6 ways to get your restaurant ready for winters

Table of Contents

• Check heating systems & optimise outdoor areas
• Refresh your menu to suit winter cravings
• Strengthen your delivery & takeaway offering
• Train staff & ensure safety for winter conditions
• Launch winter-specific marketing and promotions
• Review cash flow and consider flexible financing

1. Check heating systems & optimise outdoor areas

As the temperature drops, a warm and inviting environment becomes essential. Begin by scheduling a professional inspection of your heating‑ventilation system, under strain, many units fail or become inefficient during extended cold spells. For your terraces and al‑fresco zones, investing in patio heaters, insulated covers or even dome‑style pods can transform outdoor space into extra seating.

For example, one Manchester gastropub equipped clear “winter domes” over its terrace, heated and decorated with blankets; the result was a noticeable increase in weekend bookings and extended use of outdoor areas, even with cold weather. According to industry guides, winter‑proofing patios keeps valuable covers operating instead of being shuttered when others close theirs.

2. Refresh your menu to suit winter cravings

Winter diners crave comfort, rich soups, slow‑roasted meats, warming desserts and seasonal drinks. Align your sourcing with in‑season ingredients such as root vegetables, game or hearty greens to reflect authenticity and control cost. Introducing limited‑time winter specials also drives urgency and repeat visits. Packaging these items as “available while stocks last” leverages the scarcity effect and adds appeal. Ensure your kitchen is ready; longer‑cook items require staffing and workflow planning.

3. Strengthen your delivery & takeaway offering

When the weather is unfriendly, many customers switch to home‑delivery or takeaway. Make sure your online ordering system is mobile‑friendly, loads quickly, and clearly integrates menu specials and winter promotions. Consider packaging enhancements, insulated bags, hot‑holding containers and dedicated pickup zones for drivers to speed flow. One operator using a modern ordering platform reported 20 % growth in off‑premise sales after upgrading these channels.

4. Train staff & ensure safety for winter conditions

Winter brings additional safety hazards: icy walkways, low light levels, wet floors and early darkness. Train your team to manage these risks: maintain entry mats, use adequate lighting, apply clear signage and keep heating systems monitored. Conduct emergency drills for heating or power failures so the team knows how to respond and maintain service. A confident, prepared team projects professionalism and keeps guests feeling secure.

5. Launch winter‑specific marketing and promotions

The winter season gives you rich themes to work with: warmth, comfort, indulgence, gathering. Introduce a “Winter Warm‑Up” menu, promote indoor shelter with cosy décor, or run social‑media campaigns around seasonal dishes and hot drinks. Feature your outdoor terrace still operating, emphasising heaters, blankets or domes to show comfort even when cold. Use high‑quality photos and update your Google Business Profile listing to reflect these changes, visuals and local search optimisation work hand‑in‑hand.

6. Review cash‑flow and consider flexible financing

Winter can bring slower trade, higher heating costs and unpredictable footfall. It’s critical to revisit your budgets, forecast lower‑volume periods and plan contingency. Modern restaurant tech platforms often include integrated financing options tied to sales performance so you can access cash when needed, repay when trading improves and avoid high‑interest loans. Thinking ahead lets you seize opportunities (such as mop‑up bookings after bad weather) rather than being reactive.