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How can a restaurant or bar attract customers?
It’s the all-important question. To succeed in a saturated market, hospitality operators need to differentiate themselves from competitors to attract more guests and drive revenue growth.
Here are 10 proven ways to do this:
1. Deliver great food and genuine service, every single time
First things first, your main attraction needs to be your offering and service delivery.
It might sound obvious, but it’s worth saying: no amount of marketing can make up for a disappointing experience. Guests come back and bring others with them because they genuinely enjoyed the food and drinks, felt looked after and left wanting more.
And 54% of diners choose to return to restaurants they have visited before over trying new alternatives, according to the UK State of Spend Report from Cardlytics, a commerce media platform with visibility of over a quarter of all card-based transactions in the UK. So, you definitely want your food and service to leave the right impression every time.
But, what does that look like in practice?
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Focus on consistency – Guests don’t just want a great experience once, they want an equally memorable experience every time they come back. Make sure your portion sizes, plating and service standards align across every shift and staff member. Being known for your attention to detail is always a good thing.
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Listen to feedback – Whether it’s an online review or a quick chat at the table, guest feedback can highlight blind spots you might miss day-to-day. Keep a log of recurring comments, share them with your team during briefings and use them to shape menu tweaks or service improvements.
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Empower your team – Confident, well-informed staff deliver better service, so make sure to find the time for regular briefings, share menu updates and guest feedback, and give your team space to flag challenges or suggest improvements.
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Review the guest journey – Walk through the entire experience from a guest’s perspective, from the booking to the bill. Is there anything clunky or confusing that can be improved upon or updated? If there is, it’s time to fix it.
2. Maximise your online presence
The way customers find new venues has changed dramatically over the last few years with customers now starting their digital journey long before they set foot in your venue. Ensuring you have a strong online presence helps your venue rank highly on Google – one of the best ways for potential customers to find you.
According to a 2025 industry report from booking management system provider ResDiary, more than a quarter (29%) of diners are put off by the inability to book online and a third of diners use search engines to find new venues.
Having a website is essential to appearing in Google Search - one of the best ways for potential customers to find you. Ensuring your venue has a strong online presence both on your website and Google Business Profile can help your venue rank highly and boost search impressions.
Strengthen your online presence by:
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Making sure your information on menus, pricing, contact details and opening hours is all up to date and correct.
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Having a mobile-friendly website with engaging, high-quality imagery and easy navigation.
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Encouraging guests to share reviews on Google and other sites.
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Using booking integrations like Reserve with Google to remove the step between customers finding your venue on Google and having to go to your website to make a booking.
Use the quick cheat sheet below to make sure your venue looks its best online, with all the essentials covered.
3. Make your socials a visual invitation
28% of diners find new restaurants and bars on social media and it’s no surprise that this figure jumps to 60% for 18-34-year-olds. That’s why you need to think about your social media profiles as your digital shopfront.
Similar to on your website, make sure key details such as opening hours, current menus or seasonal specials are kept up to date. And don’t miss the chance to convert interest into bookings: link to your reservation system in your bio or use an integration to take bookings directly from your profile.
A well-curated profile that showcases your atmosphere, menu highlights and personality can tip the decision of first-time visitors in your favour, as 40% of people visit a restaurant after seeing food photos online according to marketing automation tool, Cropink.
Social media isn’t just great for driving traffic from your own tastebud-tingling posts though; it can also be great organic word-of-mouth. When guests share their visit, whether that’s a dish of the season, your aesthetic venue or a spectacular cocktail, it becomes a personal recommendation to their followers.
4. List your venue on a discovery platform
How do you promote your restaurant to attract more guests? An online discovery platform, of course.
Why? Because 48% of diners discover new restaurants on discovery platforms and 68% say they prefer to make bookings through them.
Creating a listing on a popular hospitality discovery platform like DesignMyNight is a great way to take advantage of this demand and boost visibility - sharing your brand with up to 3.9 million users a month.
A listing page showcases your venue along with all the essential info your guests need: opening hours, menus, events and contact details, and you can keep your listing information up to date. The listing is then promoted in bespoke areas that suit your location and priorities to reach your target audience and increase bookings.
According to DesignMyNight’s Head of Brand, Katie Kirwan, “Volume isn't the key; understanding the search intent of your audience is. Based on trends, activity, interest and consumer engagement, we regularly add new search engine categories to the DesignMyNight website across venue listings and events, furnishing them in our SERPs.”
No need for you to stress about regularly updating your website to meet new search demand or target an impossible number of keywords. Online discovery platforms do this for you and most importantly, many platforms offer integrated booking tools, allowing guests to make reservations on the spot. The listing is then promoted in bespoke areas that suit your location and priorities to reach your target audience and increase bookings.
5. Start a loyalty program
When thinking about attracting more guests, don't underestimate the power of the regulars. At the end of the day, they prove to be your most valuable diners, spending 67% more on average, according to BIA Advisory, a research, consulting, valuations and advisory service company.
How do restaurants keep customers happy and keep them coming back then? By starting a loyalty program that they actually want to participate in.
