Choosing the right restaurant EPOS and hospitality EPOS hardware is one of the most important decisions a restaurant, bar or café can make.
Hospitality EPOS hardware from B-Spoke Systems
B-Spoke Systems is the UK’s largest independent distributor of HiStone EPOS hardware and also supplies Hisense commercial displays, with trade supply, UK-based support and showroom demonstrations for businesses across the UK and Ireland.
Looking for HiStone EPOS hardware? Browse our HiStone self-checkout kiosks, mobile tablet EPOS systems and all-in-one EPOS terminals, or contact B-Spoke Systems for trade supply across the UK and Ireland.
What Makes Restaurant EPOS Different?
A restaurant EPOS system has to do far more than a simple retail till. It manages tables and covers, splits bills, handles courses and modifiers, sends orders to different preparation areas and copes with service charges and tips, often all at once during the busiest hours of the week. That complexity is why the hardware matters so much. A slow terminal or a kitchen printer that jams at 8pm on a Saturday has an immediate impact on guests, staff and takings.
Good restaurant EPOS hardware is fast, robust and designed for the environment it works in. Front-of-house terminals need to cope with spills and constant use, kitchen screens need to survive heat and steam, and handhelds need to last a full shift. When everything works together, service feels effortless. When it doesn’t, everyone notices.
The Core Components of a Restaurant EPOS Set-Up
Most restaurant EPOS installations are built from the same core components. The exact mix depends on the size of the venue and the style of service.
Front-of-House Terminals
These are the main tills at the bar, service station or counter. All-in-one touchscreen terminals are popular because they’re compact, quick to install and easy to clean. Our all-in-one POS range includes models such as the HK960U and HK578, designed for busy hospitality counters.
Handheld Ordering Devices
Handhelds let servers take orders at the table and send them straight to the kitchen or bar. They save steps, reduce mistakes and help staff upsell consistently. See our mobile POS systems.
Kitchen Display Systems
A kitchen display system replaces paper tickets with clear, colour-coded screens. Orders appear instantly, timings are tracked and the pass can coordinate courses more easily. Explore our kitchen display systems, including the HD220E.
Printers and Peripherals
Receipt printers, kitchen and bar printers, cash drawers and customer displays complete the set-up. Choosing peripherals that are tested with your terminals avoids compatibility issues on installation day.
Self-Order Kiosks
In quick-service restaurants, cafés and food halls, self-order kiosks take pressure off the counter and help increase average spend. Our self-service kiosks are available in freestanding, countertop and wall-mounted designs.
How ICRTouch and HiStone Work Together
ICRTouch develops TouchPoint, a widely used EPOS software platform for hospitality and retail in the UK. HiStone manufactures commercial-grade terminals, kiosks and handhelds. As the UK distributor for HiStone and a long-standing ICRTouch partner, B-Spoke Systems helps resellers and operators combine the two into a reliable restaurant EPOS solution.
Because our hardware is tested with the software before it ships, resellers can be confident that drivers, printers and peripherals will work as expected. That shortens installation times and reduces support calls after go-live. You can find out more about the software on the ICRTouch website.
Seven Tips for Choosing Restaurant EPOS Hardware
Whether you’re opening a new venue or replacing an ageing system, these seven tips will help you choose the right restaurant EPOS hardware:
- 1. Start with your service style – table service, counter service and QSR each need a different mix of terminals, handhelds and kiosks.
- 2. Plan for your busiest hour – size your system for Friday and Saturday nights, not quiet weekday lunches.
- 3. Choose sealed, fanless terminals – they cope better with grease, dust and spills.
- 4. Put screens in the kitchen – kitchen displays reduce errors and help control ticket times.
- 5. Add handhelds for larger floors – table service is faster when staff don’t have to walk back to a fixed till.
- 6. Check software compatibility – make sure every device supports the operating system your restaurant EPOS software needs.
- 7. Choose a supplier with UK stock and support – fast replacements and local technicians keep you trading.
Restaurant EPOS for Different Types of Venue
Fine Dining and Casual Dining
Table management, coursing and split bills are essential. A combination of front-of-house terminals, handhelds and kitchen displays gives servers more time with guests and keeps the kitchen in step with the dining room.
Pubs and Bars
Speed and durability matter most. Compact all-in-one tills handle high volumes of drinks orders, while handhelds help with table service and outdoor areas. Many pubs also serve food, so a kitchen display or printer links bar and kitchen.
