Luxury London restaurants are cracking down on no-shows and social media freeloaders by introducing hefty deposits and minimum spends, as the industry battles rising costs.
Swanky London restaurants are introducing minimum spends and deposits to combat "reservation-squatting" by social media influencers and no-shows. Gymkhana, a two-Michelin-starred Indian hotspot, introduced a £100 minimum spend for dinner in November 2024 to address no-shows and bot activity targeting the restaurant. Chutney Mary in St James's has imposed a £60 per person minimum for dinner. Other restaurants are also cracking down on influencers seeking free meals in exchange for social media posts, with some imposing hefty minimum spends. However, not all establishments are adopting this approach, with Bob Bob Ricard opting to scrap its minimum spend policy, prioritizing value and loyalty instead.
