ePub: Drinks orders go mobile

If there's a crush at the bar down the North Star in Finchley, the regulars don't mind - because they put in their drinks orders by mobile phone.

The North London pub is pioneering MyQbuster, a web-based ordering system designed for busy bars. Customers register online and a special program is downloaded into their phone. When they're in a pub that advertises the service they key in that outlet's code and up pops a list of the drinks on offer.

They make their selections and three seconds later barstaff are alerted by a bleep at the till. They then make up the order, which can either be collected at the bar or delivered by table service. Payment - plus 10 per cent for MyQbuster - is automatically deducted from the customer's debit or credit card.

Natasha Wilson, lessee of the Punch Taverns house, is happy with the system so far, which went live at the end of November. "It took a while to catch on," she says. "People thought we were having a laugh and that it would never work - but they said that about the internet!

"They're slowly beginning to use it and I expect it to really take off in the summer. We have a mix of locals and office workers here, and it's mostly the office workers who use it. We have a large garden and they don't want to come in and wait at the bar. It's also useful when we're screening a big match."

Natasha continued: "We do table service for people who order on their phone. They're paying an extra 10 per cent, and that's what they'll be tipping the waiting staff, so it makes sense to them. Our barstaff like it. It can be intimidating when there are 30 pairs of eyes watching you, all wanting to be served next. But the computer isn't biased and everyone gets served in the right order.

"From my point of view, it's so easy to use. It takes about half an hour to put in the list of drinks you're selling and you're away!"

MyQbuster was developed over three years by Richard Price, who came up with the idea while waiting to get served at a bar. "I thought 'wouldn't it be great if you could phone your order in?' " he says. "It's not a panacea and pubs do have to change their operation slightly, but we've experienced no problems with the system so far, and it really can improve a pub's service."

More information from www.myqbuster.com