74. Ambl

Just Started Award Shortlisted

For companies which were started in 2021/22 and have already demonstrated impressive growth, success, or disruption in their field.

Startups 100: Just Started Awards

Founders: Jed Hackling and Aaron Solomon
Founded: 2021
Website: ambl.co

If there’s one thing that hospitality businesses hate more than anything (even more than folding napkins) it’s the elusive no-show.

Research has highlighted that one in seven consumers have admitted to not fulfilling their bookings. Likely, these people don’t realise the impact they’re having. But in today’s bad economy, not filling a table can lead to an early close for bars and restaurants.

Wait staff, rejoice: loss of revenue, early closures, and rota nightmares will be a thing of the past thanks to Ambl. The app is designed to help venues combat last-minute cancellation culture by notifying users of empty seats with real-time availability.

Loss of revenue, early closures, and rota nightmares will be a thing of the past thanks to Ambl.

In May 2021, founder Aaron Solomon had his lightbulb moment when his boss asked him to find the team somewhere for lunch. Following half an hour spent calling round venue after venue to try and secure a table booking post-pandemic, Aaron was so frustrated by the problem that he called up his mate, Jed Hackling to help him design a solution.

The partners almost wore out their Fitbits wandering all over London after work to get 1,300 restaurants signed up to partake including St John, Marcus Wareing, Fiend, Bob Bob Ricard, Nightcap PLC and Richard Corrigana’s.

Other booking apps exist, but Ambl is looking to become the household name that separates the pros from the amateurs. It’s the only platform where users can tailor their search based on party size, price point and whether they’d like a restaurant, cocktail bar, pub or coffee shop, directing customers to an open table via a big, shiny spotlight.

Ambl is looking to become the household name that separates the pros from the amateurs

Ambl is feeding the dual demands of reducing headaches for hungry consumers, whilst also providing visibility to an untapped market for venues. The startup is bang on time for its reservation on the 2023 Startups 100 index – we can’t wait to see what it dishes up next!