Tips & Tricks
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16 Apr, 2024
Bank holidays should mean busy days and nights for your venue, if you can attract diners and prepare well to provide a seamless experience from start to finish. Here are 12 stats that show the true potential of long weekends bookings for restaurants, bars, and hotels.
A much-needed day away from the daily grind could also mean a day away from the kitchen for a lot of people, so bank holidays are a great opportunity for folks to relax, spend time with friends and family, and let someone else do the cooking! That’s why it is so important to ensure your venue is prepared to fully capitalise on a potential increase in customers and profits over the next bank holiday weekend.
Data from our UK & IE Hospitality Trends Report 2025 shows 31% of diners are already planning to spend more time and money dining out this year. With the anticipation of an additional day off work and, who knows, maybe even some nice weather, it could be the perfect recipe for a little extra spending and revenue for your business.
So, how important are these long weekends to our industry and how do you help those hungry or thirsty bank holiday customers find their way to your bar or restaurant? We uncover everything in this article.
Potential revenue boost from bank holidays
Research shows that during last year's Easter bank holiday (March 29th - April 1st 2024), spending at restaurants and cafes was up 26% from the previous weekend, while for pubs and bars, this increase was an incredible 52%.
Last year's May bank holidays also generated year-on-year sales growth of 3.6% in May for Britain's leading hospitality groups, with the pub sector achieving 4.4% growth, and restaurants achieving 3.8%.
Over the 2023 May bank holidays, spending at restaurants was up more than 15% from 2022, while spending at bars, clubs and pubs was up 6.4% more – likely due to the extra bank holiday for the King's Coronation.
At the time of the King’s Coronation, three quarters of Brits announced their intention to make a trip to a pub over the bank holiday which contributed to an 8.8% increase in like-for-like sales for pubs in May 2023. While lower, restaurants still benefited with an increase of over 3% in transaction volumes during the long weekend in May 2023 in comparison to the year before.
This is positive news for venue owners and operators looking to maximise their revenue during upcoming bank holidays.
But it’s not just spring bank holidays that have the most potential to positively impact revenue in the hospitality sector. Data from Experian showed that last year's August bank holiday weekend could boost retail and hospitality sales by 15%, contributing a whopping £600m in sales.
As you can see, there is real potential for pumping up your profits over bank holiday weekends. The challenge is ensuring your venue can stand out from the crowd and you can convince those hungry holiday-ers to reserve a spot in your restaurant or bar.
Pump up the promotion for early bookings
It’s clear that people take advantage of a special holiday to dine out and drink more.
Research found that 44% of diners prefer to celebrate special occasions at hospitality venues, with Mother’s Day being the most popular. In 2024, diners celebrated Mother’s Day across the UK with way more wine sales than in 2023 – an increase of nearly 50%!
Bank holidays are no different. They mean a break from the everyday routine for your potential customers, and could be the perfect opportunity to offer them something new to try. Consider a special menu for the weekend or introducing a new feature like bottomless brunch, or a discount for families with young children to enjoy a pub garden for lunch.
A ResDiary report on summer trading in the hospitality sector shows that pub gardens, waterside locations and rooftop terraces are all top draws for diners!
Survey data also shows that 45% of people who shop during the bank holiday combine it with a meal out, and 30% meet up with a friend for coffee or drinks. So, there could be real value in adding a way to entice day-time trade from bank holiday shoppers.
In 2024, a massive 11 million people intended to take overnight trips for the August bank holiday, with the surge in domestic travel suspected to deliver a substantial £3.1 billion boost to the UK economy. This is in comparison to 2023, when data from the UK Government revealed that 9.7 million people intended to travel domestically over the August bank holiday weekend. This shows a year-on-year increase of 1.3 million, which looks promising for this year's August bank holiday!
That means many people are likely to be planning their bank holiday weekends well in advance, which is the perfect time to attract them to your venue and make an online booking. Whether you are based in a seaside location, a beautiful countryside, or a popular city destination, don’t miss this golden opportunity and bank those early bookings!
- Is your website built to bank table bookings? Check out these great booking pages for inspiration on how to optimise your own.
- Did you know that with ResDiary you can take bookings from your website, Facebook, Instagram, and Reserve with Google? See it in action!
Planning in advance or flying by the seat of your pants?
Advertising your bank holiday promotion or special offers is key to announcing what’s planned, but it can also be a great way to encourage diners to make a reservation way in advance. This will give your team more time to prepare your venue and optimise your operations for the bank holiday weekend.
Include messaging in your advertising and a call to action reminding diners they should reserve a table to avoid missing out, or offer incentives like discounts or deals for those who book early. The rewards for your restaurant can be plentiful.
We know that 79% of diners prefer to book online via a restaurant website when it comes to booking a table, and that 29% of diners are put off by the inability to book online. So, use that to your advantage! Send your previous diners an email advertising your bank holiday specials and a promo code to plug in when they make a reservation on your website.
Not only are you ensuring your tables are full, but you’re also encouraging customers to include a visit to your restaurant in their bank holiday plans instead of just hoping they might stop by if they’re in the neighbourhood.
Better still, every online table booking offers the opportunity to grow your customer base. This will empower you to learn more about your customers and build a deeper relationship by offering them personalised experiences and bespoke special offers. That means you can turn a single bank holiday table booking into a valuable long-term customer.
Bank holiday table bookings made easy
Making sure your venue's reservations are handled correctly and well-managed doesn’t have to be a difficult task – and we can help!
ResDiary is a restaurant booking system that has the tools to take away the stress of busy bank holiday weekends while also helping you to maximise your profits. If you’re currently struggling to attract diners and manage your bookings, check out our useful Ultimate Guide to Restaurant Booking Systems.
Are you ready to boost your revenue over the next bank holiday weekend?
Now you know the 12 key stats that show the true potential of bank holidays, you’re ready to boost your revenue by maximising your online bookings. Check out our complete checklist to fully prepare for bank holiday success.
