Restaurant no-show statistics (2026)

What percentage of restaurant bookings are no-shows?

ResDiary's 2024 report put the UK no-show rate at 8% of bookings in 2023, up from about 5% the year before. It found that 76% of venues were affected. Earlier BBC reporting cited roughly 1 in 7 bookings failing to show. These figures cover different periods and groups of restaurants.

How much do no-shows cost the restaurant industry?

The Caterer reported an estimated £17.59 billion annual cost from no-shows and related rising costs across UK hospitality. ResDiary estimated an average annual loss of about £3,621 per venue. For your own restaurant, the cost depends on the number of empty seats, expected spend and whether you can rebook the table.

Do SMS reminders reduce no-shows?

The studies cited below report lower no-show rates among guests who received reminders. One analysis of 46,884 reservations across 257 restaurants found a delivered SMS reminder was associated with a 16% lower no-show rate. OpenTable reported an improvement of around 40%. Include the booking date, time and a cancellation link in your reminders.

Do deposits and card holds reduce no-shows?

In the Resos No-Show Index, bookings with a deposit or card hold had a 0.80% no-show rate, compared with 2.47% for bookings without protection. ResDiary found 62% of diners were happy to provide card details to secure a booking. These reported results are useful context, but the effect at your restaurant may differ.

How can restaurants reduce no-shows?

Start with these steps:

• Automated SMS + email reminders with the date, time and a one-tap cancel link.
• Deposits or card holds on high-demand slots and larger parties.
• Easy self-cancellation so freed tables can be rebooked.
• A clear, friendly cancellation policy shown at the time of booking.