The hospitality sector is resilient by nature, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy.

Constant challenges, including staff shortages, rising supply costs, and unpredictable footfall can make it difficult to protect margin, especially in the quieter months after Christmas. 

When trade softens, the smartest and strongest sites look beyond traditional profit streams and maximise what they already have - space, schedule and local demand.

Here are five practical ways your pub, restaurants and venue can boost your bottom line to ensure profitability throughout the year.

Method 1: Introduce Events & Experiences To Boost Spend Per Head

Food and drink sales are your core of your business, but experiential events give people a reason to book and spend more than they would on a typical visit - driving footfall and premium margins. 

Instead of waiting for customers, consider hosting ticketed, high-value experiences that use your space during off-peak hours and makes revenue easier to plan for.

This could include: 

• Tasting nights (wine, gin, whisky, local brewery)

• Creative collaborations and workshops

• Exclusive chef’s table dinners

• Themed quiz nights

• Set-menu evenings

• Live music sessions with packages

The best events don’t have to be complicated. They just need a clear hook and a reason for customers to commit.

Method 2: Optimise Your Menu for Profit, Not Just Popularity

A menu is one of the biggest levers you have, and making small strategic changes can have a meaningful difference over time. By focusing on menu engineering, you can significantly impact your profitability without raising your prices across the board.

Focus on seasonal menus that make the most of what’s fresh, available, cost-effective and in demand. Regularly review your menu to remove dishes that require heavy prep time, resources or lead to wastage. Where surplus is unavoidable, consider platforms like Too Good To Go to recover costs while reducing food waste. Finally, train your team on easy, natural upsells - seasonal sides, desserts, add-ons or drink pairings - to increase average spend per table. 

Method 3: Monetise Slow Periods with Offers & Partnerships

The key to financial stability is to reduce reliance on unpredictable factors. Many venues rely heavily on walk-ins, weather, weekends, and major events. That makes revenue vulnerable.

To smooth out these dips, create incentives for people to visit during off-peak periods:

• Early-bird dining menus

• Weekday set menus

• Happy hour offers

• “Work-from-the-pub” deals for remote workers

• Regular partnerships with local businesses or community groups

This doesn’t just improve revenue, it helps manage staffing and stock planning more efficiently too.

Method 4: Generate Income From Your Unused Car Park Spaces

If your site has a car park, you own a valuable asset that often sits empty for large parts of the day or night - particularly outside peak service hours or when you are closed. And if you’re near a train station, business park, stadium, hospital or local attraction, there’s often steady demand from drivers looking for convenient parking nearby.

By listing unused spaces on JustPark, you can generate extra revenue without affecting guest parking. Listing your car park attracts people who may not have visited your venue before, such as daytime dwellers, commuters, or remote workers. They are now on your property and more likely to drop in for a coffee or pint.

You remain in full control over:

• How many spaces are listed

• When they’re available

JustPark works alongside existing enforcement and policies, optimising authorised paid occupancy during quieter windows rather than replacing your current set-up. Even better, JustPark manages everything - from bookings and payments to driver support - so your staff can stay focused on guests. 

Even a modest 5–10% occupancy boost from unused spaces can generate meaningful, zero-effort income that directly supports other business operations, such as staff wages or essential maintenance.

Method 5: Launch a Strong Loyalty or Membership Program

Acquiring new customers is expensive. Keeping existing ones is far cheaper. A well-structured loyalty program encourages repeat visits and increases customer spend.

It doesn’t need to be complex, it just needs to feel worthwhile. You could implement:

• Simple points or stamp-based rewards system

• A monthly subscription-based drinks club

• Locals- or members-only offers, priority booking or exclusive discounts

These initiatives help build long-term loyalty and a reliable base of high-value regulars.

Make More From Your Parking Spaces

In today’s hospitality climate, profitability often comes down to smart additions rather than big changes - higher-margin events, better menu performance, stronger mi-week demand, and better use of space. 

If your car park sits unused for long periods, it may be able to generate additional income with minimal effort and zero cost to trial.

Speak to a JustPark expert today to explore how you can monetise your unused parking space, and transform it into a consistent source of passive revenue.