pounds a month on Pro. 66 sec Read the guide

For your staff: more videos

Your First Day on Tablez

For new staff: log in, choose a password and see what you can do. 63 sec Read the guide

Seat a Walk In

Say yes to a walk in quickly, and keep the diary right. 69 sec Read the guide

Take a Phone Booking

What to ask and type when the phone rings, and how to read the booking back. 64 sec Read the guide

Mark Guests Arrived or No Show

Tick guests off as they arrive, and handle no shows, including card holds. 70 sec Read the guide

Handle a Late or Changed Booking

What to press when guests are running late, change their plans or cannot come. 58 sec Read the guide

Phone Alerts and Live Check

Get booking alerts on your phone, reply with one tap, and learn what the Live check switch does. 73 sec Read the guide

Use the Floor Plan on Shift

See which tables are free, seat guests, free tables when they leave and mark them clean. 75 sec Read the guide

Kitchen and Bar Order Screens

Open the kitchen and bar screens, read each order card and move orders through Start making, Ready and Done. 82 sec Read the guide

Take a Gift Voucher as Payment

Look up a gift voucher, take off what the guest spends, and leave the rest on the voucher. 72 sec Read the guide

End of Shift Checklist

A five minute checklist for the end of your shift: bookings, tables, notes, vouchers and logging out. 78 sec Read the guide

What to Say to Guests

Simple, polite words for taking bookings, being full, late guests, changes and deposits. 67 sec Read the guide

Run a better business: more videos

Fill Your Quiet Nights

Find your quietest night in Reports, add an event or a welcome line, and share your booking link. 68 sec Read the guide

Sunday roast bookings

Set roast hours, cap covers, pace arrivals, take pre-orders and add Sunday deposits. 69 sec Read the guide

Mother's Day and Valentine's Day Bookings

Set up your busiest days as events with a set menu, deposit and capacity. 66 sec Read the guide

New Year's Eve and Bank Holiday Bookings

Close the days you shut and run special nights as events, so your page matches the day. 63 sec Read the guide

Handle Large Groups and Parties

Set a party limit, join tables and ask for deposits so big bookings run smoothly. 59 sec Read the guide

Walk-ins and Bookings Together

Use a covers cap, notice and group limits to keep room for walk-ins. 60 sec Read the guide

Set Your Turn Times Right

Hold tables for the right time by party size, so you neither lose covers nor double book. 60 sec Read the guide

Stop Everyone Turning Up at Once

Use pacing to spread bookings across the evening so the kitchen isn't hit all at once. 50 sec Read the guide

Move or Join Tables

Move a booking to another table, or join two tables for a bigger party, from the booking page or the floor plan. 55 sec Read the guide

Dark mode on the staff app

Switch the staff app and live panel to dark mode for dim rooms and late shifts. 37 sec Read the guide

Use the timeline view

See every table across the day on one grid, with bookings as coloured bars and a line for now. 56 sec Read the guide

Use the live panel on a tablet

Run the door from a tablet: arrivals, seated tables, requests and busy times on one big touch screen. 74 sec Read the guide

Notifications bell

The bell shows new bookings, changes and cancellations as they happen, with an optional sound. 46 sec Read the guide

Busy times and day filters

See how full every 15 minutes is, filter the day by status and see where each booking came from. 52 sec Read the guide

Switch to dark mode

Switch the Tablez dashboard to dark mode, or let it follow your device. 41 sec Read the guide

Indoor, garden and bar areas

Split your floor plan into areas such as dining room, garden and bar. 38 sec Read the guide

Get help from your dashboard

Get help without leaving your dashboard: video guides, tickets and the Ask Tablez helper. 40 sec Read the guide

Time slots and booking notice

Set time slots, how far ahead guests can book, minimum notice and the online cancel cut-off. 44 sec Read the guide

Let guests pick their own table

Let guests choose their own table when they book, such as a window seat or booth. 33 sec Read the guide

Still coming? texts

Send a Still coming text on the day so you know which tables might come free. 36 sec Read the guide

Find a booking fast

Find any booking in seconds by name, phone, email or reference, and print the day's list. 47 sec Read the guide

Flag allergies, birthdays and VIPs

Flag allergies, birthdays, VIPs and high chairs so staff see them on the booking and the floor plan. 53 sec Read the guide

Lunch and dinner, or two sittings

Run lunch and dinner, or two sittings in an evening, with service periods and turn times. 49 sec Read the guide

Keep some tables for walk ins

Keep tables back for walk-ins so online bookings can never take them. 44 sec Read the guide

Why does my booking page say full?

Guests say the page is full but you have empty tables? Check these four places to find out why. 63 sec Read the guide

Write a Fair Cancellation Policy

Set an online cut-off, clear booking terms and a matching deposit release time. 68 sec Read the guide

Collect Reviews After a Visit

Send a thank you email with your review link a few hours after each visit. 67 sec Read the guide

Build a Mailing List the Right Way

Grow a mailing list from tick box sign ups, with consent built in. 67 sec Read the guide

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 guide

Train a new team in an hour

The five things a new team member needs: log in, see today, answer a request, mark arrivals and no shows, and add bookings. 63 sec Read the guide

Quiz nights and live music

Add each quiz or gig as an event with its own capacity, price and booking page entry. 65 sec Read the guide

Run a pub with ordering

Build a menu, connect payments, switch on ordering and print table QR codes, so guests order from their seats. 64 sec Read the guide

Compare and choose: more videos

Which Tablez plan do I need?

