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15 Restaurant promotion ideas guaranteed to attract new customers

What are the best restaurant promotion ideas, and more importantly, how do you use them to attract new customers to your restaurant? Every restaurant operator has asked themselves this question, and today we’re going to answer it. 

With so many restaurants to choose from, a customer can often be overwhelmed with choices. A great way to get them through your door over your competitors can be to offer enticing promotions which attract new customers to your venue. But it’s not just enough to offer a promotion, you need to have a restaurant promotion that works.  

At Access Hospitality, we help thousands of restaurant operators utilise hospitality software to attract and retain new customers, building a solid base of customers who are loyal to their brand. And, with new customers, it often starts with creative restaurant promotions.  

Posted 05/10/2022

What are restaurant promotions? 

Restaurant promotions are special offers that will help you increase footfall by getting your venue in front of a wider audience, attracting them to your venue and encouraging them to return. From good old-fashioned happy hour drinks to loyalty discounts and coupons, there are lots of creative restaurant promotion ideas to turn your one-time customer into a trusty regular. By identifying a promotion which is popular in your area you can help turn slower periods in your venue into big money-makers.  

What makes a great restaurant promotion?  

There are three things you should consider before starting a restaurant promotion: 

Know your ideal customer 

A great restaurant promotion starts with understanding who you want to attract, so instead of launching random discounts or offers, tailor your promotion to your core audience. Review and analyse your data: foot traffic and reservations, your customers' demographics and purchase habits and determine whether your guests return or if they'd need a stronger loyalty incentive. Once you know who your ideal customer is, you will be able to create a restaurant promotion that actually works.   

Know your margins 

Before launching any restaurant promotion, you need to also ensure it’s financially viable. Some discounts or giveaways might attract customers, but if they eat into your profits too much, they won’t be sustainable. 

The best approach is to focus on high-margin items, products that cost less to make but provide significant value to customers.  

  • Offer low-cost, high-margin items as part of a deal. For example, instead of discounting an entire meal, offer a free side, soft drink, or appetiser that costs little to produce but adds perceived value. 
  • Use strategic bundling to encourage higher spending. A “Buy One, Get One Half-Price” offer works well if it increases the overall order value. 
  • Avoid deep discounts on high-cost items. A free steak or seafood dish can hurt your bottom line, but offering a free topping, extra fries, or a drink with a burger is more sustainable. 
  • Consider upselling opportunities. A discounted main dish can work as a lead magnet to full-priced sides, drinks, or desserts being added to the order. 

Consider your business challenges 

A well-planned restaurant promotion can help you tackle specific business challenges - whether it's slow weekday sales, seasonal slumps, or low customer retention. But before launching a promotion, identify the real problem you want to solve. 

15 restaurant promotion ideas  

There are lots of different promotion ideas you can try in your restaurant including happy hours, coupons and vouchers. We always recommend looking at what is currently available in the local area and seeing if there is a gap you can fill or a promotion that resonates with your local potential customers. Again, think about who you are trying to attract, as this will ensure you choose the right promotion for your customer. 

1. Offer loyalty rewards 

It's common industry knowledge that acquiring new customers costs five times more than retaining existing ones. If you're not running a loyalty program yet, start by identifying who your high-value customers are - for this, you'll have to look at the data in your booking system, POS or CRM. Since these are your VIP customers, you'll want to offer them something relevant - a promotion that will resonate and make them feel important to you. It can be a perk like a free dessert or side dish on their next visit, an invitation to a special event that's for VIPs only or early access to a special menu.  

2. Offer a personalised discount based on their order history 

Personalisation matters - our data suggests that 31.7% of guests expect that the promotion or the offer they receive has to be somehow personalised to them. Use your EPoS and CRM data to understand their habits and history and, based on those findings, offer a relevant promotion. For example, if a guest regularly orders pasta, send them a “£5 off your next pasta dish” deal or if you have a customer who visits once a month on a Friday, but hasn’t booked yet, send a Thursday-exclusive offer on their favourite dish or drink to encourage an extra visit. 

3. Take advantage of the holidays and key dates 

Each month offers quite a few good opportunities to run promotions - from the typically-celebrated holidays like Mother's Day or Diwali to less-known, yet inviting dates like Veganuary or a Potato Crisp Day (14th March). Knowing when to tap into key events can make all the difference in turning otherwise quiet nights into fully booked successes - for this, download our free 2025 hospitality marketing calendar and never miss an opportunity to boost bookings.  

4. Support a charity or a local cause 

Supporting a charity isn't just about giving back; it can help attract socially conscious customers, foster community engagement and even generate local media coverage. Whether you consider donating a portion of sales or host a fundraising event, these efforts show your guests that your restaurant is more than just a business.  

5. Offer deals and discounts 

With customers still feeling the pinch of rising costs, promotions that provide real, tangible savings are more appealing than ever. A well-structured deal (one that doesn't eat into your profits, which is what we discussed earlier), can increase foot traffic, boost average spend and fill slow periods or weekdays.  

Here are some effective discount strategies: 

  • Family deals – Offer discounted group meals or "Kids Eat Free" nights to encourage family visits. 
  • Lunch specials – Create affordable set menus to attract office workers and daytime diners. 
  • Happy hour discounts – Lower prices on drinks and small plates during off-peak hours. 
  • Early bird specials – Encourage diners to book earlier in the evening with exclusive discounts. 

