Big group reservations can cut restaurant sales, Burgers & Wine owner warns

Tamperelainen reports that Burger & Wine restaurateur Tony Brander explains why large group reservations can hurt profits, even for a busy Tampere restaurant.

Brander, who runs the Burgers & Wine restaurant located at Finlayson in Tampere, says that the common assumption that tables for dozens of people automatically guarantee a good night is misleading. In his 60-seat restaurant, a booking of around 40 people can effectively take over most of the venue’s capacity, meaning other tables must be left open or cleared in advance so they’re empty when the group arrives.

He adds that big groups may stay longer than typical guests and often require extra staff, increasing costs. Brander also describes how arrangements are frequently tied to sales guarantees: if a group’s expected spend does not reach the agreed minimum, the restaurant charges an additional fee (such as a so-called space rent). As an example from last weekend, Brander says his venue handled about 280 customers and about €13,000 in sales, but a scenario where a large group occupies the restaurant for hours can reduce sales dramatically, from €13,000 to roughly €1,800. He notes that the Christmas office party season is an exception, with more company spending on menus, wine packages and cocktails, as well as friend groups that may spend heavily.