One of the distinctions of the Langan’s restaurant group is its insistence on maintaining ‘the personal touch’, as evidenced by the extensive hand-written menus and attention to its customer service: a priority which is palpably paramount. How then, to automate the process of bar orders whilst maintaining that crucial individual service?

The group has opted for the touch pad modules of a restaurant management system, together with the Star Micronics SP200 matrix receipt printer across its five restaurants. Drinks orders are taken manually at customers’ tables and subsequently entered into the touch pad, which automatically relays the request to the bar. By the time the waiter gets to the bar, the drinks are ready: maximum time with customers, minimum time dedicated to processing. At the end of the customers’ meal, the drinks orders are automatically totalled and printed on the Star Micronics-produced receipt for customer checking.

Gary Bennett, financial controller for the restaurant group, says of the system, “The Star-based system enables us to benefit from one central cashier and to be assured of no mistakes resulting from either illegible hand-writing or additional errors. The receipts are clear and easy for the customer to check and the touch pads are unobtrusive in the service we provide our diners.”

As a group, Langan’s caters for an average of 1000 diners per day; 600 at the Brasserie. At the Brasserie, the system comprises of nine touch pads working with a single PC (with an additional one for back up) and Star Micronics SP200 printers equipping staff at the bar, restaurant and back office. An average of 30 waiters serve customers, all of whom can easily use the system to serve customers in the legendary ground floor restaurant or the quieter Venetian Room.

Bennett integrates the system with his stock control procedures for comparative purposes, but affirms that the primary use for the system is for fast order processing and accurate, well-presented billing. Whilst the insistence on manual processes and personal attention are motivating factors behind Langan’s stance on minimising technology, Bennett is of the view that IT should only be utilised where it can clearly be of benefit, “We have an extremely pragmatic approach and would never be tempted to purchase technology for its own sake. Too often I have seen organisations in the hospitality sector spend £100k on all-encompassing solutions, only to use a fraction of the functionality they have acquired. The Star system delivers exactly what we want and the organisations behind it are extremely responsive to our requirements.”

The Langan’s restaurant group comprises Langan’s Bistro, Langan’s Brasserie, Langan’s Coq d’Or, Odin’s Restaurant and Shepherd’s Restaurant, all located in central London. In its 25th year, Langan’s Brasserie offers Anglo/French-styled cuisine to an eclectic customer group, ranging from celebrities through business people to ‘Joe Public’.

Background Information on Star Micronics
Founded in 1947, Star Micronics is one of the world's largest printer manufacturers and has facilities for worldwide production, marketing and support. Employing over 2500 staff and achieving turnover in excess of £250 million, Star Micronics has developed a POS printer portfolio that spans thermal and dot matrix printers and mechanisms, designed for barcode, ticketing, receipts and labelling. Star's proven technology is also being utilised to develop reader/writer systems for visual, smart and magnetic stripe cards and to install print mechanisms in multimedia kiosk environments. The Star Micronics' range is available internationally via a distribution channel comprising distributors and dealers.

For further information contact:

Annette Tarlton or Claire Smith
Star Micronics EMEA
Tel: + 44 (0) 1494 471111
Email: Marketing@StarMicronicsEurope.com