Your Event Enquiry Just Came In. Now What?

Someone just emailed asking about booking your private dining room for 20 people. What happens next?

If you're like most independent restaurants, you probably fire back a quick email with some rough prices and ask them to call to discuss details.

And then wonder why half of them never get back to you.

The Visual Sell Changes Everything

Here's what we've learned working with restaurants that consistently book events: people buy with their eyes first.

That enquiry email? It's not really asking for prices. It's asking, "can you help me picture my event happening here?"

When someone's planning their mum's 70th birthday or their team's Christmas do, they're not just booking a table. They're buying a vision of how their special occasion will feel.

The Event Pack That Actually Converts

The restaurants that win at events don't just send information, they send inspiration:

Photos that tell a story - Not just empty rooms, but actual events happening. People laughing, glasses raised, food being enjoyed. Show them what their night could look like.

Clear, visual menu options - Instead of just a text list, show the food alongside the menu. Even phone photos work. People need to see what they're buying!

Your space in action - Private dining room set up for different occasions. The main bar area during a party. Different layouts for different group sizes.

Simple next steps - "Love what you see? Here's how we make it happen..." Not "call us to discuss further."

The Game-Changer: One Trusted Person

Here's the secret sauce: designate one person (could be you, could be your most reliable team member) as the event booking champion. Someone who actually gets excited about making people's celebrations special.

Not whoever happens to answer the phone. Not whoever gets around to checking the events email. One person who owns it, knows your space inside out, and responds like they actually want the business.

The Real Difference

We've seen restaurants transform their event bookings just by putting together a proper visual pack and having someone who cares handle the follow-up. Same space, same food, completely different results.

Your venue has personality and charm that the chain down the road can't match. But if your event enquiry process doesn't show that personality, people will never see it.

How are you currently handling event enquiries? Sometimes the biggest opportunities are hiding in the emails we're already getting…