AI phone answering for UK restaurants, compared honestly
There are now several AI tools that answer a restaurant's phone. Some are built for US groups, some for enterprise, some only work inside one booking system. This is a like-for-like look at the options a UK independent can actually buy, using each vendor's public pages as of September 2026, including where another tool is the better pick. Stafff is one of the options, and it's in a founding pilot, so weigh that too.
The 60-second version.
Sometimes Another AI phone tool is the right pick. Here's when.
Pick another tool if…
- You need the AI to take takeaway orders by phone: HeyGuest sells AI Voice Ordering (£299/month/location). Stafff doesn't take orders or payments.
- You run a large group or want a heavily customised enterprise voice agent: PolyAI is built for that scale.
- You're on ResDiary or OpenTable and want calls to book straight into it: HeyGuest or Sadie integrate; Stafff doesn't yet.
- You use the Collins Evo diary: Collins Call Evo from The Access Group connects to it directly.
- You're a US group already on OpenTable or SevenRooms and happy paying in dollars: Slang.ai is well established there.
- You need callers served in several languages. Stafff answers in English only.
Pick Stafff if…
- You're a UK independent (a pizzeria, bistro, gastro pub, curry house or café with table service) and want a monthly price in pounds.
- Your diary is a Google Sheet or a paper book and you don't want to buy a booking system to get AI phone answering.
- You want allergy questions always passed to your staff, never answered by an AI.
- You want an assistant that never invents an answer: it only uses information you've approved and takes a message for everything else.
- You're happy to be an early pilot restaurant and help shape the product.
Where Stafff and Another AI phone tool diverge.
What you'll actually pay.
Prices from each vendor's public pages, checked September 2026: slang.ai/pricing; heyguest.ai/pricing (HeyGuest also notes that your booking provider may charge separate integration fees); voicefleet.ai/pricing; poly.ai (no public pricing); theaccessgroup.com Collins Call Evo page (no price on the page); heysadie.ai (no public pricing). Currencies differ and exchange rates move, so these aren't converted. Check VAT treatment with each vendor. Stafff prices are pilot pricing and exclude VAT.
How to try Stafff alongside (or instead of) another tool
Check your booking set-up first
If you rely on ResDiary, OpenTable, Collins or SevenRooms, Stafff can't write into them yet. It works best with the built-in Stafff diary or a Google Sheet. Be honest with yourself about which you'll use.
Load your restaurant's details
The Stafff team sets up your hours, closed dates, capacity, menu and prices with you, plus approved answers to common questions. Anything you don't approve, Stafff won't say.
Divert your number
Keep your existing number and divert calls on busy/no answer (Overflow) or divert every call (Full Service). If you're leaving another vendor, check its notice period before moving the divert.
Test calls, then go live
Try a booking, a change, a cancellation, an allergy question and an odd request. Check each shows up in 'Tonight' or 'Needs reply' before your first real service.
The honest answers.
What is the best AI receptionist for a UK restaurant?
It depends on your set-up. For phone takeaway orders, HeyGuest sells AI Voice Ordering. For large groups, PolyAI is enterprise-grade. If you're on ResDiary, OpenTable or Collins, pick a tool that integrates with it. For an independent using a Google Sheet or paper diary who wants a £ monthly price, Stafff is built for that, though it's still in its pilot.
Is there a UK alternative to Slang.ai?
Slang.ai publishes US and Canadian pricing only: Core $399 and Premium $599 per location per month (slang.ai/pricing, September 2026). UK options priced in pounds include HeyGuest, from £100 a month per location plus setup fees, and Stafff at £149 or £299 a month ex VAT. VoiceFleet, based in Ireland, prices in euros from €99 a month.
Does Stafff work with ResDiary or OpenTable?
Not today. ResDiary, OpenTable, Collins and SevenRooms integrations are on the roadmap, not live. Stafff uses its own diary or your Google Sheet, where it writes each booking and reads the rows your staff typed in. If you need calls booked straight into ResDiary or OpenTable now, HeyGuest and Sadie list those integrations.
How much does AI phone answering cost for a UK restaurant?
Public prices checked in September 2026: HeyGuest from £100 a month per location for its first module, plus setup fees; VoiceFleet €99 to €599 a month; Slang.ai $399 to $599 per location. PolyAI, Collins Call Evo and Sadie don't publish prices. Stafff is £149 (Overflow) or £299 (Full Service) a month ex VAT, minutes included.
Can AI phone tools take takeaway orders?
Some can. HeyGuest sells AI Voice Ordering at £299 a month per location, and Sadie says it supports phone ordering. Stafff does not take food orders or payments and never handles card numbers. It answers menu questions from your approved menu and can text the caller your online ordering link once confirmation texts are switched on.
Is Stafff a proven product?
Not yet, and we'd rather say so. Stafff is running a founding pilot with UK independent restaurants from autumn 2026, so there are no customer results to show yet. The vendors above have live customers. If you'd rather wait for published results, that's reasonable; if you'd like to help shape it, join the pilot.