A soft launch or hard launch for your restaurant? The answer to this question will be deemed entirely from the type of restaurant you are opening and your individual circumstances. Whatever you decide it’s advisable to have a number of “dummy runs” before lunching a restaurant to the public. A restaurant dummy run works like this – invite friends and family as well as a few people from the local area to come and eat for free. Each table must order different dishes so that the kitchen is fully tested as well as the restaurant waiting staff. ask people to test the waiting staff, ask about the ingredients of individual dishes etc. People are allowed 2 courses for free but must pay for all drinks. That way you will still end up breaking even / making a small profit and the staff get fully tested when the restaurant is full. If mistakes are made then diners won’t mind much as they aren’t paying for the food. Always get each diner to fill in a questionnaire at the end of there meal and use this feedback when de briefing the staff at the end of the evening – that way the launching of your restaurant will go relatively smoothly!
With regard to organising a restaurant launch party most people seem to want some kind of celebrity, however unless you are a big, expensive restaurant and can attract a big name celebrities it’s pointless trying this route if you are only likely to get a runner up from X Factor! It’s much better to invite to your restaurant launch party those that will actually benefit your restaurant business in the long run. These people will be the opinion makings in the area and those that will actually bring you custom. Therefore think about inviting hotel concierges, members of the local chamber of commerce, chairmen of local sports clubs, the press, headmasters of local schools etc etc. Free food and drink is a must – don’t invite them all and charge them!
Don’t forget that as soon as you have secured the site of your new restaurant – put up a banner to tell the public what’s opening and when.
For help with launching a restaurant get in contact with Captivate Restaurants today on 020 7060 3318 or email info@captivate-restaurants.co.uk
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