Running a restaurant in the UK today means handling far more than orders and payments. Between dine-in service, takeaway, delivery, online bookings, card-heavy transactions, and rising staff turnover, your POS system quietly dictates how smoothly everything runs.
A good restaurant POS doesn’t just total bills. It affects how fast tables turn, how accurately orders reach the kitchen, how easily staff learn the system, and how clearly you understand what’s making (or losing) money.
This guide breaks down 10 of the strongest restaurant POS systems available in the UK, ranked with real service conditions in mind: busy weekends, staff training, menu changes, stock tracking, and long-term costs. POSApt sits at the top for its hospitality-first design and practicality for UK restaurants.
What Actually Matters in a Restaurant POS
Before comparing systems, it helps to be clear about what a restaurant POS needs to handle day in, day out.
Core restaurant functionality
At a minimum, the system should support tables, courses, seat numbers, modifiers, and smooth routing of orders to kitchen and bar printers or screens. If it struggles with these basics, it will struggle in service.
Speed under pressure
The real test isn’t a quiet weekday lunch. It’s a packed Friday night. A good POS keeps taps to a minimum, makes common actions obvious, and doesn’t slow staff down when things get hectic.
Online and mobile ordering
Whether it’s delivery, click-and-collect, or QR ordering at the table, modern restaurants need digital ordering channels that don’t create extra admin or duplicate work.
Payments and hardware flexibility
Look at how easily the POS works with card machines, contactless payments, handheld devices, and additional terminals as you grow.
Reporting and stock visibility
Clear daily and weekly reports, item performance, and basic stock tracking are essential. Larger or growing venues benefit from deeper costing and waste insights.
UK support and compliance
When something goes wrong mid-service, responsive UK-based support and proper VAT handling make a real difference.
With those priorities in mind, here are ten restaurant POS systems worth serious consideration.
1. POSApt – Best Overall Restaurant POS for UK Venues
POSApt is a UK-focused hospitality POS built specifically for restaurants, cafés, takeaways, pubs, and bars. It’s designed around how food venues actually operate, rather than being a retail till adapted for hospitality.
Why POSApt stands out
Restaurant-first workflows
POSApt handles table layouts, split bills, seat-level ordering, and multiple order types (eat-in, takeaway, delivery) within one system. Staff don’t need workarounds or separate tools to manage different services.
Built-in online and QR ordering
Guests can order and pay from their phones using table QR codes, or place online orders that flow straight into the POS and kitchen. This reduces phone calls, avoids double entry, and keeps orders organised during peak times.
Kitchen Display System and ticketing
Orders are sent directly to kitchen or bar screens or printers, with clear modifiers and course sequencing. Everyone sees the same information, which cuts down on errors and confusion.
Staff management and time tracking
Shifts, roles, and performance can be managed inside the system, removing the need for manual timesheets or spreadsheets.
Cloud reporting
Owners can check sales, top dishes, busy periods, and order channels from anywhere. This makes staffing decisions, menu updates, and promotions easier to plan.
Pricing and who it suits
POSApt is priced for independent restaurants and growing groups, with a straightforward monthly subscription and flexibility around hardware. Unlike some “free” POS platforms, you’re not forced into a specific payment processor, which can keep costs lower over time.
Best for:
- Independent restaurants and casual dining venues
- Groups that want consistency across multiple sites
- Operators who need strong table service and online ordering in one system
2. Lightspeed Restaurant – Strong Choice for Data-Driven Operators
Lightspeed Restaurant is widely used by restaurants that want detailed control over menus and performance data.
Key strengths
- Detailed menus with complex modifiers and upsells
- Strong reporting on item performance, staff sales, and time-based trends
- Broad integration options for accounting, inventory, and delivery platforms
Best for
Restaurants with complex menus, multiple sites, or operators who rely heavily on data to drive decisions and are comfortable paying more for advanced features.
3. Square for Restaurants – Ideal for New and Small Venues
Square for Restaurants builds on Square’s payment platform and adds restaurant-specific tools, making it easy to get started quickly.
