What can I do to boost trade in my restaurant? The Caterer 12 January
2006

What can I do to boost trade in my restaurant on Monday and Tuesday nights?

Guy Holmes, Captivate Restaurants

• Industry nights. People who work in the hospitality sector don't often get weekends off, so are more likely to go out at the beginning of the week.
• Offer a special discount to the staff of neighbouring bars, pubs and restaurants. Get one of your waiting staff to visit every bar, pub and restaurant and give them flyers printed from your computer. Being popular with the bar staff in the area will have the knock-on effect of being recommended by them.
• Special offers and discounts. Your potential customers are more sensitive to price on Mondays and Tuesdays, as these are days that most people stay in. With special offers and discounts, you will ensure that a lot more people will choose your restaurant in the early part of the week. The better the offer, the more people it is likely to attract and, of course, once they sample the quality of the food they will be become regular customers. Offers such as three courses for £15, 20% off normal prices on Mondays and Tuesdays, or two main courses for the price of one always prove popular.
• Senior citizen discount. OAPs are sensitive to price and prefer not to go out at weekends, when restaurants are busy. A senior citizen discount can be promoted by contacting bridge clubs, golf clubs and other organisations that have a large number of older people in their memberships.
• Sports clubs and gyms. If your restaurant is located near a gym or a sports club, then offer its members some kind of discount. Monday and Tuesday nights are popular times for five-a-side football and other team games, as well as going to the gym. A 10% or 20% discount to team or gym members will encourage those people to get rid of the large appetite from all that exercise.