Ireland Restaurant reservation philosophy

Cancellations and no shows are causing carnage in the industry across UK and Ireland and forcing closures.

We usually do not make reservations, but did a couple places on our UK trip over the last few weeks. We encountered the same thing, a fee charged if cancelled, and one place that charged 10 GBP per person with the reservation, refunded on the ticket, or forfeited if a no show. However, we have never made a reservation months ahead, I like to see the place with my own eyes before committing.

We usually wander around, and if a place looks good, make a reservation earlier in the day, or the day before, after speaking with them. We however have good luck just walking up, especially earlier in the evening. Also, as you said, there are tons of casual places that you can get something. Worth saying, we avoid "famous" places, trendy places, anything with a Michelin star. Like local, small, and typical of the region...or decent ethnic options.

Sadly, flexibility and serendipity (B&Bs, restaurants, ferries, etc.) have all but disappeared in Ireland. I attribute this new reality largely to the Internet, which has given folks the ability to make reservations many months in advance. Partial blame can also be laid on the pandemic and the influx of over 40,000 Ukrainian refugees, which have resulted in closures of accommodations and eateries, booked B&Bs, unavailable hotels and staff shortages across the island. Thus, there's much more competition today for fewer beds and seats at the table.

Between 1988 and 2007, we took nine bike trips around Ireland and Northern Ireland. On every one we just rolled into town, knocked on a door or two and had (and inspected) a room within minutes. Same with restaurants. The pick of the litter.

For last summer's month-long trip, I was compelled (after consulting some contacts in country) to book all thirty-one nights in advance, sight unseen. Admittedly, I began late (May) for a July departure, a process that took the entire month and a few hundred e-mails and phone calls. But I managed to secure a B&B bed for each night, mostly what was left over. Far from ideal and very restricting.

Restaurants everywhere were also closed one weeknight each week (staff shortages) so what staff there was could work weekends. And most places could not or would not take walk-ins. Even then, there were longer than usual waits for placing your order, including in the pubs.

We’ve been in Ireland now for 2 weeks, cooking some dinners in the apartment or house we’re in, but also going out for some special, highly anticipated meals. As you said, the “nicer” places, which have been special splurges, we reserved well ahead of time, and would by no means be canceling, but they didn’t require paying in advance. Smaller, exclusive places are hurt if there’s a dinner no-show, and they can’t fill a table when they’re used to having reservations weeks in advance, and folks figure they can’t ever get a reservation, let alone just walk up, so the table goes empty.

For lunches, we’ve just shown up spontaneously, and had to wait for 5 minutes three days ago, but have never been turned away. It’s still not “full season,” so by late June/July there may be more visitors, so places might not be so anxious about no-show issues. We’ve been south, throughout County Cork. Maybe other areas have greater concerns, and different policies.

Or try what we did in Italy last fall - maybe works in Ireland now. If you can contact a place in the daytime to reserve a dinner table that night, then maybe that works for you and them. If you can’t find a place that can squeeze you in, then it’s gastropub time - or pizza or Chinese.

Thanks for the comments. Yeah in Italy last summer there was no problem just walking up to a place - but then the crowds were still very low.

Thanks again.