Changing a reservation

Guests turn up two more, or want half an hour later. You change the existing reservation; you do not create a second one alongside it. A duplicate under the same name costs you a table tonight that you do not have.

More guests

This is the change that most often goes wrong, because the assigned table is suddenly too small. After changing it, check the table plan: does the party still fit where it was, or do tables need combining?

A different time

Mind the turn time of the table after it. On a full night, an hour later often means the table has already been promised to someone else.

Tell your guest what changed

A change you make is not known to your guest. Send an updated confirmation, especially when the time has moved — that saves you a guest standing at the door at the old time.