Concern
No-shows and late cancellations
An empty cover that was promised costs more than any single bill. The system holds a deposit or a card, applies a clear policy, and captures what a no-show owes — automatically.
The cost
An empty cover is rarely empty of cost.
A held table is a table turned away from walk-ins, with prepped covers and staffed sections behind it. The damage builds quietly — and never shows up on any report.
How the system addresses it
An unspoken promise that the table will be kept.
Deposits
A deposit taken at the time of booking, matched to the service.
Card pre-authorisation
Card details are requested only when a visit is confirmed, removing any pressure at the point of booking.
Cancellation policies
Clear cancellation terms by service and notice window, shown at booking and applied without dispute.
Automatic capture
A late cancellation or no-show fee is charged automatically against the pre-authorised card on file.
Guest history
Repeat no-shows are visible on the profile, so the floor is protected over time.
One record
Booking, policy, and charge sit together, so a no-show is settled automatically.
A deposit is not a barrier to booking. It’s an unspoken promise that the table will be kept.
Questions
No-shows, answered.
How do restaurants reduce no-shows?
Restaurants reduce no-shows by taking a deposit or pre-authorising a card, setting a clear cancellation policy, and capturing any fee owed automatically when a guest does not arrive. Inservo handles all three on the same record as the reservation, so every payment is tied to it.
Can a deposit be taken at the time of booking?
Yes. A deposit can be required when the booking is made, with the amount set by service and charged per person in the party.
What happens when a guest cancels late?
The cancellation policy for that service applies, and any charge is captured automatically, with the terms shown to the guest when the booking was made.
Further reading
Further reading
Published guides from Inservo on the same subject.
The real cost of no-shows in 2025 — and how deposits fix it
With £3.4bn in new costs and NICs at 15%, UK restaurants can no longer absorb empty tables. How deposit policies protect revenue without hurting bookings.
GrowthPop-ups and guest chef nights: low-risk revenue 25% of Britons want
A quarter of UK diners — and 34% of parents — want restaurants to host pop-up events. How to run them without breaking your operation.
GrowthPrivate dining is up 19% — and it carries 25-40% higher spend per head
Private dining bookings in major UK cities rose 19% year on year, with function menus running 25-40% above à la carte (industry research, 2025).
Protect the covers that were promised.
A short walkthrough showing deposits, policies, and automatic capture on one record.