The George in Fordingbridge took to social media on February 20 to discuss no-shows, after five groups that made bookings did not turn up.
They stated that there is nothing more ‘heart-breaking’ than turning customers away because they are fully booked, just to have empty tables when people don’t turn up.
Addressing the no shows, they said that they are not able to confirm every booking multiple times and they don’t want to start having to take deposits – they just want people to say if they’re not able to make it.
A spokesperson for The George said: “No-shows have increased since COVID.
“We understand that sometimes you forget that you have booked a table or think someone else has cancelled it but last Saturday we have five tables not turn up.”
After calling those that had made the bookings, they stated that two of the tables were ‘very sorry’ they had forgotten to cancel, another two tables didn’t answer and one, who had ordered birthday balloons for the table, hung up just after picking up.
“We are a small family run business, we do not have a fancy booking system with automatic reminders.
“Hospitality in general runs on incredibly tight margins, there is nothing more heart breaking to be turning people away because we are fully booked only to have people just not turn up for their booking.”