Online bookings always give a party the smallest table that fits. But once your twos and fours have gone, the next table that fits a couple is your big one — and a six-top taken by two people weeks ahead is one the family who ring later can't have. Smallest party online lets you say which party sizes each table is offered to online, so your big tables stay free for the parties that need them.
How to do it
1. Open Configuration. In NomNom Web, open your account menu at the top right and choose Configuration. There's also a Configuration button at the bottom of the left-hand panel. Only admins see them.
2. Open the table. Choose Tables on the left. If you have more than one room, pick the room first, then click the table's name.
3. Set the smallest party. Just under the Online booking switch you'll see Smallest party online. It starts at Any size. Use the plus button to raise it — 2, 3, 4 and so on, up to the number of seats at the table — and the minus button to bring it back down.
4. Save. Click Save. From now on, online bookings for fewer guests than your number are never given that table. Set a six-top to 3, for example, and online it's only offered to parties of three to six.
In NomNom Web: account menu → Configuration → Tables → click a table → Smallest party online.
Table groups
Joined tables have their own setting, separate from the tables inside them. Choose Table groups instead of Tables, click the group and set it the same way — or set it while you're creating a new group. If 11 and 12 join to seat eight, you can keep that pairing for parties of five or more while 11 and 12 on their own still take anyone.
Good to know
- It only affects online bookings — your booking page, the booking button on your own website, NomNom Discover and Reserve with Google. You and your team can still seat any party at any table.
- It never moves a booking. A couple already booked on your six-top stays exactly where they are. The setting only decides what's offered from now on.
- Children count. Two adults and two children are a party of four.
- You'll only see the setting while Online booking is switched on for that table.
- Guests changing their own booking online are treated the same way. If someone cuts their party below the table's smallest party, they're given a smaller table if one is free at that time. If not, that change isn't offered online and they can ring you.
The trade-off
A smallest party is a bet that a bigger party will come along. On a busy Saturday it usually pays off. On a quiet night it can mean a couple is turned away online — if the only table left at a time is kept for bigger parties, a smaller party simply won't see that time — and the big table then sits empty. The setting is always on; it doesn't relax as the day gets closer.
A good place to start is sixes at 3 and eights at 5. If a big table keeps sitting empty on quieter nights, bring it back down.