Young & Co.s Brewery has become the latest food retailer to introduce the Qkr! with MasterPass app that lets users pay at their table and speed up their departure.Customers ordering food at any one of 168 pubs across London and the south of England will have the option to pay from their smartphone using the app.
Developed by MasterCard Labs, Qkr! is already used to great acclaim throughout wagamama, Zizzi and ASK Italian restaurants, saving time for customers and waiters alike. Studies show that the average time between asking for a bill and leaving a restaurant is between 10 and 12 minutes, but Qkr! reduces this to a few seconds.
Diners will be able to search for nearby Young’s or Geronimo pubs in the app, and on arrival they will be prompted to ‘check in’. Diners can then view the items they have ordered on their phone and pay via their phone when they are ready. For other diners wishing to split the bill, they can check into the same table, see the entire order, and select and pay for what is theirs when ready.
Many of Young’s customers visit the pub to eat out with friends who want to split the bill. While the company wanted a solution to speed up the payment process, and a mobile solution at that, maintaining a relaxed and leisurely dining experience is still the focus.
Patrick Dardis, Retail Director at Young & Co.s Brewery explains: “We want to facilitate a relaxed atmosphere without the need for customers to pile up their payment cards to split the bill. Qkr! is a means to offer our tech-savvy diners a leading mobile solution from a globally trusted brand. This lets us focus on bringing customers a warm welcome and personalised service that’s so crucial to providing that leisurely lunch or dinner.”
Scott Abrahams, Group Head of Acceptance and Emerging Payments, MasterCard UK & Ireland adds: “Having been around since 1831, Young’s are a cornerstone of the great British pub scene, so I’m thrilled to see them adopting new technology and innovate for their customers. They will love using Qkr! It’s the hassle free way to pay.”
