Stockton restaurants urging people to turn up to bookings
A few people say it's upsetting when people don't show up
We are hearing from restaurants in Stockton who say they have got plans in place to try and prevent no-shows.
It is when people make a big booking but don't turn up, meaning many businesses lose out on income.
Jawad Mohibi, owner of Carpaccio restaurant in Stockton, said: "It very rarely happens in our place. If it's happened then it's upsetting because you're thinking it's not very nice when people book a table and not turn up. If they're phoning us to cancel the table then we also appreciate it. It's very good.
"What we do in our policy is that if any table has more than 10 people, we require a deposit to secure the table, especially for the weekend. When we take the deposit, we deduct it off the final bill."
Florrie Moore, manager of La Porto in Stockton, said: "We do try and ring the bookings every morning to confirm whether they're still wishing to come. With bigger parties we do ask for £20 deposits for the table, just so that we do know that they will arrive. Obviously bigger parties are a bit more of a loss and if it is a busy evening and we are reserving tables for bookings, and they don't turn up, then obviously it's a table that could go to someone else.
"It would be a lot easier to welcome walk-ins, especially when we know we've got the tables free. It would obviously help if no-shows would let us know if they're not going to turn up, even if it's just half an hour before the booking it is helpful."