I've booked using OpenTable twice, both times at the Garden Restaurant at RHS Gardens Wisley. Both times I was charged 15p for receiving a text from OpenTable that I did not request. This is unacceptable and appalling behaviour from a corporate entity. The RHS should stop using them in my opinion. Another reason the RHS should stop using them is the functionality of the OpenTable booking system. We wanted a table for five people for breakfast but OpenTable said no tables were available. We know that restaurant well and so booked for four people (which it accepted immediately), turned up, and there were plenty of tables where a fifth person could be accommodated. The OpenTable website clearly uses an algorithm that can't be adaptable. What's worse is that the restaurant was almost empty that breakfast morning. I wonder how many people trying to book for five or six were rejected and losing the RHS valuable income. I will never use OpenTable again and will phone the restaurant in future.
