Creating a Positive Future for Restaurants

To succeed in hospitality, we must stay ahead of the curve and be competitive.?

Consumer tastes change, and social media makes some famous, even for a short while.

Interior designers and restaurant owners share a common goal in this regard: understanding what draws customers to restaurants and, more importantly, what encourages them to return again and again.

So unless you own Rules restaurant (the oldest restaurant in London, established in 1798 and still in private hands!), you must pay attention to what is happening outside your business.

Research was conducted by The Square a few months ago.?

'The Future of Restaurants' - Here are some key findings.

• Many restaurants are relying on technology to address staffing issues. Obviously, cafes and fast-food restaurants can utilise technology more extensively. Fine-dining restaurants also see the benefits of using tech to fill staffing gaps, particularly for managing customer loyalty programs (37%) and real-time restaurant capacity (38%) and taking payments, making reservations, and other tasks.

• Marketing is increasingly on restaurants' agendas as they aim to understand customers' needs and recognise the importance of boosting engagement through a marketing program. Listening to customers can provide valuable insights into their desires, and these insights can directly inform your marketing efforts. (More on customer patterns a few lines below).

• 40% say that food preparation robots would be most beneficial. (I cannot see that happening in fine dining. Can you?)

• Maintaining consumer interest is the biggest challenge for fine-dining restaurants (47%), casual-dining restaurants (44%), and cafes or other restaurants (50%). This is something that would benefit from thinking about now and revisiting regularly.? Revenue will decline if customer interest in your restaurant is not maintained over the long term.

• The other interesting finding was that most restaurants are focused on new income streams outside of the restaurant - meal kits, premade meals, cooking classes, subscriptions, for example.

How are customer patterns changing?

Customer patterns are shifting, meaning restaurants must be on the ball when attracting guests.

There is a growing desire for locally sourced food, 35% of Baby Boomers and 34% of Gen X say this would interest them in a new restaurant, compared to Millennials (33%) and Gen Z (31%).???

Many restaurants now have land where they grow their own produce. Many more make extensive use of farm, and local, produce.? For example, L'enclume (Cumbria), Belmond Le Manoir aux Quat' Saisons (Oxfordshire), The Five Fields (London), Gravetye Manor (Sussex).

Customers are more open to using technology to plan their visits, pay for their meals or order through a third-party delivery service.

This creates the opportunity for restaurants to track personal consumer preferences and respond quickly to emerging trends more easily.?

Restaurant owners can also leverage marketing and campaign tools to send personalised promotions based on customer preferences and feedback.

Understanding what your community and guests are looking for is critical to success.?

As a restaurant owner, have you considered how to offer a unique experience to your guests?

Restaurants that go above and beyond to create entertaining and personalised guest experiences are increasing in number.?

My experience of Clap London - From an interior designer perspective?

A great example of a restaurant creating a personalised experience is Clap London, a fine dining Japanese restaurant in Knightsbridge, where the aim is to offer a 'Sensory Japanese Dining Experience.'

I had the chance to enjoy the whole experience, from dining to late-night partying.

The main floor features outstanding sushi, with guests seated comfortably in lounge chairs at timber tables, enjoying impeccable service from a very attentive staff.

The floor above provides a more casual setting with poseur-height tables, high stools, and an impressive cocktail list. The cocktail bar is the focal point of this floor, where various seating options around the counter allow guests to witness the artistry of well-trained bartenders bringing their cocktails to life.

In the background, a large screen displays scenes of Japanese nightlife, maintaining the theme of recreating a traditional Japanese dining experience with a modern twist.

The walls come alive with projected graphics and light displays that change throughout the night, shifting from subtle lighting and calming colours early on to a more dynamic atmosphere later, inspired by Tokyo’s electric music scene.

The venue attracts not only guests who reserve tables for dining but also those seeking a cocktail or a club-like experience in an intimate setting. While there won't be dancing on tables or extravagant performances, the environment remains elegant, with live DJs and a crowd looking for a fun night out with friends.

The top floor can also be hired for private events, offering a personalised experience for guests.

Take a look at the website for more images and information. https://claprestaurant.com/london/

Are you a restaurant owner wanting to improve your customer's experience? Here are my thoughts……….

From an interior design perspective, it is essential to transform the space quickly—such as turning a dining area into a dance floor—with minimal disruption to prevent guests from leaving.

If your restaurant doesn’t have a dedicated area for night events, choosing stackable chairs or flip-top tables that can be easily stored away becomes crucial for this operational shift.

Additional elements like hanging curtains or foldable room dividers can also be integrated into the design to separate different areas or create a more intimate and cosy atmosphere.

Lighting settings play a crucial role in creating the right ambience. Controlling the colour and intensity of lighting according to the time of day is now vital for any well-designed venue.

If you want to create an experience in your restaurant, message me, and we can have an initial chat.

To continue to grow and stay competitive in today’s market, restaurant owners will need solutions that help them understand their guests’ behaviour and preferences better than ever before.

I would love your feedback on the content of this article. Share in the comments!

Your Next Action

1. Are you planning to launch a brand new restaurant? Is it time for your restaurant to have a refresh? Get in touch today. Send me a message here on LinkedIn or book a call https://calendly.com/info-qota/let-s-talk?
2. Or visit our website at https://www.mariaoliva.co.uk
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