Dreaming about sitting in the beer garden of your favourite pub is something many of us have done during lockdown especially during the recent lovely weather.
It’s likely the first areas of hospitality that will become open will be the open spaces such as the beer gardens, though we’ll be distanced socially of course.
Tony Keates landlord of The Fighting Cocks, beside the promenade at Arnside says: “The Government may allow pub gardens to be open come July, and we’ve been taking steps to keep our customers as safe as can be, for example all condiments are in sachets. But Andrew from A2A Advertising Ltd at Milnthorpe has come up with a system that allows customers to order their food and drink simply by scanning a QR code at their table, we then read the order and take out the drinks and confirm the food.
“Our beer garden is always popular over looking the Estuary with a stunning view towards Grange and the fells of the Lake District.”
Andrew explains that the QR code once scanned opens a web page and the customer fills in their food and drink order, and they press submit and a few seconds later the message is received by the pub or hotel and the drink order is made up.
The customer hasn’t touched a menu, and the staff have minimised contact. The new normal may be the normal for some time to come and any restaurant, cafe, hotel or pub can use this table ordering system. See the website at table-order.co.uk. The system has been built locally for A2A by web developer Craig Johnson at Iosys who are also a local tech company being based in Windermere.
Ed Johnson landlord of the Kings Arms Hotel, Hawkshead is getting ready to also use the new service and is hoping to put the ordering system into holiday cottages and lodges around the village, he said: “We’re hoping we can supply the people staying in the holiday properties with a click and collect service for their evening meals.
“During lock down we’ve been running a takeaway service, and the tourists may come back before outdoor areas of pubs become open, and therefore A2A’s system may help us supply their needs.
“I said to Andrew, can you come up with a way for people to order from their tables and two weeks later, here it is, excellent.”
