Some businesses have finally managed to regain a foothold after being knocked for six by the pandemic. But for bars and restaurants, the challenge has only just begun.
Whilst the general public are awaiting July 4 (the day pubs could reopen) with bated breath, the venues themselves aren’t filled with the same giddy optimism.
Social distancing rules and regulations have rendered ‘normal’ customer serving methods impossible, and for the smaller, independent bars we all know and love, finding a solution is proving panic-inducingly difficult.
That’s why seatd are stepping in to help.
This innovative tech system allows customers to order food and drink to their seats without the need to fill in forms, download an app or pre-order beforehand. All they need to do is scan a code on the table – and choose their serving preferences (bring to the table, collect at the till, or a specified pickup point).
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It’s easy for customers. It’s easy for venues. And everyone stays safe.
Through user-friendly design and technology, guests are invited to view digital menus on their phones – complete with food/drinks and dietary requirements.
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The web-app also features a unique back-of-house system, so businesses can track live orders clearly and efficiently – with an admin panel sitting on a tablet or laptop next to existing POS systems.
Every customer will also be given the option to donate to a local charity, at no extra cost to the venue.
Despite the straitjacket being thrown onto the hospitality sector, seatd has found a way to create environments where people still have freedom in how they order and pay.
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The brainchild of hospitality tech specialists Craig Davies, Matt Gibbs, Stephen Powell and Jack Woodward, the seatd software has been developed over the last three months and is being rolled out to venues ahead of the grand bar/pub/restaurant reopening next month.
Wikimedia Commons
Craig Davies, co-founder of seatd said: “seatd was born out of our love and understanding of the hospitality industry and what would be essential in supporting its recovery when doors reopen.
“With safety of paramount importance to us, we want to work closely with venues to help them get back on their feet, providing them with tech that helps them comply with social distancing measures.
“We’re so proud to have developed seatd. There’s absolutely no setup costs, and it’s really easy to use. Venues can literally be up in running in a matter of minutes.”
Fellow co-founder Steve Powell added: “While people are searching for a balance between peace of mind and returning to life, seatd hopes to reassure any apprehensions and help the public to enjoy the future of social hospitality and also ensure much-loved venues are able to stay trading safely and successfully.”
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Alongside seatd, Craig Davies and Stephen Powell are co-founders of the award winning Viper app, which enables customers to pre-book tables and drinks at bars in Manchester including Manahatta, Dirty Martini, Impossible and BLVD.
For more information on seatd, visit their website. Venues can get in touch right now for support with any social distancing measures.
You can also follow them on social media: @beseatd.
News
Teen sentenced after deliberately driving into a female police officer in Stockport
Emily Sergeant
A teen who deliberately drove into a female police officer at a retail park Stockport earlier this year has been sentenced.
Harvey Bell was at a retail park on Wilmslow Road in Cheadle back on 25 January 2025 when he seriously injured a Greater Manchester Police (GMP) officer during a shocking incident – which left the officer requiring hospital treatment.
At the time, the 19-year-old from Knutsford was present while police were investigating reports of class C drug use in a car park.
Police parked in front of an Audi and the officer signalled for Bell to remain stationary and turn the engine off, but instead he reversed, and as the officer approached the front windscreen, Bell drove at the officer, knocking her to the ground.
He then proceeded to drive over her legs with both sets of wheels, before heading out of the car park at speed.
#JAILED | A man who deliberately drove into a police officer in Stockport has been jailed.
Harvey Bell (12/08/2005) has been sentenced to 31 months in a Young Offenders Institute and was disqualified from driving for two years.
— Stockport Police (GMP) (@GMPStockport) June 4, 2025
Bell was subsequently arrested the following day and made no comment in his police interview, but then went on to plead guilty to causing serious injury by dangerous driving, as well as possession of cannabis on 27 March 2025.
The teen appeared at Manchester Crown Court this week where he was sentenced to 31 months in a Young Offenders Institute, and was also disqualified from driving for two years – which will take effect when he is released.
“What [Bell] did to me is permanently in the back of my mind, every call I go to, I feel the apprehension, the fear that any incident, no matter how innocuous it appears, can end with being assaulted or hurt,” the officer explained in a powerful victim impact statement read in court.
“This is an unseen result of Bell’s assault on me.”
She continued: “I know that Bell’s abhorrent behaviour is an exception, and the majority of the public we serve do not wish us harm, but assaults on police need to stop. An attack on a police officer is an attack on us all.
“Bell is a danger to society and had total disregard for my life.”
Featured Image – GMP
News
IKEA announces decision to close popular Greater Manchester site
Emily Sergeant
It’s the end of the road for one of IKEA’s popular Greater Manchester sites.
The Swedish furniture giant has announced its decision to close its ‘Plan and Order Point’ over in Stockport in a couple of weeks time.
The store – which is located in Stockport town centre’s Merseyway Shopping Centre – launched to huge success back in March 2023, and at the time, was the second of this ‘test and trial’ format to open in the UK, becoming a smaller space dedicated to kitchen and home planning, as well as ordering items.
IKEA says the closure comes as a result of ‘valuable learnings’ which plan to take this conceptual format in a direction to ‘better suit the needs of UK customers’.
IKEA is closing its close popular Stockport site this month / Credit: Jon Super (via IKEA)
Since the opening of the Stockport Plan and Order Point, IKEA claims it has seen an increased demand for Click and Collect services, a desire by customers to shop a smaller selection of home furnishing accessories, as well as the ability to return goods to physical IKEA units, and this is all something which the current location is unable to offer.
Learning from this change in consumer habits, the company says its future Plan and Order Point openings – including in those in other northern cities like Hull and York – will offer these services.
IKEA says it also remains ‘committed’ to trialling new formats, such as its upcoming small stores, one of which will open in nearby Chester later this year.
Luckily for IKEA fans, the retailer has confirmed that its major Greater Manchester store in Ashton-under-Lyne, as well as the neighbouring store in Warrington, will remain open as normal, offering all the services available at Stockport and more.
The Swedish furniture says the closure comes as a result of ‘valuable learnings’ about customer needs / Credit: Jon Super (via IKEA)
In addition to the upcoming opening of a smaller store in Chester, IKEA has revealed that the North West continues to be an area of interest for future expansion.
“After careful evaluation, we’ve made the difficult decision to close the IKEA Plan and Order Point at Merseyway Shopping Centre,” explained Salma Azad, who is one of IKEA’s Area Managers.
“In the two years since opening, we’ve taken valuable learnings, including how our customers prefer to meet IKEA, and we’ll take these insights into future openings, to serve shoppers in a more impactful way.”
Thanks to last year’s Click and Collect expansion, Stockport residents can now pick up purchases from Tesco Extra Stockport and Tesco Extra Stretford, as well as the Manchester store and the upcoming small store in Chester.
Stockport Plan and Order Point’s final day of trading will be on 16 June.
The Manc -
17th June 2020 
