Best restaurant booking systems UK: 7 platforms compared (2026)

Resos is our best restaurant booking system for most independent UK venues. It offers a permanent free plan for up to 25 bookings per month, core table management, and no commission or cover fees. Its paid pricing is currently displayed in euros rather than pounds, so operators who need a fixed GBP software bill should compare simpleERB, which publishes a £21 monthly Starter plan.

This is a consideration guide, not a Resos product page. We compare seven active systems available to UK venues and explain where each is a better fit. Product availability, pricing, fees, and UK evidence were checked against official vendor sources on 11 August 2026.

Key takeaways

• Best overall for independent venues: Resos, free to start with no commission or cover fees
• Best published GBP pricing: simpleERB, £21 per month for up to 300 covers
• Best UK hospitality breadth: ResDiary, dedicated pub, bar, group, hotel, and restaurant workflows
• Best marketplace and table-management combination: OpenTable, with UK pricing available by quote
• Best for pubs, bars, and event enquiries: Access Collins, with DesignMyNight distribution
• Best for UK and European marketplace reach: TheFork Manager, with quote-based pricing and marketplace fees
• Best enterprise shortlist: SevenRooms, with UK group proof and deep CRM capabilities

UK restaurant booking systems at a glance

Prices exclude temporary promotions. VAT, payment processing, messaging, add-ons, and marketplace fees may change the total. We do not convert euro prices to pounds because exchange rates and card-provider charges vary.

How we evaluated

We included active restaurant-facing systems with current official evidence that they serve UK venues or support UK restaurant operations. The product must manage reservations and tables, not only list venues or sell tickets. That is why DesignMyNight is discussed as a discovery channel and Quandoo as a migration notice rather than ranked as active reservation software.

We reviewed official pricing pages, product documentation, UK help centres, and UK customer evidence. We did not purchase every plan or run a live service on all seven systems. Vendor performance claims are therefore labelled as vendor-reported evidence, not independent test results. When a current UK price is not public, the comparison says “quote required” instead of repeating third-party estimates.

Ranking weights

• Reservation and table-management capability: 25%
• Total-cost transparency and fee structure: 25%
• UK availability and venue proof: 20%
• Direct booking, marketplace, and integration options: 15%
• No-show, payment, and guest-management controls: 15%

The main recommendation is for a single independent UK venue that already attracts guests through its own website, Google profile, and social channels. A marketplace-dependent restaurant or large group can reasonably choose a different winner.

Ownership disclosure

RestaurantBookingSystem.com is operated by Resos. Resos is included in this ranking and may benefit if a reader chooses it. We apply the same inclusion and sourcing rules to every vendor, link to official evidence, and call out disadvantages such as euro-denominated pricing and paid add-ons. Learn more about this site and its ownership.

1. Resos, best overall for independent UK venues

Resos combines online bookings, a visual table planner, confirmations, and guest records on a permanent free plan capped at 25 bookings per month. It states that all plans are commission-free and carry no cover fee. Paid plans add more booking capacity; optional capabilities such as online payments, Reserve with Google, waitlist, SMS, and multi-location management are priced separately.

Published price: Free for 25 monthly bookings. Regular monthly prices are €45 for Basic, €85 for Plus, and €125 for Unlimited before temporary promotions. Verified 11 August 2026 on Resos pricing.

UK evidence: Resos publishes customer stories from Birmingham, Sewerby, Sussex, Cornwall, and other UK locations on its customer stories page.

Why choose it: The free plan and no-cover-fee model make it a low-risk starting point for an independent venue that generates its own demand.

Watch for: Paid prices are shown in euros, not GBP. Payments, waitlist, Reserve with Google, SMS, and other add-ons are not all included in the base subscription.

2. simpleERB, best for transparent GBP pricing

simpleERB publishes a flat monthly subscription based on cover volume. Every plan includes table and booking management, a booking widget, CRM and reporting, online booking integrations, no-show tools, and a built-in waitlist.

Published price: Starter is £21 per month for up to 300 covers, Plus is £47 for up to 1,200 covers, and Pro is £80 for unlimited covers. Payments and card capture cost extra on Starter and Plus; payment-provider transaction fees still apply. Verified 11 August 2026 on simpleERB pricing.