6. Create limited-time menus  

Promotions are all about people taking action and the limited-time menu is a powerful ace in your sleeve. First, it drives additional urgency and taps into FOMO (fear of missing out). Second, it helps you boost your revenue without losing margins to discounted items. Lastly, it's a great card to play on your socials - you can display your new offering or even get the people to vote on the next limited-time item.  

7. Make birthdays and anniversaries a big deal 

When people are out celebrating an important milestone, like their birthday or anniversary, they're less likely to be concerned about their spending. Making your venue a destination for celebrating special occasions can be a great way to attract high-spending customers or encourage group bookings. How to get on those guest's minds?  

Use CRM data to get to know their birthdays and personalise offers. 

Position your venue as the ultimate go-to spot - post pictures and videos of guests celebrating with massive cakes and fun decorations.  

Make kids' birthdays a big event - from a kid birthday menu to an attraction like a magician, balloon artist, or kids’ entertainer - parents love stress-free birthday venues.  

8. Go viral 

Going viral can be a game-changer for your restaurant or bar, but it takes more than luck - it requires a bold, timely and shareable strategy that gets people talking. It doesn't have to be complicated, but the trick lies in capturing people's attention.  

  • Create an extraordinary meal or a drink, like a giant burger or glowing-in-the-dark cocktail. 
  • Join forces with a famous chef or a hospitality celebrity which will help you with exposure and reaching a new audience.  
  • Jump on a trend wagon - combine your strategy with something that everyone is talking about, for example, popular TV shows like "Bridgerton" - run a royal tea party with a dress code.  

9. Create a collaboration  

When thinking about collaboration that's beneficial for both parties, think outside the box - it doesn't have to be an obvious collaboration between your restaurant and a food-related brand, but it can be an unconventional one, for example with a fashion brand or a festival. This way, you're opening up for new customer base and offering a unique experience that stands out.  

10. Surprise and delight  

Pop up somewhere unexpected - set up a mini food stall or tour with your branded van in places where people don't know you. Offer something to attract new guests - for example, free ice cream like Stonegate Group did in exchange for customers' data. This way, you'll be able to reach new audiences and use their contact details in your marketing promotions.  

11. Use of influencers /PR invites 

Creating a buzz around your venue is a great way to generate interest and attract new audiences. With the success of social media foodies and accounts dedicated to trying new restaurants, PR invitations can be an effective way to reach new audiences. Influencer marketing can be useful if you have a unique item on your menu that other venues don’t offer. Instead of showcasing it yourself, inviting an influencer to your establishment can be a great way of showcasing the ‘wow’ factor of your item.   

Many accounts are dedicated to specific regions and areas so find your local influencers and invite them to try your venue in the hope they will then share their experience with their followers. Whether it’s Instagram stories or a write-up in your local paper, getting people talking about your venue is always a step in the right direction.

12. Work with third-party apps 

Looking for ways to promote your venue where hungry customers actually are? Look no more and head to DesignMyNight, the UK's largest discovery platform. With an audience that spans over 3.9 million monthly visitors and over 61 million monthly Google impressions, this platform connects restaurants, bars and event venues with an audience actively looking for places to eat, drink and celebrate.  

13. Create branded merch  

People love buying merch from their favourite brands - hospitality venues included. It's pretty common to see branded tote bags or t-shirts in coffee shops, so why not introduce this practice into your restaurant or bar? Branded merch is a walking advertisement (especially if it's Instagrammable) and it's not a costly investment, however, it requires some strategy.  

  • Consider what's your goal - is it brand visibility, revenue boost or enhanced loyalty?  
  • Make it relevant to your brand - your merch should reflect your restaurant’s personality, not just a logo on a T-shirt. 
  • Launch it as a limited collection - and tap into FOMO. 
  • Incorporate your merch into your loyalty or marketing strategy – and use it to reward loyal customers or create fun promotions. 

14. Create a DIY meal kits  

Take your restaurant experience beyond the dining room by offering DIY meal kits, allowing customers to recreate your signature dishes at home.  

Choose a dish that's easy to assemble (for example, offer pizza kits - ready-made dough, a portion of cheese and your signature sauce or even a can of tomato sauce you use) and include step-by-step instructions (maybe even record a reel for your Instagram with it?). You can sell it in person and online, as a gift idea or an add-on.  

15. Advertise where your customers are looking  

Investing some budget in places where customers are actively searching is money well spent. Whether they’re scrolling on social media, searching on Google or browsing booking platforms, your restaurant should be visible at the right time and place to capture their attention and drive bookings. 

  • Be present on Google and Google Maps - Many people search for restaurants near them, so ensure your Google My Business profile is fully optimised with photos, menus and positive reviews. 
  • Geo-target ads on social media platforms and target users within a specific radius of your venue. 
  • Run a PPC ad for high-intent searches to ensure your restaurant appears at the top of search results. 
  • Use retargeting ads to bring people back - People often check out restaurant options but don’t book immediately. Retarget them with Facebook and Google Display Ads reminding them about your venue. 

Ready to run your first restaurant promotion?  

In this article, we’ve looked at several different ideas for running promotions in your restaurant, as well as the importance of preparing for restaurant promotions. So, whether it’s a brand-new midweek brunch offering or a tasty Taco Tuesday night, a hospitality booking system like Access Collins can help you book in customers who discover your restaurant through your promotional campaign and track the success of your new promotions.   

If you’d like to find out more about how Access Hospitality software can help you with marketing and promotions in your restaurant, get in touch with the team today. 

Find out more ways to develop your restaurant marketing and increase your restaurant profits.