How to take bookings for cooking classes and tastings
Chefs, bakers and sommeliers: set seats per session, collect allergies in the booking note, handle couples and groups, and plan a minimum number of guests.
6 min read
Treat each class or tasting as one session with a fixed number of seats. Guests book one seat each, and the session disappears from your page when it's full. Ask for allergies and dietary needs in the booking note, say clearly in the description what's included and who it's for, and decide in advance what happens if too few people sign up. For couples and groups, either ask each person to book a seat or book the group yourself from your calendar.
One session, a fixed number of seats
A cooking class is limited by workstations and hobs, a baking workshop by ovens and bench space, a tasting by glasses, seats and how many people you can talk to properly. Start from that real limit. On Book, create a service for each format, for example "Pasta class", "Sourdough workshop" or "Natural wine tasting", with its description and an optional price. Then open a slot for each date and set the number of places to your number of seats. Each guest books one place, and a full session no longer appears on your page.
| Format | What limits seats | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Cooking class | Workstations, hobs | 8 seats, 3 h |
| Baking or pastry workshop | Ovens, bench space | 6 seats, 4 h |
| Wine, beer or cheese tasting | Glasses, table, attention | 12 seats, 1 h 30 |
| Chef's table or supper club | Table size, kitchen pace | 10 seats, 3 h |
Allergies, diets and age
The booking form asks for first name, last name, email and phone, plus an optional note. Use the service description to ask guests to write allergies, intolerances and diets in that note: vegetarian, gluten-free, no pork, no alcohol. You receive an email for each new booking, which is the moment to read the note and adapt your shopping list, or call a guest whose needs you can't meet.
For tastings with alcohol, state the minimum age in the description. For family classes, say which ages are welcome and whether a child needs their own seat.
Couples, friends and private groups
Each online booking is for one seat. A couple coming together books twice, one seat each, which also means you get both names for your list. Say so in the description to avoid surprises. For a group of friends or a company booking a whole session, the simplest is to agree by phone or email and book the seats yourself from your calendar: you can set the number of persons when you book from there. For a private session reserved for one group, open a separate service with one place and give the group size in the note.
Plan for small numbers
Some sessions only make sense with a minimum number of guests: ingredients bought in bulk, a sommelier's time, a room hired for the evening. Decide your minimum and your deadline, for example "confirmed from 4 guests, decided 48 hours before", and write it in the description. If the minimum isn't reached, cancel the bookings from your list and tell each guest yourself, offering another date. Book doesn't email guests when a booking is cancelled.
Payment and no-shows
Book handles bookings and places; it doesn't take payments, deposits or sell tickets. If you ask for payment in advance, arrange it the way you already do, and say in the description when and how guests pay. A clear cancellation rule in the description helps too: how late a guest can cancel, and what happens to their seat. When someone cancels, cancel the booking from your list and the seat is offered again on your page.
Fill the calendar ahead
Publish several dates at once so people can plan: a slot created once can be repeated on the weekdays you choose until an end date, for example every Thursday evening until the end of the season. Seasonal formats like Christmas baking or harvest tastings can be opened a few weeks ahead as their own services. Your booking page shows times in your business's time zone, with its name displayed, which helps visitors from abroad.
Full sessions simply disappear from your page, so a waiting list is yours to keep. Note the names of guests who asked for a full date, and message them when a seat frees up or when you open a new session.
Book costs €5/month, everything included: unlimited bookings and services, no commission on your classes and no contract.