Block Reservations

Documentation Index

Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.eat-now.io/llms.txt

Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

Blocking reservations allows you to temporarily close your restaurant (or specific rooms) for online bookings. Unlike table blocking which affects individual tables, reservation blocking affects your entire availability.

---

​

Availability Manager

The availability manager is accessible from the Reservations page via the Block button. It combines reservation blocking and per-timeslot pacing adjustments in a single panel.

​

When to Use

• 🎉 Last-minute private event — A VIP just called and wants the whole restaurant
• 🌧️ Unexpected closure — Staff shortage, weather emergency
• 📵 Full house — You’re fully booked and want to stop walk-in requests
• ⚙️ Adjust pacing — Limit the number of reservations per timeslot for a specific day

​

How to Access

1. Open the Reservations page (floor plan, planning, or table view)
2. Make sure you’re on the correct date
3. Click the Block button in the header

The side panel opens and shows two sections:

• Blocks — to block/unblock reservations
• Pacing per timeslot — to fine-tune reservation limits

---

​

Blocking Reservations

​

How to Block

1. Open the availability manager (see above)
2. If you have multiple shifts, select the one you want
3. Two buttons are displayed:
   • Block entire day — Closes the whole day for new reservations
   • Block this shift — Blocks only the selected shift’s time range
4. Choose which rooms to block:
   • By default, all rooms are blocked
   • Toggle off “All rooms” to block specific rooms only
5. Click Block to confirm

​

Midnight Shifts

If a shift spans past midnight (e.g., 7 PM - 2 AM), the system automatically creates two blocks:

1. Today from shift start to 11:59 PM
2. Tomorrow from 12:00 AM to shift end

​

How to Unblock

Active blocks appear at the top of the panel. Each block shows:

• The type (full day or time range)
• The rooms affected

To remove a block, click the Unlock button next to it. The removal is immediate and reservations resume.

---

​

Pacing per Timeslot

The Pacing per timeslot section (inside the availability manager) lets you fine-tune the maximum number of reservations or covers per time slot, for a specific day only.

​

How It Works

1. Open the availability manager
2. Expand the Pacing per timeslot section
3. For each time slot, you can:
   • Enable/disable the slot with the toggle
   • Adjust the maximum number of reservations or covers allowed
4. Changes are saved automatically

​

Reset

If you’ve modified the pacing for a day, a Reset to defaults button appears at the bottom of the panel to restore the shift’s default values.

---

​

Calendar Method (Advanced)

For planned closures and more control, use the dedicated Block Hours calendar in Settings.

​

When to Use

• 📅 Planned holidays — Christmas, New Year’s, annual vacation
• 🔄 Recurring closures — Every Monday, or specific dates
• 📋 Multi-day blocks — Block an entire week at once
• ✉️ Custom message — Add a message shown to customers

​

How to Access

1. Go to Settings
   • Click Settings in the navigation bar
2. Open Availability
   • Navigate to Availability → Block Hours
3. View the Calendar
   • You’ll see a monthly calendar showing all your shifts and existing blocks

​

How to Create a Block

1. Click a Date
   • Click on any date in the calendar
   • A side panel opens showing that day’s details
2. Add a Block
   • Click the + button or Add a block
   • Alternatively, click Close for the day to create a full-day block instantly
3. Configure the Block

   Field	Description
   Full day	Toggle ON to block all hours
   Date	Start date of the block
   End date	For multi-day blocks (optional)
   Start/End	Time range (only if Full day is OFF)
   Rooms	All rooms or select specific ones
   Message	Custom message for customers (optional)

4. Save
   • Click Save to create the block
   • The calendar updates to show the block

​

Bulk Actions

For multiple dates (like a vacation week):

1. Click Bulk mode in the calendar header
2. Select multiple dates by clicking on them
3. Click Bulk actions and choose:
   • Block reservations — Block all selected dates
   • Remove all blocks — Delete existing blocks

​

Visual Indicators on Calendar

---

​

Good to Know

​

Blocks vs. Shift Configuration

​

Impact on Customers

• Blocked times disappear from your online booking portal
• Customers see reduced availability — no error message
• The custom message (if set) may appear during checkout

​

Room-Specific Blocks

When blocking specific rooms:

• Other rooms remain open for booking
• Useful for private events in one area while keeping others open

---

​

FAQ

Can I block for next month? Yes! Use the calendar method and navigate to future dates. You can create blocks months in advance. What happens to existing reservations? Nothing — existing bookings are preserved. Blocks only prevent new reservations. Can I block specific tables instead? Yes, but that’s a different feature. See Table Blocking for individual table control. How do I block recurring days (like every Monday)? Currently, you need to block each Monday individually. Use bulk mode to speed this up, or adjust your shift schedule to not include Mondays. Can customers see why I’m closed? Only if you add a custom message in the calendar method. The quick block doesn’t include customer-facing messages.