Why it appeals
- Fast setup with minimal configuration
- Payments and hardware handled by one provider
- Online ordering options without heavy technical setup
- Clean interface that’s easy for new staff to learn
Best for
Small restaurants, cafés, pop-ups, and operators who want simplicity and predictable pricing.
4. TouchBistro – Best iPad-Based Restaurant POS
TouchBistro is built specifically for restaurants and runs entirely on iPads.
Strengths
- Table-side ordering with instant kitchen communication
- Clear, hospitality-focused interface
- Optional add-ons for loyalty and marketing
Best for
Full-service restaurants that prefer Apple hardware and want a POS designed purely for hospitality workflows.
5. Epos Now – Scalable Option for Growing UK Groups
Epos Now is a UK-based EPOS provider with flexibility across hospitality and retail.
Why restaurants use it
- Wide range of hardware options
- Centralised control for multi-site operations
- Ability to handle dine-in, takeaway, and retail-style sales
Best for
Restaurant groups, cafés with retail elements, and operators planning to scale within the UK.
6. Toast POS – Built for Busy Full-Service Restaurants
Toast is designed with high-volume, sit-down restaurants in mind.
Notable features
- Strong table and course management
- Handheld devices for faster ordering and payments
- Detailed reporting on labour and food costs
Best for
High-volume restaurants and multi-venue operators who need robust front- and back-of-house tools.
7. Shopify POS – Best for Restaurants with Retail or Ecommerce
Shopify POS works best when food service is paired with strong retail or online sales.
Key strengths
- Shared inventory between online shop and physical location
- Strong ecommerce tools for packaged food or merchandise
- Flexible tablet-based setup
Best for
Bakeries, delis, and hybrid food businesses with significant online or retail sales.
8. Clover – Flexible POS for Hybrid Venues
Clover combines POS software with a range of card terminals and devices.
Why some restaurants choose it
- Mix-and-match hardware options
- App-based extensions for loyalty and marketing
- Easy for staff to learn
Best for
Hybrid restaurant, bar, and retail venues that want flexibility from a single provider.
9. SumUp POS – Good Fit for Micro Restaurants and Kiosks
SumUp is known for simple, affordable payment tools and compact POS setups.
Strengths
- Low upfront cost
- Small footprint for tight spaces
- Simple menus and reporting
Best for
Food trucks, kiosks, takeaway-only sites, and very small restaurants.
10. Loyverse POS – Entry-Level Option for Small Food Businesses
Loyverse offers a free core POS with optional paid add-ons.
Why it’s useful
- No subscription required to get started
- Runs on common mobile devices
- Covers basic sales, inventory, and loyalty
Best for
New, seasonal, or experimental food businesses that need a simple starting point.
Quick Comparison
| POS System | Best For | Standout Strength |
| POSApt | Independent & growing restaurants | Restaurant-first workflows, online & QR ordering |
| Lightspeed | Data-driven operators | Advanced reporting and integrations |
| Square | Small & new venues | Easy setup, integrated payments |
| TouchBistro | iPad-based restaurants | Table-side service focus |
| Epos Now | UK restaurant groups | Scalability and hardware flexibility |
| Toast | Busy full-service restaurants | Handhelds and deep restaurant tools |
| Shopify POS | Retail-heavy food businesses | Ecommerce and in-store sync |
| Clover | Hybrid venues | Versatile hardware and apps |
| SumUp | Micro restaurants | Low cost and compact setup |
| Loyverse | Startups & pop-ups | Free core POS |
How to Choose the Right Restaurant POS
Start with how your restaurant actually operates.
- Map your service style: full-service, quick-service, takeaway, or mixed
- Decide what’s non-negotiable: tables, kitchen screens, online orders, reporting
- Compare total yearly cost, not just monthly fees
- Trial systems during real service if possible
- Choose something that won’t limit you as you grow
A restaurant POS should reduce friction, not add to it. For many UK restaurants, POSApt delivers the most balanced combination of hospitality features, online ordering, and long-term value, making it a strong place to start before comparing alternatives.
