Restaurant rota software for small UK kitchens
Stop wasting 5+ hours a week on manual rotas. WorkSchedule makes shift scheduling for small restaurants simple, fast, and stress-free. Build schedules in minutes, avoid last-minute chaos, and give your team clarity — all in one place.
No credit card required.
Why Restaurant Scheduling Is Broken
Most small restaurants still build rotas in spreadsheets, paper, or chaotic group chats. The result?
- Hours wasted on manual updates
- Last-minute call-outs and confusion
- Staff missing shifts or double-booked
- Constant back-and-forth on WhatsApp
- Errors that cost you money — or customers
You didn't open a restaurant to manage spreadsheets. WorkSchedule fixes that.
How WorkSchedule Solves Restaurant Scheduling
Built for small restaurants, cafés, and food businesses. No bloat, no learning curve.
Drag-and-drop scheduling
Build a full week in minutes.
Instant team notifications
Staff get updates the moment shifts change.
Mobile-friendly
Works on any phone or tablet — no app to download.
Time-off requests
Approve or decline in one tap.
UK compliance built-in
Automatic rest period tracking, shift limit alerts, and consecutive-day checks — built in.
Free for small teams
Up to 10 employees on the Starter plan, forever.
Trusted by Small Restaurants Across the UK
Based on feedback from beta users and hospitality industry research.
"We cut our scheduling time from 4 hours to 28 minutes weekly — and staff actually show up on time now."
"No-shows dropped by roughly 40% in the first month. The compliance warnings have already caught two breaches before they happened."
"Saved us about £180/month versus the enterprise tool we were trialling — and our 12-person kitchen was set up in under an hour."
Clearer schedules = happier staff = lower turnover
Hospitality turnover sits around 30% industry-wide. Early users of WorkSchedule report a 15–20% improvement in staff retention after moving from spreadsheets and group chats to a clear, predictable rota.
How It Works
- 1
Add your team
Invite staff in seconds — no setup headaches.
- 2
Build your rota
Drag, drop, and publish in minutes.
- 3
Share instantly
Your team sees their shifts on any device, in real time.
- 4
Track & optimise
Spot scheduling patterns, identify bottlenecks, and improve over time.
See Your Restaurant Rota at a Glance
Drag-and-drop shifts, colour-coded by service. Built-in compliance checks. Hours totalled per employee — automatically.
WorkSchedule vs. Spreadsheets & Generic Tools
| Feature | Spreadsheets | Generic apps | WorkSchedule |
|---|---|---|---|
| Built for restaurants | |||
| Drag-and-drop rotas | |||
| UK compliance checks | |||
| Free for small teams | |||
| Mobile-friendly | |||
| Instant notifications |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is WorkSchedule free for small restaurants?+
Yes — our Starter plan is free for teams of up to 10 employees. Larger teams can try Professional free for 14 days.
How much time will I actually save?+
Most owners save 3–5 hours every week once their team and shift templates are set up. Building a weekly rota typically drops from 3–4 hours in a spreadsheet to under 30 minutes.
What if my staff don't have smartphones?+
No problem. Schedules are sent via email and SMS and open on any device — desktop, tablet, or basic phone. There is no app to download.
Can I use this for split shifts or on-call staff?+
Yes. WorkSchedule supports split shifts, multiple shifts per day, on-call cover, and flexible roles — useful for kitchens with prep, service, and close-down patterns.
Do my staff need to download an app?+
No. WorkSchedule works in any browser on any device — phones, tablets, or laptops.
Can I import my existing rota?+
Yes — Professional users can bulk import staff and shifts via CSV.
Does it handle UK working time rules?+
Yes. Built-in compliance checks flag breaches of the 48-hour week, 11-hour rest, and consecutive-day rules. Read more about staff scheduling compliance for hospitality. Learn about compliance →
Do my staff need accounts?+
No — schedules can be shared instantly, but accounts unlock additional features.
Can I use this for cafés or bars?+
Yes — WorkSchedule works across hospitality, including cafés and bars. Explore rota software for cafés →
Explore other hospitality guides
See how WorkSchedule fits other parts of UK hospitality.