A newly-opened restaurant is grappling with diners who fail to turn up for their reservations. Waterloo’s Vine & Fire has appealed to customers to notify the establishment of any alterations after 31 people did not show up for their tables in just one day. Vine & Fire launched in Liverpool on March 7 under owner and chef Josh Stanton.
Josh has over 10 years of experience working in kitchens throughout the area, climbing the ladder to establish himself as something of a gastronomic expert who can “do it all”. Despite his sector expertise, Josh lacked formal business training and embarked on launching his establishment from scratch, discovering at every stage what it took to run a business.
Vine & Fire experienced a bustling opening spell with Josh previously telling the Liverpool Echo the reaction was “fantastic”. But in a recent social media post, the business revealed how it bore the brunt of 31 vacant tables in one day alone, reports the Liverpool Echo.
A message on Instagram urged patrons to alert the restaurant should they no longer need their reservation. The statement said: “Just a gentle note to say it’s really hard when people don’t turn up for their booking without letting us know. Today alone, we had a few big tables that never showed up – adding up to 20 people in total.”
An update posted some hours afterwards revealed a total of 31 individuals had not materialised for their reservations by close of business. The statement continued: “This is really disappointing. For a small business like ours, every booking matters so much. Empty seats hit us harder than you might realised.”
The post was met with an outpouring of support from independent businesses across the region, many sharing comparable experiences. Customers rallied behind Vine & Fire, praising its hospitality, menu and service, while expressing sympathy over the issue.
Vine & Fire added: “Thank you so much to everyone who keeps their reservation or lets us know if plans change. It means the world to us.”
In a bid to tackle the problem head-on, Vine & Fire is set to roll out a new booking system in the coming days. The restaurant specialises in Mediterranean small plates, served in portions slightly more generous than traditional tapas.
Shortly after launching, Josh told the Echo: “Me and my dad built everything in the restaurant and we opened the first week of March. It’s been fantastic.
“We’ve been very busy. I did not expect to be where [I am] now six weeks in. The amount of feedback we’re getting is unreal. Everyone is loving it. It’s one of the best streets on Earth. I’ve got regulars coming back to me and I’ve only been open six weeks.”
