Ei Publican Partnerships has partnered with Round to support its publicans with a contactless ordering and payment app across its estate.
Once pubs reopen, customers can download the Round app on their own phone, search for their local Ei Publican Partnerships pub and order and pay for food and drink at the table straight from their phones. Each pub will have its own individual menus that customers will be able to choose from.
The integration of Round into the estate comes as a response to the COVID-19 crisis. By allowing customers to order from their tables, Round will help to minimise queue time and help implement social distancing in venues.
Round also enables pubs to communicate with their customers, instantly. As soon as a customer goes to a pub landing page on the app, they will be welcomed with real-time information on menus, opening times and health and safety measures. The pubs will also be able to promote offers and incentives through the app, exclusive to their customers.
Nick Light, Managing Director of Ei Publican Partnerships, said: “This is an exciting venture for us and one of several initiatives we have been working on to help support our publicans.
“Round understand and appreciate that no two leased and tenanted pubs are the same and have developed an app that is flexible and easy to use for not only all our publicans but also our customers.
“I am delighted that we have found a solid and emergent partner in Round that is able to expand and develop with all our businesses as well as support the wider industry recovery at a time when social distancing is set to play an influential part in the overall customer experience.”
Ethan Martin, CEO of Round, added: “We are really excited to be partnering with Ei Publican Partnerships to launch Round. They are leaders in their field and their model gives us the opportunity to support publicans which was always our mission.
“We began developing Round in 2018 when I was still at University and saw a need for better interaction and service at pubs, coffee shops and restaurants – it is one of the only remaining sectors that hasn’t used technology to their advantage and we wanted to change – enabling both businesses and customers to benefit from mobile ordering – taking hospitality into the 21st Century.
“Whilst we fully understand the need for current pub closure, we are excited for the plans to reopen and are particularly excited that Round will be part of the solution in navigating what ‘new normal’ will look like in terms of business and social life. We have thoroughly enjoyed working with the team at Ei Publican Partnerships and look forward to a partnership which will facilitate an evolution in this sector.”
The app is available on Android and iOS devices and supports Apple Pay and Google Pay, as well as credit/debit card payments. The payment schedule to the publican is the same as a contactless payment on a PDQ machine – same day payment.
<ENDS>
NOTES TO EDITORS
About Stonegate Pub Company
Following the acquisition of Ei Group on 3rd March 2020 for £1.27bn, Stonegate Pub Company is the largest pub company in the UK. Its portfolio is comprised of 1270 sites within the managed division and 3457 leased and tenanted businesses.
The managed pubs division, which employs 17,000 people, is split into Branded and Traditional pubs. Branded is comprised of: Slug & Lettuce, Walkabout, Be At One and Venues. Traditional (unbranded) pubs is made up of: Proper Pubs, Town Pub & Kitchen, Classic Inns, Common Room, Craft Union and Bermondsey Pub Group.
2020
- REBA Employee Wellbeing Awards – Best New Wellbeing Strategy (5000+ staff)
- Publican Awards – Best Pub Employer (501+ employees)
2019
- BII’s National Innovation in Training Awards (NITAs): HR Manager of the Year – Lee Woolley
- CGA Insight Hero and Icon Awards (two awards): Icon Award – Ian Payne MBE, Business Leader, Simon Longbottom
- UK Hospitality’s Dusk ‘til Dawn Late Night Awards (two awards) – Icon Award (Ian Payne MBE), Best Marketing and Promotions Award
- Great British Pub Awards – Best LGBTQ+ Pub
- BII Scotland Awards – Best Operator for Training
- Retailers’ Retailer of the Year (two awards): Lifetime Achievement Award – Ian Payne MBE, Investor of the Year – TDR Capital
- Menu Innovation & Development Awards (MIDAS) (two awards): Best Menu – Premium High Street Pub: Slug & Lettuce; Best Menu – Town & City Pub: Walkabout
- Publican Awards (five awards): Best Community Pub Operator, Best Pub Employer (501+ employees), Best Managed Pub Company (51+ sites), Best Drinks Offer, Business Leader of the Year – Chief Executive, Simon Longbottom
2018
- British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) – Chairman’s Award
- UK Hospitality’s Dusk ‘til Dawn Late Night Awards: Best Service & Team
- Licensed Trade Charity: Outstanding Corporate Contribution Award
- Great British Pub Awards (two awards): Best LGBTQ+ and Best Sports Pub
- APPBG PUBAID Corporate Charity Fundraiser Award
- Publican Awards: Best Late Night Operator
2017
- Great British Pub Awards (three awards): Best Pub Garden, Best Entertainment and Best Sports Pub
- Publican Awards (two awards): Best Managed Pub Company; Best Late Night Operator, plus highly commended – Best Employer 501+ employees
- Menu Innovation and Development Award (MIDAS): Premium High Street Pub – Town Pub & Kitchen
- Retailers’ Retailer Award: Investor of the Year – TDR Capital
2016
- BII National Industry Training Awards (NITAs) (two awards): Best Managed Company for Training; Lifetime Achievement Award for Chairman, Ian Payne
- Great British Pub Awards: Best Sports Pub
- Scottish Training Federation: Best Large Employer
- HR Excellence Awards: Best Learning and Development Strategy
- HR Distinction Awards: Innovation for Digital & Social Media
2015
- HR Distinction Awards: People Development
2014
- HR Distinction: Innovative Use of Technology
- Publican Awards: Business Leader of the Year, Chairman Ian Payne
- Menu Innovation and Development Award (MIDAS): Best New Concept Missoula, Montana Bar & Grill
2013
- Publican Award – Best Pub Employer 51+ sites
- Menu Innovation and Development Award (MIDAS): City and Bar Dining – Slug and Lettuce
For more information, contact Joanne Steward [joannesteward@leisurepr.co.uk]
For Round, please contact: www.round.app