> ## 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.
# Block Reservations
> Learn how to temporarily close your restaurant for reservations — either for a full day or specific shifts. Perfect for holidays, private events, or unexpected closures.
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.
| Block Type | Scope | Use Case |
| ------------ | ---------------------- | ----------------------------------- |
| **Full day** | Entire day | Holidays, closures, private events |
| **By shift** | Specific service hours | Lunch closed but dinner open |
| **By room** | Specific rooms only | One room reserved for private event |
**Existing reservations are preserved.** Blocking only prevents new online bookings — customers who already have reservations keep their bookings.
***
## 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
When the full day is already blocked, the block buttons automatically disappear — there's no need to add more blocks.
### 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.
**Tip:** The availability manager is perfect for urgent situations. For planned closures (holidays, vacations), use the calendar method below for better planning.
***
## 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) |
| **Days of week** | On a multi-day range, pick which days to block (e.g. weekends) |
| **Start/End** | Time range (only if Full day is OFF) |
| **Rooms** | All rooms or select specific ones |
| **Message** | Custom message for customers (optional) |
**Block only specific days:** when you pick a start date and a different end date, a weekday selector appears. All days are selected by default. Deselect the ones you don't want to block to create, for example, **every weekend from July 1 to August 31, from 6 PM to 8 PM** in one go.
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
| Indicator | Meaning |
| ---------------------------- | ------------------------ |
| Colored dot (shift color) | Active shift on that day |
| Red background or red stripe | Block exists on that day |
| Grayed out | Past date |
***
## Good to Know
### Blocks vs. Shift Configuration
| Feature | Block Hours | Shift Settings |
| --------------- | ------------------- | ---------------------- |
| **Purpose** | Temporary closure | Regular schedule |
| **Duration** | Specific dates | Ongoing (days of week) |
| **Flexibility** | Can override shifts | Base operating hours |
### 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](/floor-plan/block-table) for individual table control.
**How do I block recurring days (like every Monday)?**
Use the calendar method: pick a start date and an end date covering the period you want, then in the **Days of week** selector keep only the days you need (e.g. Monday). Every Monday in that range is blocked at once. You can also adjust your shift schedule to not include those days.
**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.