The Book, our reservations manager
Writing bookings down in a physical book has its charm — that vintage feel that suits any bar. But it’s time to move on a bit, isn’t it? Your team should be focused on guests, not chasing phone calls. This didn’t come out of nowhere — we’ve developed, tested and refined it alongside restaurants like yours. Today we’re introducing The Book, the new era of our booking system.
What is The Book?
The Book is what you already knew — but much better. A sort of Black Label edition of your reservations manager. With this version, organisation becomes automatic. The system assigns tables based on the combinations you define, so you don’t have to rack your brain fitting a group of six into an almost-full room: the algorithm does it for you.
It also adjusts the duration of each booking based on the group size. A couple might need an hour and a half; a table of eight, quite a bit more. That way you make the most of your space and avoid those dead gaps that kill table turnover.
Booking flow without the chaos
Another big leap is in managing the pace of arrivals. Sound familiar — multiple bookings landing at the same hour and the team overwhelmed within fifteen minutes?
With The Book you decide how many bookings come in per time slot, you balance the flow of customers and keep your staff working at a comfortable pace. And if we’re talking large groups, you’re in control there too — you can now set specific policies, restrict time slots and request a card guarantee or deposit. You set the rules so the floor runs your way.
Communication that prevents no-shows
Bookings that never show up are money lost. That’s why we’ve strengthened customer communication so notifications are clear and effective. With The Book you can send reminders and confirmations by email, SMS and now also by WhatsApp. Direct, natural and automatic. The result is simple: fewer no-shows and more tables filled without any effort.
Guarantees that protect you
To truly close the door on no-shows, we’ve taken things a step further. We’ve added card validation and deposits, directly from your own bookings page. The customer books through your website and can confirm their table with their preferred option: card, Apple Pay or Google Pay. You decide how to apply it, and they do it in seconds — in the most convenient way for each of them.
This not only reduces the risk of empty tables, it also conveys professionalism and trust. It’s the same tool used by leading restaurants to make sure every table is used. You decide whether to apply it to all bookings or just large groups. Total flexibility, adapted to your service style.
Every table matters. With The Book you make sure that if a customer doesn’t show, your floor is still protected and your service doesn’t suffer. As simple as that.
All in the same place
The best part is that everything happens inside your POS. With the floor plan view you’ll see at a glance who’s arriving, at what time and how many there are. Without switching screens, without juggling. Bookings and operations live in the same place, with a clean, agile and intuitive interface that anyone on your team can handle without endless tutorials.
Data worth more than a thousand bookings
A booking manager isn’t just for filling tables — it’s also for understanding your business better. That’s why The Book includes a reporting system that lets you get to know your customers, spot demand peaks and make decisions based on real data. All centralised in a single panel that turns your bookings into valuable information to improve the efficiency and profitability of your restaurant.
In summary
The Book is the sharp knife that replaces the fork you were trying to cut steak with. More practical, more agile and more profitable. Reduce no-shows, organise shifts, make the most of every table and give your team the breathing room they need to work better — more organised and with less background phone noise.
Last.app keeps evolving alongside restaurants. Now you’re not just taking payments, managing orders or controlling your floor. You’re also filling your restaurant with smart bookings.
Welcome to The Book — the reservations book that fills itself.