Payment Solutions for UK Restaurants & Cafés
From tableside payments to integrated tipping, explore the best payment technology for hospitality businesses looking to improve customer experience.
Modern Payment Technology for UK Hospitality
The restaurant and café sector has seen dramatic changes in how customers pay. From contactless tableside payments to digital tipping, here's what's working for UK hospitality businesses.
Tableside Payment Terminals
Benefits:
- Faster table turnover
- Reduced payment queues
- Better customer experience
- Staff can upsell while processing payment
Top Solutions:
- PAX A920 Pro — Android-based with built-in printer
- Clover Flex — versatile handheld with camera scanner
- Square Terminal — all-in-one with no monthly fees
Digital Tipping
The decline of cash has created challenges for service industry tipping. Modern solutions include:
- Prompted tip screens — terminal displays tip options (e.g., 10%, 12.5%, 15%)
- Tip distribution software — fair allocation between front and back of house
- Direct-to-staff systems — tips deposited to employee accounts same day
Integrated EPOS Systems
Restaurants are moving toward fully integrated systems that combine:
- Order taking (handheld or kiosk)
- Kitchen display systems
- Payment processing
- Inventory management
- Staff scheduling
Split Billing
A perennial customer request, split billing is now easier than ever:
- Modern terminals allow splitting by item or equal amounts
- QR code payment allows each diner to pay their portion
- Some systems allow pre-splitting when ordering
Cost Considerations
Average payment processing costs for hospitality:
- Transaction fees: 1.2% – 1.9% per card payment
- Terminal rental: £15 – £30/month per device
- EPOS software: £30 – £100/month
The key is balancing features against costs — a small café needs different technology than a busy multi-site restaurant group.
Related: Browse payment terminals → | Merchant dashboard features →