8 Essential tips for Irish bar and restaurant operators this Valentine’s Day

1. Maximise intimate dining spaces 

Valentine's is the perfect opportunity to maximise intimate two-tops. If you want to generate more sales, start by evaluating your floorplan.  

By rethinking your floorplan, you can create a romantic atmosphere and accommodate more couples throughout the evening. Consider using table booking software like Access Collins to easily adjust your seating arrangements, making your space more efficient and customer-friendly.

2. Get the timing of your promotions right 

60% of Irish couples plan to dine out for Valentine’s Day, attracting a mix of both early planners and spontaneous romantics. To capture both, consider the timing of your promotions. For those who plan well in advance, dive into your booking data from previous Valentine's Days. Analyse when the majority of reservations were made to identify the optimal timing for promotions and offers leading up to the holiday. Since most couples tend to book their romantic dinners around 2-3 weeks beforehand, ensure that your Valentine's Day promotions and specials are live on your website at least 3-4 weeks prior and your marketing communications are ready to send. However, don't overlook the last-minute romantics. Our past data demonstrates that Valentine's Day peak around the 7th of February and continue until the 15th. Cater to the more last-minute crowd by keeping your promotions active and engaging during this extended period.

3. Promote special offers on social media 

Promoting your special Valentine's Day offer through social media is another great way to attract existing and new customers.  And as data shows, your business online presence matters. In Ireland alone, more than two million people are scrolling through the Tik Tok app, spending an average of 80 minutes per day entranced by its endless loop of bite-sized content with according to one Google executive “40 per cent of young people, when they’re looking for a place for lunch, don’t go to Google Maps or Search – they go to TikTok”. 

Just like with your email marketing strategy, start by strategically planning posts that showcase your offerings in the weeks ahead. To boost engagement and reach an even wider audience, consider running a giveaway. This could be a very simple 'tag your loved one' competition or a more imaginative one, inviting followers to share a love poem or describe their favourite dish in the comments.  

4. Extend Valentine's magic across the weekend 

On Valentine’s day alone in Ireland, spending in restaurants increases by 83%, while pubs see an additional 58% in spending, with the busiest hours between 8pm and 11pm.

Given that Valentine's Day falls on a Friday in 2025, why not think bigger than a one-off night and extend the celebration across the whole weekend? 

Make the most out of February 14th and share the love and your menus during the weekends on either side. This allows you to sell more tables and cater to guests who may find it hard to celebrate on the actual day, plus it’s a great way to make the most of the romantic vibe throughout the entire weekend. 

5. Offer unique experiences for your guests 

The surge in popularity of themed experiences, ranging from unique culinary trends to immersive pop-up events, has transformed dining into a form of entertainment. In 2023 alone, consumers searched for immersive art experiences on the DesignMyNight website over 60,000 times.  

As the demand for distinctive experiences continues to grow, Valentine's Day can be an opportunity to break away from the ordinary. If you're looking to surprise your guests with an unforgettable experience, step beyond conventional dining and offer something truly unique. Thinking outside the box in the era of shareable moments on social media can help attract attention and set your business apart from other restaurants.  

6. Swap the tradition for something modern  

If your local area is saturated in romantic offers, come Valentine's think about 'Galantine’s' (February 13th), or singles events. Capitalising on the rise of friends celebrating friends, perhaps with a sisterhood brunch or a special cocktail menu - there are many ways to embrace the 'Galentine's' spirit with events tailored for groups of friends. If you're hosting special events, leverage ticketing system for seamless event management. Additionally, explore the opportunity to showcase your venue or special event on discovery platforms such as DesignMyNight to expand your reach and attract a diverse audience. 

7. Provide exceptional service 

Your teams are one of the most vital parts of creating a special experience for guests, so ensure they are trained and prepped on your Valentine’s menu, selecting appropriate upsells and making sure you keep drinks flowing for your guests. Ensure all staff are up to date on allergen training, not only to keep guests safe but also to not recommend inappropriate menu choices, so that they will want to visit your business again in the future.   

8. Don’t get stood up! 

No-shows on the night can really put a dampener on your holiday sales. You might consider taking a small deposit or card authentication at the point of booking to ensure you don’t end up with empty tables. With advanced hospitality booking technology, this can be done online and without staff engagement, meaning you don’t add additional tasks to your teams’ workload.  

You can also ensure your pre-visit communications are set up to reduce the likelihood of no-shows. Send a reminder message to those with bookings the day before and consider allowing guests to pre-order from a set menu to help build anticipation. Find out more ways about how to tackle restaurant no-shows.