Top restaurant defends its seven-day $265 cancellation fee amid a growing trend as venues fight to survive post-Covid: ‘We have no reason to hide’
- Top restaurant defended decision to charge diners up to $265 for cancelling
- Brae Restaurant requires diners to pay deposit when they make reservation
- Menu costs $340 and matching alcoholic beverages cost another $190
A top restaurant has defended its decision to charge diners up to $265 if they give less than seven days notice to cancel their reservation.
Brae, in the regional Victorian town of Birregurra, has joined most fine dining restaurants and adopted a policy of requiring diners to pay in advance when they make a booking.
The restaurant warns on its website that diners will only be refunded 50 per cent of their deposit if they cancel on short notice.
The menu costs $340 plus an additional $190 for matching alcoholic beverages – meaning diners can pay up to $530 for a seat at the high-end restaurant.
A top restaurant has defended its decision to charge diners up to $265 if they give less than seven days notice to cancel their reservation
The costly cancellation fee was reported by the media prompting the restaurant to defend its policy on Instagram – saying it was clearly stated on its website
Half of the deposit is lost if potential diners cancel in less than seven days meaning they would lose $265 on the spot.
The costly cancellation fee was reported by the media, prompting the restaurant to defend its policy on Instagram.
The restaurant said there were some exceptions to the cancellation fee that had been clearly outlined on its website.
‘For those planning to visit Brae soon, rest assured that cancellation fees are waived for diners who are unable to visit due to Covid,’ the post read.
Brae said it was upfront about the cancellation policy on its website and reminded diners as they made the booking online.
‘We have no reason to hide this necessary policy from anyone,’ the post read.
Diners who make the cancellation with more than seven days notice will still have to pay a $25 fee.
Brae Restaurant is among a growing list of venues enforcing cancellation fees as the hospitality industry recovers from the Covid pandemic and copes with staff shortages and rising supply costs.
Brae Restaurant is among the growing list of venues enforcing costly cancellation fees as the hospitality industry recovers from the Covid pandemic and copes with staff shortages and rising supply costs
Rosetta at Crown Melbourne is another restaurant that asks diners for a $100 deposit and charges a $50 fee if a cancellation is made in 24 hours.
Omnia Bar and Bistro culinary director Stephen Nairn said it was difficult to fill in a table after a reservation was cancelled at short notice, Herald Sun reported.
‘Restaurants are a combination of hard work, dedication and passion. But at the end of it all they are businesses that have employees to look after and bills to pay,’ he said.
‘Not every single restaurant has a waiting list seven-days-a-week for lunch and dinner with 50 names on it. When someone cancels on day or just before it is very difficult for the restaurant to re-sell the table.’
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