UK evidence: The official page prices plans in GBP, describes UK reverse-charge tax treatment, and lists a +44 sales number and GMT support hours.

Why choose it: It provides the clearest public GBP cost in this comparison and does not charge per-cover commission.

Watch for: Starter and Plus have cover limits. Compare the correct tier and any payments add-on instead of looking only at the £21 headline price.

3. ResDiary, best for UK hospitality breadth

ResDiary supports restaurants, pubs and bars, hotels, cafés, and restaurant groups. Its core materials document table and yield management, promotions, credit-card guarantees, reporting, and commission-free bookings from supported channels. Integrations and group functions are available as add-ons.

Published price: The main subscription requires a quote. Public add-ons range from £10 to £35 per month, with a £50 bundle; listed prices are subject to 20% VAT and some payment and messaging surcharges. Verified 11 August 2026 on ResDiary pricing.

UK evidence: ResDiary is operated by Access UK Ltd, publishes GBP add-on prices, and has dedicated product routes for UK-relevant pubs, bars, and groups.

Why choose it: It is a credible shortlist option when a venue needs a mature hospitality workflow, yield controls, and a wide integration ecosystem.

Watch for: A public base subscription price is not shown. Ask for the full monthly cost, VAT, contract term, booking allowance, and add-ons in writing.

See ResDiary vs Resos, ResDiary vs OpenTable, and ResDiary alternatives.

4. OpenTable, best for marketplace reach plus table controls

OpenTable’s UK plans combine its diner marketplace with floor plans, Smart Assign, inventory controls, waitlist, guest profiles, and booking integrations. The UK plan page currently offers Core and Pro by quote rather than publishing a base monthly fee.

Published price: Quote required. OpenTable states that Core and Pro only charge cover fees when a diner discovers the venue through OpenTable or its affiliate network. Website, phone, and walk-in reservations do not carry a cover fee on those plans. The standard contract is one year and renews annually. Verified 11 August 2026 on OpenTable UK plans.

UK evidence: The source is OpenTable’s UK restaurant site, uses GBP for paid add-ons, and provides a UK sales number.

Why choose it: It suits restaurants that want a consumer marketplace and advanced reservation controls in the same platform.

Watch for: Total cost depends on the quote and number of seated marketplace diners. Do not use US list prices or old UK estimates to model a current contract.

See OpenTable vs Resos and OpenTable alternatives.

5. Access Collins, best for pubs, bars, and event enquiries

Access Collins is the underlying bookings and enquiries system used by many DesignMyNight booking partners. Its official help centre documents reservations, walk-ins, floor plans, payments, pre-orders, enquiries, table allocation, booking widgets, and Access EPoS integration.

Published price: Quote required. Access states that DesignMyNight and Reserve with Google bookings can incur the normal third-party referral booking fee. Verify direct-widget, partner-network, payment, and implementation charges separately. Checked 11 August 2026 using the Access Collins help centre and Reserve with Google fee guidance.

UK evidence: Access Collins is provided by Access UK Ltd. The official documentation describes UK-wide DesignMyNight distribution and a front-of-house app for restaurants, bars, pubs, and cafés.

Why choose it: It fits venues where table bookings, large-party enquiries, deposits, pre-orders, events, and DesignMyNight discovery need to meet in one operational system.

Watch for: DesignMyNight is a discovery channel, not the underlying reservation database. Ask which partner bookings carry fees and whether direct bookings use different commercial terms.

6. TheFork Manager, best for UK and European marketplace distribution

TheFork Manager combines restaurant operations with marketplace discovery across TheFork and partner channels. Its current pricing page documents a smart floor plan, availability management, waitlist, guest data, direct booking widgets, and marketplace distribution.

Published price: Performance and Enterprise require a quote. Reservations from TheFork, Tripadvisor, and partners carry a fee based on a percentage of average bill per guest; website, Instagram, and Facebook reservations are included. Verified 11 August 2026 on TheFork Manager pricing.

UK evidence: TheFork maintains UK restaurant-owner content, UK onboarding, and a UK version of TheFork Pay. Availability and final commercial terms should still be confirmed for the venue’s postcode.

