Question 1

Is this a Groupon thing?

Accepted Answer

No. We don't print vouchers, we don't sell to deal-hunters. The list is curated, you're booking the rooms a critic would put on their burner phone. The £5 fee + half-off-food is the unlock, not the point.

Question 2

How does the venue feel about this?

Accepted Answer

They built the model with us. Each booking sends £3 to the venue's account, they earn more per Halfseat cover than they would on FirstTable (and keep 100% of their drinks margin, unlike EatClub).

Question 3

Can I cancel or get a refund?

Accepted Answer

The fee is non-refundable, it's a hold on a last-minute table. If you can't make it you can release the table for someone else up to an hour before, but the fee stays with us and the venue, the same as any restaurant treats a no-show.

Question 4

What about drinks?

Accepted Answer

Drinks at full price. Restaurants make most of their margin on drinks and discounting them would mean the venue couldn't say yes to listing in the first place. You're getting half off the food bill, which is plenty.

Question 5

What do I show at the door?

Accepted Answer

Just give your name. That's it. The venue knows you're coming and seats you the same as every other guest. No voucher, no app, no awkward explanation. Pay your half of the food bill plus full drinks when you leave, as normal.

Question 6

Is there a limit on how often I can book?

Accepted Answer

No booking limits. Claim a table whenever seats are live. Some venues set their own cap on how many Halfseat visits a single diner can make per year, you'll see this noted on their page if it applies.

Question 7

Why tonight only?

Accepted Answer

Because if a venue can sell that table at full price two weeks out, they should. We only want the seats that were genuinely going to leave empty. That's the point: a real last-minute list, not a discount channel.

Question 8

Where else do you operate?

Accepted Answer

Brighton only for now. Bristol + Bath are next (within 90 days of Brighton hitting steady state). London comes last when we can do it properly.

Tonight's tables.
At the kitchens worth going to.

The kitchens.

A short list, updated daily.

From £5 to hold the table.

Half off the food bill.

Common questions.