Hospitality businesses need EPOS systems that handle table management, kitchen orders, split bills, and tip distribution — features that generic retail POS systems simply don’t offer. After testing the leading options available in the UK, we’ve identified which systems work best for restaurants, cafes, pubs, and hotels.
The right choice depends on your service style and budget. A small cafe can start with SumUp’s free POS Plus at £19/month, while a multi-site restaurant group may need Lightspeed’s Pro plan at ~£219/month. Below, we compare pricing, hospitality-specific features, and real trade-offs for each provider.
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- Hospitality EPOS systems from £39 monthly - include table management, kitchen displays & split billing features
- Best for restaurants needing 5+ terminals - multi-site management & advanced reporting justify higher costs
- Generic EPOS lacks tip distribution & course timing - hospitality-specific features essential for service quality
- Specialized systems cost 40-60% more than basic POS - but reduce order errors & improve kitchen efficiency
Hospitality EPOS Comparison Table
Square for Restaurants is the best hospitality EPOS for most UK venues in 2026, offering a free plan with table management, course ordering, and kitchen display integration at a 1.75% flat transaction rate.
| Provider | Best For | Monthly Cost | Transaction Fee | Table Management | KDS | Online Ordering |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Square for Restaurants PICK | Growing restaurants | £0 / £69 | 1.75% | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| SumUp POS Plus | Cafes, takeaways | £19 | 1.69% | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Lightspeed Restaurant | Multi-site groups | From ~£69 | Custom | ✓ | ✓ | Pro plan |
| Epos Now | Hotels, multi-location | From £25 | 1.7% | Add-on | Add-on | Via apps |
| Clover | Full-service pubs, bars | Quote only | From 1.49% | ✓ | Add-on | Via apps |
| Zettle | Pop-ups, food trucks | £0 | 1.75% | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
Pricing verified February 2026. For full pricing breakdowns, see our EPOS system costs guide. For general comparisons across all business types, see our 7 best EPOS systems guide.
Best EPOS for Restaurants
Square for Restaurants is the best EPOS for UK restaurants, offering a free plan with unlimited devices, table management, and course ordering — the Plus plan at £69/month adds advanced reporting and 30-day free trial.
Square for Restaurants EDITOR’S PICK
Square for Restaurants is purpose-built for food service. The free plan includes unlimited devices and locations, basic table management, and kitchen display routing. The Plus plan at £69/month per location adds full table management with course ordering, advanced reporting, and a 30-day free trial.
What makes Square particularly strong for restaurants is the ecosystem. You get an integrated online ordering system, a free website, and delivery management — all from one provider. Card payments cost a flat 1.75%, and hardware starts at £19 for a reader or £149 for a standalone terminal with built-in printer.
The main limitation is that 24/7 support isn’t available — phone support runs Mon-Fri 9-5. For busy restaurants needing help during weekend service, this is a genuine gap.
Best EPOS for Cafes and Coffee Shops
SumUp POS Plus at £19/month is the best EPOS for UK cafes, offering table management, takeaway kiosk mode with allergen displays, and the lowest PAYG rate at 1.69% — ideal for high-volume coffee shops.
SumUp POS Plus
For independent cafes and coffee shops, SumUp’s POS Plus plan at £19/month hits the sweet spot. It adds hospitality-specific features to SumUp’s already-competitive 1.69% PAYG rate: table management, takeaway kiosk mode with allergen information display, staff management, and a loyalty programme.
The standalone Solo device at £79 works with a built-in 4G SIM — no Wi-Fi needed. For a full countertop setup, the POS Lite + Solo bundle costs £290 (ex. VAT). Next-day payouts arrive by 7am including weekends via SumUp’s free Business Account.
SumUp is less suited to full-service restaurants with complex table layouts. There’s no kitchen display system integration, no course ordering, and no online ordering platform. For takeaway-focused cafes and quick-service venues, though, it’s hard to beat on value.
Best EPOS for Multi-Site Restaurant Groups
Lightspeed Restaurant Pro is the best EPOS for multi-site hospitality groups, with centralised management across locations, QR table ordering, kitchen display systems, and integrated online ordering from approximately £219/month.
Lightspeed Restaurant
Lightspeed Restaurant is designed for hospitality businesses that have outgrown simpler systems. The Basic plan starts at approximately £69/month, but most restaurant groups will need the Core plan (~£119/month) for QR code ordering, table payments, and advanced reporting, or the Pro plan (~£219/month) for online ordering, third-party delivery integration, and multi-location management.
Where Lightspeed excels is operational depth. Kitchen display system integration routes orders intelligently based on prep time. Menu modifiers handle complex dietary requirements. Staff performance tracking shows covers per server, average check size, and tip distribution. For a full breakdown, see our Lightspeed EPOS review.
The trade-off is cost. A two-location restaurant group on the Pro plan pays ~£438/month before transaction fees. Card processing rates are custom-quoted, and hardware is only available via direct sales consultation. This is a premium system for businesses with premium needs.
Best EPOS for Pubs and Bars
Clover is the best EPOS for UK pubs and bars thanks to its tab management, split billing, offline payment mode, and 200+ app integrations — though pricing requires a quote through an authorised reseller.