Why choose it: It is relevant when a UK restaurant wants European marketplace discovery as well as direct-channel reservation tools.

Watch for: Neither the subscription nor marketplace percentage is public. Promotional visibility and discounts should be treated as optional commercial levers only when confirmed in the quote.

See TheFork alternatives.

7. SevenRooms, best enterprise shortlist

SevenRooms combines reservations and table management with CRM, direct booking, marketing, guest profiles, and multi-location data. It is aimed at a broader guest-lifecycle use case than a basic electronic reservation book.

Published price: Quote required. Confirm subscription, implementation, messaging, payments, integrations, and any channel fees in the proposal. Verified 11 August 2026 on the SevenRooms platform and CRM page.

UK evidence: SevenRooms publishes current London customer stories for Harts Group and Hide, plus a UK case study for Nobu London Old Park Lane. These are vendor-reported outcomes, not independent benchmarks.

Why choose it: It belongs on enterprise and multi-site shortlists where direct guest data, CRM automation, and group visibility matter alongside reservations.

Watch for: There is no public price. Smaller venues should compare the full quote against simpler booking-focused systems and buy only the workflow they will use.

Is DesignMyNight a booking system or a marketplace?

For this comparison, DesignMyNight is a marketplace and distribution channel. Its official FAQ says that venue listings and booking functionality are available to customers of Access Collins or ResDiary, alongside advertising and ticketing options. A venue should therefore evaluate two decisions:

1. Which underlying reservation system should run the diary, floor, guest data, and direct widget?
2. Is DesignMyNight distribution worth its separate commercial terms for that venue?

This distinction prevents a marketplace audience figure from being mistaken for a software feature or an included booking channel.

Quandoo closure: dates for UK restaurants

Quandoo announced on 24 March 2026 that it would cease operations. Its official UK closure notice gives these dates:

• 30 September 2026: last day to make a new reservation and last dining date available through Quandoo
• 1 October 2026: consumer reservation and account services end
• 31 December 2026: website, app, and remaining infrastructure are scheduled to go offline

Existing bookings after 30 September remain valid according to Quandoo, but changes must be handled with the restaurant. Operators should export the data they are entitled to retain, select a replacement, rebuild channel links, test their widget and floor plan, and communicate the cutover before new bookings stop. See our Quandoo migration guide.

How to choose for your UK venue

Choose on total cost, not the headline. Request the base subscription, VAT, contract term, implementation, messaging, payments, add-ons, booking limits, and marketplace fees in one cost schedule.

Separate demand generation from operations. OpenTable, TheFork, and DesignMyNight can introduce diners. Resos and simpleERB are primarily direct-booking tools. Decide how much marketplace demand you need before paying for it.

Model a busy month. Apply every per-cover, payment, SMS, and overage fee to real booking and cover volume. A quote that looks cheap at 100 covers can change at 1,000.

Test UK service details. Confirm GBP billing, VAT handling, UK support hours, payment providers, Reserve with Google eligibility, data export, and the POS or PMS used at the venue.

Run a service trial. Rebuild one real floor plan, enter a busy service, take a deposit, move a booking, seat a walk-in, export guest data, and test the guest journey on mobile before signing.

Bottom line

Resos is our recommendation for an independent UK venue that wants a free, commission-free starting point and can accept euro-denominated paid pricing. simpleERB is the clearest alternative for published GBP pricing. ResDiary and Access Collins deserve attention from pubs, groups, and event-heavy operators; OpenTable and TheFork suit marketplace-led acquisition; SevenRooms is the enterprise CRM option.

The choice should change when the venue’s acquisition model or operating complexity changes. Get like-for-like UK quotes, use the same monthly volume for each calculation, and keep marketplace value separate from reservation-software cost.

Related guides: Best restaurant booking system 2026 | Commission-free booking systems | Best table management software | Quandoo alternatives | ResDiary vs Resos

Sources

All volatile product and pricing claims were checked on 11 August 2026.

• Resos pricing
• Resos customer stories
• simpleERB pricing
• ResDiary pricing
• OpenTable UK plans
• Access Collins bookings and enquiries
• DesignMyNight FAQ
• TheFork Manager pricing
• SevenRooms table management
• SevenRooms UK customer evidence
• Quandoo UK closure notice