Start on Free and move up only when you need to. Here is what Free, Standard, Pro and Order and Pay include. 51 sec Read the guide

How to choose a booking system

The questions to ask any booking system before you commit, from busy month costs to exporting your guests. 46 sec Read the guide

Booking system fees explained

The four kinds of booking system cost, how to work out the real bill, and how Tablez charges. 56 sec Read the guide

Tablez vs a paper diary

A fair look at what a paper diary does well, where it falls short, and what Tablez adds. 49 sec Read the guide

Tablez vs Spreadsheets and WhatsApp

Where WhatsApp and a spreadsheet hold up for bookings, and where one list and one link do better. 48 sec Read the guide

Free vs Paid Booking Systems

What a free plan usually leaves out, and how to decide when paid is worth it. 57 sec Read the guide

Order and Pay vs Other Ways to Take Orders

Phone, QR menu, marketplace or till: what to ask, and where Order and Pay fits. 50 sec Read the guide

Compare Booking Systems

How to use our side by side comparisons, with the Tablez prices for reference. 50 sec Read the guide

Common questions: more videos

How Much Does Tablez Cost?

Free for 60 bookings a month, then 9.99 or 24.99 a month, with no fee per cover. 50 sec Read the guide

Is Tablez Really Free?

Yes. The Free plan is not a trial: up to 60 bookings a month, no card, no end date. 52 sec Read the guide

Do Guests Need an App or Account?

No. Guests book from your link in any browser, with no app and no password. 44 sec Read the guide

Can Guests Cancel Online?

Yes, with one tap from their email, up to a cut-off time you choose. 49 sec Read the guide

If a Guest Does Not Turn Up

What happens when a guest does not turn up, and how to mark a no show in Tablez. 48 sec Read the guide

Stopping Double Bookings

How Tablez checks your tables and turn times so one table is never given out twice. 48 sec Read the guide

Closing a Day or Dates

Close a regular day or add a one-off closure so guests cannot book it online. 43 sec Read the guide

Phone and Online Bookings

Phone, walk-in and online bookings share one diary and the same tables. 46 sec Read the guide

Does It Work on My Phone?

Guests book in any phone browser, and your team can add the staff app to a home screen. 49 sec Read the guide

Getting Your Data Out

Your bookings and guest list are yours. Download them as CSV files any time. 47 sec Read the guide

Is Guest Data Safe?

Where Tablez keeps guest details, who is responsible, and what to do yourself. 50 sec Read the guide

More Than One Venue

Yes. Sign up each venue with the same email and password, then switch between them from one login. 43 sec Read the guide

Do I Need a Website?

No website needed. Copy your booking link, print the QR poster, or embed the form later. 47 sec Read the guide

Help Setting Up

Yes. We will set Tablez up with you for free, by phone or video call, on any plan. 48 sec Read the guide

How Long Does Setup Take?

About ten minutes for the basics. The welcome walkthrough takes you one page at a time. 51 sec Read the guide

Change Your Booking Page Colours

Yes. Add your logo and pick an accent colour for your booking page and emails. Free on every plan. 42 sec Read the guide

Add a Second Manager

Add them as a staff login, then tick the extra access they need. Only the owner can add logins. 68 sec Read the guide

Why Am I Not Getting Booking Emails?

Check your notification address, your spam folder and your email sending settings, then ask us if still stuck. 65 sec Read the guide

Why did my guest not get a text?

Find out why a booking text did not arrive: plan, balance, tick boxes and phone number. 68 sec Read the guide

What happens when my plan ends?

If a paid plan is not renewed you move to Free. Your bookings and settings stay, and you can subscribe again. 51 sec Read the guide

What happens if I go over my booking limit?

Going over your monthly bookings does not cut you off. Two months over are let through before online booking stops. 48 sec Read the guide

Account and plan: more videos

Your Plan and Billing Page

See your bookings used, renewal date, payments and what your plan includes. 66 sec Read the guide

Your Account Page

Change your name and password, and add two-step login. 64 sec Read the guide

Grow your venue and websites

Posts, review replies and websites done for you. Written overview: Grow your venue explained.

Grow Your Venue Explained

A short tour of the Grow your venue packs: posts done for you, review replies, a website and PayPal subscriptions. 43 sec Read the guide

Add Us on Facebook

Add us as a partner with our Meta Business ID so we can post to Facebook and Instagram. No passwords. 42 sec Read the guide

Add Us on Google

Add our manager email to your Google Business Profile so we can post and reply to reviews. No passwords. 41 sec Read the guide

Your My Growth Panel

A tour of My growth: posts waiting, replies left, how your posts work and recent activity. 32 sec Read the guide

We Reply to Your Google Reviews

Your replies left, your tone, reply bundles and how to give us access. 37 sec Read the guide

Order a Website

Choose a plan, pay with PayPal, then fill in your details and upload your logo, photos and menus on a private page. 38 sec Read the guide

Rather someone showed you?

Set up help is free on every plan. We will do it with you by phone or video call, usually in about twenty minutes. Ask for a hand.