Mother’s Day brings one of the year’s biggest surges in family dining, with restaurants and pubs busier than usual as larger tables gather from morning through to the evening. Lloyds Merchant Services research suggests that on occasions like this, the final stages of service can play an important role in how smoothly the day runs when demand is high.

Lloyds Merchant Services’ latest hospitality research shows how payment technology is becoming a central part of the dining experience. Across the UK, 77% of hospitality businesses say contactless is now the most requested way to pay, while 44% report growing demand for mobile wallets.

For many venues, payment speed becomes particularly important on busy days. When service is full and tables are turning, quick and reliable checkout helps keep the flow of service moving smoothly across the floor. That experience is reflected in Lloyds Merchant Services’ recent hospitality research: 42% of hospitality businesses cite slow processing as a concern during busy service, rising to 49% among restaurants and 48% among pubs.

Customers notice it too. Three in 10 businesses say guests occasionally comment on delays when paying, while around 15% say they hear this feedback regularly. Restaurants are the most exposed, with 14% reporting frequent complaints, compared with 9% of hotels and 5% of pubs.

Alongside speed, managing customer payment preferences is becoming an important part of the checkout experience. Twenty-four per cent of hospitality businesses say they want greater payment choice, rising to 30% among restaurants, while one in five highlight the need for tighter links between payments, tills, booking and loyalty systems.

That variety is reflected in how customers choose to pay at the table. In restaurants, 26% say customers ask to pay at the table, while 22% report requests to split the bill, increasing the number of transactions handled at the end of a meal.

Ross Taylor, Managing Director and Head of Payment and Liquidity Sales at Lloyds Merchant Services, said: “Mother’s Day is all about making mums feel appreciated. With busy venues and lots of ways to pay, seamless payments help everything flow, so teams can concentrate on great service, and families can concentrate on celebrating.”

For hospitality businesses preparing for busy trading occasions, fast, reliable and flexible payment systems help venues keep service running smoothly. Systems need to handle volume, support different ways to pay and fit smoothly into existing service setups, particularly during peak periods when staff and floor space are under pressure.

Lloyds Merchant Services supports hospitality businesses across the UK with dependable, scalable payment tools designed to perform during busy trading periods. As part of Lloyds Banking Group, businesses can also benefit from an integrated banking relationship that connects payments, reporting and financial insight, helping venues manage busy trading days with confidence.