A popular Isle of Wight restaurant has slammed block booking tactics after over half its bookings failed to show up.
The Bistro, on Pier Street, Ventnor, run by Jane and Andy Holloway, said they had 14 cancellations and no-shows on Easter Saturday (April 19), resulting in a loss that night for the business.
Andy, head chef at the restaurant, said block bookings are a tactic used by visitors to the Island, to ensure they can get a table close to wherever they are that day.
He said: "People block book when they are on holiday, and wherever they are, they go to that one.
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"They know it's busy, so they block book.
"The bigger chains may be able to take the hit, but that table of four is our profit for the night."
Andy also pointed to the challenges that Ventnor faces already, with several road closures, increased taxation on second homes, and the ferries.
He said: "A lot of our trade is from second home owners, but they're not coming as much due to the ferries and cost of living crisis.
"Since Leeson Road happened, there's been a knock-on effect."
Andy said The Bistro is not the only business affected by no-shows, with several others in Ventnor and across the Island also reporting bookings where no one showed up.
He said: "At one point, we thought someone was doing this as a wind-up.
"It's the difference between profit and loss for the night.
"It's detrimental to the business."
The no-shows mean Andy and Jane have a disproportionate amount of staff in the restaurant, and fresh ingredients to cook with - all contributing to less profit, through no fault of their own.
Andy said: "It's a very short summer, and a very long winter - we have to make hay while the sun shines.
"It's either all or nothing, and obviously, the ferries don't help."
Ventnor has recently been marred with road closures, pavement closures, and even rock falls - all of which have an impact on its economy.
Now, block booking tactics and no-shows appear to adding more strain on the town's restaurants.
