Guides to QR table ordering
These guides explain QR table ordering for UK pubs, bars and restaurants in plain English: how it works from scan to table, how to set it up in about half an hour, what the allergen and data rules mean for you, how to print codes that get scanned, and how to run happy hours and meal deals.
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How QR code table ordering works in a pub or bar
QR code table ordering lets customers order from their table by scanning a code with their phone camera, with no app and no account. The order appears instantly on a screen behind the bar with the table name, staff make it and bring it out, and the customer pays at the table by card, contactless or cash.
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How to set up QR ordering in your venue in 30 minutes
You can set up QR ordering in about 30 minutes if your menu, prices and allergen information are to hand. Build your categories and items, add sizes and a shared Mixers list, tag allergens, name your tables, print and place the table cards, send a test order, then go live on a quiet shift.
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Allergen information on digital menus: what UK venues need to know
UK pubs, bars and restaurants must be able to tell customers which of the 14 regulated allergens are in any food or drink they serve that is not prepacked. On a QR menu, good practice is to show allergens on every item and prompt customers to speak to staff. This is general guidance, not legal advice.
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Is QR ordering GDPR-compliant? A UK venue checklist
QR table ordering can comply with the UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018 when the venue, as controller, has a data processing agreement with its provider, collects only what an order needs, sets a retention period, updates its privacy notice and gets consent for analytics cookies under PECR. This is guidance, not legal advice.
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How to print and place table QR codes so they actually get scanned
Table QR codes get scanned when they are a comfortable size, have a clear margin, are printed dark on light with a matt finish, sit where customers look and have been tested on several phones. Give every table its own code, name tables clearly, protect cards with lamination or stands and replace damaged ones quickly.
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Happy hours, multi-buys and meal deals with QR ordering
With DrinksQR you can run happy hours, multi-buys and meal deals that are priced on the server, shown to customers as was and now prices with a "Happy hour until…" badge, and served from the bar screen without staff working out discounts. Alcohol promotions must follow local licensing rules, which are stricter in Scotland.