In short (UK): Restaurant deposits and no-show fees must be clear and not unfairly steep. If they cancel, repay the deposit. If you cancel or miss the slot, they may keep a reasonable amount — not an automatic full penalty. Challenge excess in writing. This is general guidance, not legal advice.
Paid a deposit to secure a table, then life got in the way — or the restaurant did? This guide covers the core rules — not a full claim pack. For a personalised plan and letter, use Refundly.
Deposit vs No-Show Fee
| Charge type | Fairness check |
|---|---|
| Refundable deposit against the bill | Usually fine if clearly explained |
| Keep-all deposit on any cancel | May be unfair if disproportionate |
| Per-head no-show fee | Must be clear upfront; amount must be justifiable |
| Full menu charged after they reseated | Often challengeable |
| Restaurant cancels / closes | Full deposit back |
Unfair terms rules under the Consumer Rights Act can bite on one-sided booking small print.
Give Notice When You Can
Cancel in writing (email or app message) as soon as you know. Early notice that lets them rebook weakens their case for keeping a large sum. Save proof of the time you cancelled.
When Your Refund Case Is Stronger
Restaurant cancelled; venue closed; deposit taken then booking never confirmed; fee far above likely loss; terms hidden until after payment; you cancelled outside a punitive window that was never pointed out.
Booking date, cancel notice time, and payment proof anchor the dispute
What to Do Next (High Level)
- Gather booking confirmation, deposit receipt, and cancel/no-show messages.
- Ask for a full or partial refund with a short reason (their cancel, early notice, excessive fee).
- Quote that terms must be fair and transparent.
- If refused, send a firm complaint to the manager/owner group.
- Consider chargeback for non-supply or clear unfair retention after that.
What Your Letter Should Cover
Booking date/time and party size; amount paid; why the deposit should return (or why the fee is excessive); evidence of notice or their cancellation; deadline for repayment.
Refundly builds a polite but firm deposit reclaim letter from your booking facts
Using Refundly
- Select services / deposit or booking fee
- Unfair terms and refund framing
- Personalised plan
- Complaint letter
- Track and escalate
Final Tip
Cancel by email or in-app message, not only a phone call — silence on their side is easier when you have a timestamp.
General information for UK consumers only — not legal advice. See the Consumer Rights Act 2015 (including unfair terms).
Common questions
Short answers to common questions on this topic.
- Can a restaurant keep my deposit if I cancel?
- Sometimes — if the terms were clear and the amount reflects a reasonable pre-estimate of their loss. Blanket “all deposits non-refundable” wording can still be challengeable as unfair, especially for long-notice cancels or when they easily rebooked your table.
- Are no-show fees always enforceable?
- No. Fees must be transparent at booking and not excessive compared with the restaurant’s likely loss. Charging a full set menu for every guest when they reseated the table the same night is often worth challenging in writing.
- The restaurant cancelled my booking — do I get the deposit back?
- Yes in almost all normal cases — plus you should not pay a no-show fee for their failure. Ask for repayment to the original method and keep the cancellation message.
- What if I was late and they gave the table away?
- Check the hold-time policy you agreed. Short grace periods are common. If they held an unclear or unfair rule, or never told you the cut-off, dispute kept deposits and extra fees with the timeline of calls/messages.
- Card chargeback for a deposit — is that possible?
- For clear non-supply (they cancelled, closed, or refused a valid refund), chargeback or Section 75 can help after a written complaint. Misunderstood optional tips are weaker than true booking failures.