Make sure your loyalty program aligns with customers' expectations:
- Make it easy to enroll and collect points or rewards
- Offer personalised recommendations, exclusive deals and birthday surprises based on their preferences and purchase history
- Have it available as a mobile app, so that they can always take advantage of it – no more forgotten paper cards
6. Host different events
Another effective tactic to attract more guests to your restaurant or bar is by building a calendar of varied and interesting events tied into offers or holidays. This is a great way to generate income from quieter days and utilise pre-booked business for smoother planning. Some great examples are recurring events such as ‘Taco Tuesdays’ or a curry night to encourage mid-week visitors.
According to a 2025 Pub and Bar Industry Report conducted by Access Hospitality, 83% of customers find live performances like music and comedy appealing, while 60% express interest in events or classes. Wondering how well these events perform? 55% of operators who ran at least one ticketed event say they will continue running them at the same rate, and 33% are even planning to run them more often.
Some great examples of smaller events are recurring occasions such as ‘Taco Tuesdays’ or a curry night to encourage mid-week visitors.
Hosting bigger ticketed events is an excellent way to get ahead of planning for organising staff, making the most of your venue size and finding new customers. Retro theme nights, karaoke nights and live music events are all great options for bigger events. For these, a reliable event ticketing software can help you manage your event easily, sell tickets across different platforms, promote your event to a wider audience and facilitate a quick and easy check-in on the day.
7. Let guests order and pay their way
Inevitably, the world is moving towards mobile everything, and hospitality is no exception. Mobile payment options are some of the most popular tech upgrades impacting the modern dining experience, helping to reduce wait times and receiving positive feedback among the guests. More than half (55%) of customers surveyed by booking system ResDiary in their 2024 industry report had used their phone to order food from the table and almost two-thirds (60%) agreed it made it easier to pay for their meal.
8. Focus on sustainability
According to accountancy firm Deloitte, 66% of the population consider ethical practices important when choosing a place to eat. So, why not take advantage of this and lean into sustainability more?
Here are a few ways to make your restaurant or bar greener:
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Keep an eye on energy and water use - simple upgrades like energy management systems or low-flow taps can help you save on utilities while being kinder to the planet.
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Reduce food waste - food waste is a huge issue in hospitality. Start by tracking what’s getting tossed. From there, you can right-size your portions and use inventory software to stay on top of what you’ve got, so nothing spoils before it hits a plate.
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Source local products - when possible, source your ingredients locally and plan your menus around seasonal produce. This not only saves our planet unnecessary emissions but you'll also benefit from buying the freshest, flavourful food.
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Include more plant-based options in your menu - environmental campaigning organisation Greenpeace says that nearly 60% of greenhouse gases come from meat production? You can reduce your impact by focusing less on meat and introducing more plant-based options.
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Use sustainable takeout packaging - swap out the styrofoam for packaging made of compostable materials.
9. Follow recent and viral trends
From pistachio everything to the rise of health-focused menus, some dishes go viral for a reason and your venue can benefit from that craze if you can ride the wave.
If you’re participating in a viral food trend, start by letting your existing and new customers know about it – post about it on your socials and send a short, but irresistible email to your subscriber list letting them know what’s new on the menu or that you’re joining the latest trend.
10. Let your reviews do the talking
It’s no secret that people check reviews before choosing where to eat or drink, as they’re often seen as a direct way of getting real, unfiltered insight.
22% of diners say that they discover restaurants via reviews. Which means your active and engaged profile on Google Maps or other review site is just as important as your website or social media, helping to build a positive rapport with customers and shape first impressions.
And it's not just potential guests paying attention - Google is too. The algorithm favours businesses with recent, positive reviews, meaning the more consistent feedback you collect, the more visible you become in local search results. More reviews = better ranking = more foot traffic.
Always reply to reviews, even the short or negative ones. A polite, thoughtful response builds trust and shows potential guests you care about the experience you provide. If you can, and if the review is valid, acknowledge the negative feedback and try to learn from it.
What tools can help your business attract more guests?
Here are a few areas where smart tech can support guest acquisition, drive business growth and improve your day-to-day operations:
- Hospitality Booking System - Whether it’s a table for two or a big group celebration, guests want booking to be quick and hassle-free. A reliable booking system makes it easier for people to plan their visit and helps you manage your capacity without the back-and-forth.
- Point of Sale (POS) system - More than just taking payments, a modern hospitality POS should support your wider operations, from syncing with your loyalty program to giving insights into what’s selling well.
- Order & Pay at Table - Letting guests browse, order and pay from their phone helps reduce wait times and keeps service flowing, especially during busy shifts.
- Customer Relationship Management (CRM) System - A hospitality-focused CRM lets you send personalised emails based on real guest behaviour, like follow-ups after a visit, birthday offers or tailored recommendations.
Attract more guests to your restaurant with Access Hospitality
In a competitive industry with countless dining options, attracting and retaining customers is crucial for any restaurant or bar to drive continued business growth. Thankfully, there's a range of strategies you can use to attract more guests and maintain their loyalty.
So, how can venues attract more guests? Some of the key tactics we've shared are: making sure your online presence is up-to-date and engaging, listing your venue on discovery platforms, hosting unique events, embracing mobile technology for convenience and efficiency, incorporating sustainable practices, and building a strong customer loyalty program.
To support you with this, Access Hospitality offer a range of hospitality software designed to simplify operations, enhance the customer experience, and drive growth. Book a demo with our expert team who are always on hand to discuss and showcase the solutions that are best suited to your needs.
