Hospitality startup seatd launches in UK

With the hospitality industry heading towards creating a ‘new normal’, a innovative web-app called seatd has launched a tech solution to support venues and bolster the industry.

The brainchild of Manchester hospitality experts, Craig Davies and Stephen Powell, creators of nightlife booking app, Viper, alongside former Google employees, Matt Gibbs and Jack Woodward, who also helped set up Viper.

The seatd software has been developed over the last three months by the Viper collective as a direct response to the government’s social distancing guidelines when venues resume operations.

The app, which allows customers buy food and drink from their table, will have no upfront setup costs, with a view to helping bars, restaurants, pubs, cafes and venues reopen in a responsible and efficient way. It will also support the communities hit hardest by Covid-19, as every customer will be given the option to donate to a local charity, at no extra cost to the venue.

To further streamline the process for guests, no app download is required, just the scanning of a simple QR code at the venue.

Through user-friendly design and technology, guests are invited to view digital menus on their phones – complete with food/drinks and dietary requirements. seatd will also allow guests to choose what their experience looks like. Whether they want their food to be served to the table, or collected up from a safe pick-up point, or even whether they’d like to pay in person or on the webapp.

Craig Davies, co-founder of seatd said: “seatd was born out of our love and understanding of the hospitality industry and what would be essential in supporting its recovery when doors reopen.

“With safety of paramount importance to us, we want to work closely with venues to help them get back on their feet, providing them with tech that helps them comply with social distancing measures.We’re so proud to have developed seatd.  There’s absolutely no setup costs, and it’s really easy to use.”

Stephen Powell, co-founder of seatd added: “While people are searching for a balance between peace of mind and returning to life, seatd hopes to reassure any apprehensions and help the public to enjoy the future of social hospitality and also ensure much-loved venues are able to stay trading safely and successfully.”