How to cut no-shows without upsetting your regulars

An empty table at eight o'clock on a Saturday hurts twice: the covers you lost, and the guests you turned away at six. The good news is that most no-shows are not people who decided not to come. They are people who forgot, double-booked, or could not find a way to cancel.

Make cancelling easy

It sounds backwards, but the single best thing you can do is make it effortless to cancel. A guest who can cancel in one tap from their confirmation email will usually do it. A guest who has to phone during service will usually not.

Every Revotab confirmation has a manage link, and you choose how late guests can cancel online.

Remind them, once, at the right time

One reminder is helpful. Three is nagging. Send it the day before for dinner, and the morning of for lunch, with:

• the time and the number of guests
• the address and a map link
• a clear way to change or cancel

Ask for a deposit where it matters

You do not need deposits for a table of two on a Tuesday. You might for a table of eight on a Saturday, or for the set menu on Valentine's night. Ask only where an empty table really costs you, and say plainly that it comes off the bill.

A deposit is less about the money and more about a promise both sides keep.

Keep a waitlist ready

When a guest does cancel, the table should not stay empty. A waitlist turns a late cancellation into a happy phone call to someone who wanted that slot.

Remember who comes, and who does not

Your guest book should show you when someone has not turned up before. Most people deserve a second chance. A few patterns are worth a gentle word, or a deposit next time.