High Profile London Bar Relies on Aloha to Cope with Crowds

Mahiki, the Tiki Tropical Cocktail Bar, is a very trendy and award-winning destination in the heart of London’s Mayfair district. Opened in 2006, the bar uses Aloha EPOS from NFS Hospitality.

While Mahiki found the system in place when they took over from the previous club, Junior Lisboa, Assistant Manager, along with his team devoted a great deal of time to evaluating whether to keep Aloha or shop around. Would the system have adequate functionality for their new concept? Above all, they wanted to ensure that the system would meet the new bar’s business needs.

"One factor that influenced our decision was the 24-help desk support from NFS. We also liked the magnificent amount of virtual memory we get for long-term sales records," he says."Some customers wait a long time to enquire about their VAT receipts but with Aloha we don’t have to worry – even after a year or so."

Junior particularly liked the implementation process. "It was very innovative," he says. "We had a lot of choice in functions, from inventory control management to staff hours v actual. And our management team was well trained and able to pass on to on-site supervisors very smoothly."

While tab controls were one concern, Junior says the implementation assured that staff had no problem. "We have an effective inventory control system which is extremely important to us," he comments.

Mahiki also benefits from:

• Accuracy in stock audits
• Staff clock validation
• Waste and comps breakdown
• Night revenue, before and after, per terminal or per employee
• Breakdown of service charge owed to staff
• Item sales including small stocktakes per night of high-value champagnes, magnums, spirits, etc.
• Incentive schemes for employees
• Retrieval of copies of bills sorted by time, server, table name, amount, etc.
• Internet access to the system

Going forward, Mahiki, already busy beyond the dreams of most clubs, will build on its awards which include Best Bar, London Bar & Club Awards 2008, and two CLASS National Bar Awards in 2007. In 2008 the bar’s resident DJ and head bartender also won awards.

Despite the nightly crowds, operations go seamlessly with Aloha, Junior says. "I would be happy to recommend the Aloha system to other operators. I have no doubts."