Bingo club night founder develops ‘Glug’

The co-founder of a bingo club night has developed an app to streamline contactless ordering for bars and restaurants.

Called Glug, the app enables contactless ordering while also giving customers the ability to set up a profile of their own, making it easier for consumers to plan social outings at other venues, and for brands to appeal to consumers they know might be interested in their offer.

The app also features a map, which allows consumers to find other venues registered with the payment system.

Users can look up venues, reserve tables, browse menus, order and pay all through the app.

“The first benefit venues will notice is their venue listing on the map, showing customers where their nearest computable venues are along with the venues menus and information such as opening times,” the founders said in a statement.

Joshua Burke, who launched his bingo club night company in April 2015, has spent the past three years developing the service alongside business partners Carl Whiteside and Lewis Albones.

Burke describes Bongo’s Bingo as “a crazy mix of traditional bingo, dance-offs, rave intervals, audience participation and countless magical moments. The events have been put on hold since the UK’s on-trade venues were told to close on 20 March.

The events group has been active on social media, hosting lockdown quizzes to keep its hundreds of thousands of followers across Facebook, Instagram and Twitter engaged. In the meantime, however, Burke has launched an app designed to get venues trading again.

“It’s been difficult having to pause our physical Bongo’s Bingo shows,” Burke said, “but we have remained creative with our live streams and there’s more exciting news to come there soon.

“Glug is now here during a very difficult time for the UK – and the world, too – and especially the hospitality industry, but we believe it is helping connect people back with the places they loved going to before all of this terrible stuff happened. We are in talks with lots of businesses who are signing up to be a part of Glug.”

Customers must download the app, which lets them see a participating outlet’s full menu, place their order, and pay through the app itself, eliminating the need for cash or cards

Venues registered with the platform receive orders through existing tech infrastructure such as smart phones, tablets or computers, and then customers can collect their order from a designated collection point or have it delivered to their table.

For the venue, the app provides the ability to edit menus and pricing, see reservations, and get prompt updates when customers place an order. They can also keep ordering through the app throughout their visit, which Burke hopes will drive more sales.

The app is free to sign up to, and there are three packages available for venues to register for which include free digital menus, in-app ordering or in-app ordering with payment.

Later versions will include more features, according to the founders.

“We have raised £250,000 of investment already,” Burke said, adding that he is already working with venues “through Bongo’s Bingo and the wider hospitality circles we are all part of.”

The three entrepreneurs partnered with David Gallimore, who has developed apps for hospitality businesses such as Wetherspoon’s, Pizza Express, Mitchells and Butlers, Greene King, and Fullers.

“With David on board, we have got his many years of vital experience in this area too,” Burke said.

“Glug is something we all passionately believe in. We have seen what works and what doesn’t, and believe Glug will lead the way forward. It is helping businesses and their customers by linking them together, with the free app’s users able to engage in a whole host of innovative functions.

“As an example, each year we waste on average 7 days waiting to be served – that’s a real frustration point for me personally and professionally! Glug is making waiting around a thing of the past and improving many other parts of this relationship. With reduced capacity due to social distancing, venues will want to maximise their revenue and how they engage with customers.”

Gallimore said: “I am working with Josh and the team in the capacity of Board Advisor to help support Glug’s growth with my technical and industry expertise and experience.

“Having previously been involved in bringing very similar technical products to market and scaling them to national level, I am well placed to advise on key consideration, industry dynamics and help the company to build relationships and avoid common pitfalls as they grow.”