Sandford Park Alehouse, Cheltenham
“Because the EPOS has been designed by former pub operators the back-office system in particular is very simple to navigate, compared to other systems I've used.” Richard Shakeshaft, Area Manager
A popular community pub in the centre of Cheltenham, the Sandford Park Alehouse features a drinks list which includes imported bottle beers, cask ales, and craft beer and cider, as well as freshly cooked pub food.
Its large outdoor area which makes the pub one of the town’s best locations to enjoy food and drink in warm weather, with the pub itself having a year-round appeal both to locals and visitors to Cheltenham.
Since reopening post-lockdown, the pub has been operating Tabology's Pub EPOS system. Area manager Richard Shakeshaft explains: “We took on the pub in 2019, but I was never happy with the existing EPOS. It was bit old fashioned, and didn’t have all the functionality we wanted.
“When we had to close due to the pandemic, I took the opportunity to research new systems. We were particularly interested in being able to take orders at tables, as that was one of the requirements for reopening.”
Having looked at a number of EPOS providers online, Richard decided Tabology's Pub EPOS fit the bill. “The biggest appeal initially was that it had a stock count facility as part of the back office functionality. Because it’s been designed by former pub operators the back office system in particular is very simple to navigate, compared to other systems I’ve used,”
He explains: “We do a monthly stock count, and with the Tabology system, it’s just a matter of entering all your invoices as they come in. It gives us a printout of what we should have in stock, so we can generate a variance report, the GP achieved, and other reports we need. It’s the first EPOS system I’ve come across that has a stock count facility.”
With its extensive beer range a strong part of the pub’s appeal, the ease with which the EPOS enables new products to be added to the till is another key benefit of the system. “We change our beers frequently. All we have to do is enter the barrel size and price we’ve paid the brewer, put in the price you want to sell a pint, and the system tells you what GP you’re making there and then.”
The Sandford Park Alehouse also took advantage of the Tabology system’s compatibility with the Untappd beer website when only table service was allowed, allowing customers to access beer style and tasting notes before placing an order through the app. “We don’t link to Untappd currently because we’re back to ordering food and drink at the bar, and so staff can talk about the beers,” says Richard, “but it’s a useful function that we may use again.”
This flexibility for operators to opt in and out of functionality as needed means that the pub has been able to add the ability to take deposits on Christmas bookings, “which is very useful.” The pub also runs popular events through the year, including BBQs, Oktoberfest events, and an annual Cheese & Cider festival, for which bookings and deposits can be activated as needed.
The business is now planning to replace the EPOS at its second site, a restaurant, with Tabology’s Restaurant EPOS, enabling Richard to have a remote overview of both businesses while on the move. “At the moment, anything they can see on screen at the pub, I can see on my laptop wherever I am. That’s very useful.”
Comparing Tabology’s remote support via Telegram to the support for the restaurant’s current EPOS, he says: “always on support was one of the key factors in selecting the Tabology system. At the restaurant you have to email, and you might get a reply, you might not. The reply is from somebody in America asking you what the issue is when you’ve already emailed them.
“With Tabology, there's always somebody at the end of the phone, it's fantastic."
To find out more about our Pub EPOS, and how it could work in your venue get in touch to arrange a demo.