Clover
Pubs and bars need speed, tab management, and reliability during busy Friday and Saturday nights. Clover delivers on all three. Its table management with floor plans lets staff assign tabs to tables or running tabs to regulars. Split billing handles groups paying separately. And the offline payment mode — unique among the providers on this list — keeps taking payments even if your internet drops.
Transaction fees start from 1.49%, the lowest published rate of any provider here. The 200+ app marketplace includes integrations with delivery platforms, accounting software, and loyalty providers. The kitchen display system add-on routes food orders directly to the kitchen.
The downside is transparency. Clover doesn’t publish UK pricing — you’ll need a quote from a reseller like Lloyds Cardnet or AIB. Hardware is proprietary (the Clover Flex portable terminal is estimated at ~£449), and contracts can run up to 48 months. Make sure you understand the full commitment before signing.
Best EPOS for Hotels
Epos Now is the strongest EPOS choice for UK hotels, with multi-location management, property management system integrations, staff scheduling, and a comprehensive app marketplace — complete hardware bundles start from £225 + VAT.
Hotels have unique EPOS requirements: managing multiple revenue centres (restaurant, bar, room service, spa), integrating with property management systems (PMS), and tracking stock across outlets. Epos Now is the strongest fit here, with multi-location management, 100+ app integrations (including PMS connections), and staff scheduling tools.
The Complete Solution bundle at £225 + VAT gives you a touchscreen terminal, cash drawer, receipt printer, and cloud software. Additional terminals for different outlets start from £99 on promotional pricing. Card processing runs at 1.7% flat through Epos Now Payments.
Be aware that Epos Now typically requires a 24-36 month contract, and features like loyalty programmes and advanced analytics are paid add-ons. For hotel-specific setup, budget for configuration and training time — Epos Now includes this with the Duo bundle (£375 + VAT). For full details, see our Epos Now review.
Hospitality EPOS Features Checklist
Essential hospitality EPOS features include table management, kitchen display integration, split billing, tip distribution, and menu modifiers — optional extras like online ordering and loyalty programmes depend on your service style.
Use this checklist when evaluating any hospitality EPOS system. Features are ranked by importance for different venue types.
Essential for all hospitality:
- Table management with floor plan layout
- Split billing and payment splitting
- Menu modifiers (dietary requirements, portion sizes)
- Staff management and tip tracking
- Real-time sales and inventory reporting
Essential for restaurants:
- Kitchen display system (KDS) or order printer routing
- Course ordering (starters, mains, desserts)
- Reservation management or integration
- Online ordering and click-and-collect
Essential for pubs and bars:
- Tab management (open tabs, running totals)
- Quick-service mode for high-volume drink orders
- Age verification prompts
- Offline payment mode (for busy evenings when Wi-Fi struggles)
Nice to have:
- Loyalty programme (built-in or via integration)
- QR code ordering and table payments
- Delivery platform integration (Deliveroo, Uber Eats)
- Gift card management
- Accounting software integration (Xero, QuickBooks)
How Much Does a Hospitality EPOS System Cost?
Hospitality EPOS systems in the UK cost between £0-219/month in software fees, £19-1,200+ in hardware, and 0.99-1.75% per card transaction — a typical independent restaurant pays £50-100/month total.
For a detailed cost breakdown across all EPOS providers, see our EPOS system costs guide. To compare EPOS systems by total cost at your specific card volume, use our comparison tables.
Key cost considerations for hospitality specifically:
- Kitchen display systems add £15-50/month on most providers (built into Square’s free plan)
- Multiple terminals cost £39-69/month per additional device on most systems
- Delivery integrations (Deliveroo, Uber Eats) may carry per-order commissions on top of EPOS fees
- Staff training is included with Epos Now bundles but costs extra (or requires self-service) with Square and SumUp
Our Verdict
Square for Restaurants is the best hospitality EPOS for most UK venues — start free, add table management and kitchen displays immediately, and upgrade to Plus at £69/month only when you need advanced reporting.
Square for Restaurants wins for most hospitality businesses because the free plan includes features that competitors charge £50-200/month for. You get table management, kitchen display routing, and online ordering with no monthly fee and no contract. If your restaurant grows, the £69/month Plus plan adds the advanced tools without any switching costs.
SumUp POS Plus is the better pick for cafes, coffee shops, and quick-service venues where table management is secondary to fast transactions and takeaway orders. The 1.69% rate saves money on every sale.
Lightspeed Restaurant is worth the premium for established restaurant groups with 3+ locations needing centralised management, advanced analytics, and QR ordering. But only if you’ve genuinely outgrown Square’s capabilities.
Clover is the standout for pubs and bars where tab management, speed, and offline reliability matter most — just be prepared for the opaque pricing and long contracts.
For broader EPOS comparisons, see our 7 best EPOS systems in the UK. For niche venue types, read our guides on EPOS for spas and salons and EPOS for gyms. If you’re looking for a mobile-first solution for food trucks or pop-ups, see best mobile EPOS systems.
