Folkingham pub warns no-shows can hit small Lincolnshire businesses hard

A village pub near Sleaford is highlighting a frustration many hospitality businesses will recognise - customers booking a table and then simply not turning up. Neve Baker-Wright, who runs The New Inn in Folkingham, said a booking for 13 people failed to arrive this week after being made at short notice. The group had called at about 5.45pm to reserve a table for 6.30pm, prompting staff to rearrange the dining room and prepare for a large party. According to Baker-Wright, an extra member of staff was brought in to help accommodate the booking.

But after two hours, and despite follow-up calls and messages, nobody had arrived. For a small Lincolnshire pub, that kind of no-show is more than an inconvenience. Space has to be found, tables moved, staff organised and service planned around the expectation that a large group is on its way. When that group does not appear, the business is left carrying the cost and disruption.

Baker-Wright said people often do not appreciate the knock-on effect. A table of 13 is not something a venue can easily absorb, especially when the booking comes less than an hour before service. The uncertainty can also leave staff in limbo, unsure whether to hold space for late arrivals or move on and serve other customers. The experience has now led her to consider asking for deposits on some bookings, a step many venues have increasingly looked at in response to unreliable reservations.

While that may help protect businesses, it can also change the more informal feel many village pubs are known for. The New Inn is part of a wider Lincolnshire hospitality scene where independent pubs, restaurants and cafes often work with tight margins and small teams. In those settings, even one missed booking can have a noticeable effect on staffing, stock and the overall flow of an evening. Baker-Wright, 19, took over the lease on the pub last year after the previous landlords suggested she put forward a business plan to owner Admiral Taverns.

She runs the business with support from family, with her stepfather Ash Wright as co-signatory on the lease and her father, Andy Baker, working as chef. Industry figures included in the original report suggest the problem is far from isolated. Hospitality tech provider Zonal said around 15% of bookings end in no-shows, with the sector losing an estimated £17.6bn in revenue each year. For Lincolnshire diners, the message from Folkingham is straightforward.

Plans can change, but a quick phone call can make a real difference. In a county where village pubs remain at the heart of many communities, that small courtesy could help protect businesses already juggling rising costs and day-to-day pressures.

This story was adapted by The Lincoln Post from original reporting by www.bbc.com.