How do I make sure certain bookings always get a certain table?

Table rules send a party size, a regular or a booking source to a chosen table or pairing whenever ResoFlow picks the table; pairings name two or more tables you seat as one.

"Parties of eight always get tables 4 and 5." "Mr Smith always gets table 1." "Walk-ins go to the bar tables." Table rules let you say that once, in Settings → Venue → Tables and layout, in the Table rules and pairings section. Owners, Admins and Managers can open this page.

These settings are plan-gated: Available on Plus plan and above — the same feature as Auto-assign tables, because a rule only matters when ResoFlow is the one picking a table.

What a rule is — and what it is not

A rule is a tie-breaker, not a reservation. When ResoFlow picks a table for a booking that matches a rule, it picks the rule's table (or pairing) instead of its usual "smallest table that fits". That is all it does:

• It never holds a table empty. If the rule's table is already taken at that time, ResoFlow picks the next best table as usual — a rule can never turn a bookable time into "no tables".
• The customer's own seating request comes first. If a customer asked for a window seat and the rule names a table that isn't a window, the window wins. (See How do I let customers choose where they sit?.)
• A rule never seats a party somewhere too small. A party of four is never sent to a two-seater, whatever the rule says. It can seat a party of two at a six-seater — that is your choice to make.
• Staff can still move any booking. A booking sitting away from its rule's table shows a small Off its usual table note on the bookings list and in the booking panel. It is information, not a warning — nothing to act on.

Rules apply where ResoFlow picks: online bookings, staff bookings saved without a chosen table, and Smart walk-ins. They do not touch the waitlist or a customer changing their own booking.

Table pairings

A pairing names two or more tables you seat as one — "The long table: 4 + 5, seats 8". Under Table pairings, click Add pairing, give it a name and tap the tables that belong to it. The seat count adds up from the tables you picked.

A pairing only ever seats a party when every table in it is free at that time, and only when their seats genuinely add up to the party. Because a pairing is your explicit "these two", ResoFlow will use it for a party bigger than any single table even when auto-split (the setting that lets ResoFlow combine any neighbouring tables) is off.

Table rules

Under Table rules, click Add rule. Each rule has three parts:

• What it matches — choose one of:
• Parties of a size range (for example 7 to 8 guests);
• A named regular — use Find the regular to search your customers by email, phone or name and pick the person (the customer search needs the customer profiles feature);
• VIP guests — anyone flagged VIP on their customer profile;
• Bookings from one source — online bookings, staff bookings, walk-ins or event tickets.
• Where it sends them — a table, or one of your pairings.
• The switch — turn a rule off to pause it without deleting it.

If several rules match the same booking, the most specific wins: a named regular, then VIP guests, then a party size, then a booking source. Rules of the same kind keep the order you listed them in.

Click Save changes when you're done. A rule or pairing that is only half filled in is removed when you save — the page tells you before you do.

Seeing rules in the floor-plan editor

Open the editor (Open editor on the same page) and a Reserved for strip under the plan lists every table on that room a rule sends bookings to, or that belongs to a pairing — so anyone drawing the room can see why a table tends to stay empty until its party arrives.

Related: How are tables assigned to online bookings? · How do I build my floor plan and add tables? · How do I let customers choose where they sit? · How do I take walk-ins?