Cafés and Coffee Shops
Fast service and a small footprint are the priorities. A single compact terminal, a customer display and a barista or kitchen screen are often enough, with a countertop kiosk added for peak times.
Quick-Service Restaurants
QSR operators rely on kiosks, kitchen displays and order-status screens to keep throughput high. A well-designed restaurant EPOS layout can significantly increase the number of customers served per hour.
Hotels and Multi-Outlet Venues
Hotels often run restaurants, bars, room service and events under one roof. Consistent hardware across every outlet makes training simpler and gives managers a single view of performance.
Restaurant EPOS and the Guest Experience
The best restaurant EPOS systems are almost invisible to guests. They simply notice that orders arrive quickly and correctly, bills are accurate and paying is easy. Behind the scenes, the hardware is doing a lot of work: routing items to the right preparation area, tracking how long each table has been waiting, prompting servers to offer desserts and recording every transaction for reporting.
Pay-at-table is one of the most noticeable improvements for guests. Instead of waiting for a server to bring a card machine, guests can settle up the moment they’re ready. That improves table turns and leaves a better final impression of the visit.
Allergen Management
Clear communication between front of house and the kitchen is vital for allergen safety. Modern restaurant EPOS systems can carry allergy notes and modifiers directly to kitchen screens, so they aren’t lost or misread. The Food Standards Agency provides allergen guidance for food businesses, and the right technology makes it easier to follow consistently.
Reporting and Business Insight
Every order, discount and refund recorded by your restaurant EPOS creates useful data. Sales reports show which dishes are most popular and profitable, labour reports help with rota planning and stock reports highlight wastage. For groups with multiple sites, central reporting makes it easy to compare performance and roll out menu changes quickly.
Planning Your Restaurant EPOS Layout
Where you place each device has a big influence on how smoothly service runs. Before ordering restaurant EPOS hardware, walk through a typical evening and note where staff take orders, where drinks are poured, where food is plated and where guests pay.
- Service stations – place terminals close to the dining area so servers don’t cross the room to place orders.
- Bar – allow enough terminals for peak drinks service, with cash drawers within easy reach.
- Kitchen – mount kitchen screens at eye level near each preparation area, away from direct heat.
- Pass – a dedicated expo screen helps the head chef coordinate courses and check orders before they leave.
- Entrance and takeaway counter – a separate terminal or kiosk keeps collection orders away from the main bar.
A well-planned restaurant EPOS layout reduces walking, prevents bottlenecks and makes the most of every member of staff during busy periods.
Future-Proofing Your Restaurant EPOS
Hospitality technology continues to evolve, with app ordering, QR-code menus, delivery platform integration and loyalty schemes all becoming more common. Choosing restaurant EPOS hardware that runs standard operating systems and supports a wide range of software gives you the flexibility to adopt new tools without replacing every device. Modular set-ups also make it easy to add kiosks, handhelds or extra kitchen screens as your business grows or your service style changes.
When comparing options, ask suppliers about product life cycles, spare-parts availability and upgrade paths. A restaurant EPOS investment should serve you well for several years, so it pays to think beyond the next few months.
Training Staff on Restaurant EPOS
Even the best hardware delivers little value if staff are unsure how to use it. Short, practical training sessions before go-live, quick-reference guides at each terminal and a nominated super-user on every shift all help teams get comfortable quickly. Many venues find that new staff pick up modern touchscreen systems in minutes, which makes onboarding seasonal workers far easier.
Getting Your Restaurant EPOS Installed
A smooth installation starts long before the engineer arrives. At B-Spoke Systems, our Leicester workshop prepares each device in advance, loading the software image, configuring settings, testing peripherals and applying asset tags. Equipment arrives ready to plug in, which keeps installation time and disruption to a minimum. For resellers, we can kit hardware by site and deliver directly to the venue.
Visit Our Showroom
If you would like to see restaurant EPOS hardware in action, visit our refurbished HiStone UK showroom in Leicester. You can compare terminals, kitchen displays, handhelds and kiosks side by side and talk to our team about your plans. For a broader overview, see our hospitality EPOS systems page.
Restaurant EPOS Frequently Asked Questions
What hardware does a typical restaurant need?
Most restaurant installations start with one or two front-of-house terminals, a receipt printer, a kitchen printer or display and a cash drawer. Handhelds can be added for table service as the business grows.
Is a kitchen display better than a kitchen printer?
In many kitchens, yes. Kitchen displays are cleaner, faster and more accurate than paper tickets, and they track preparation times. Some venues keep a printer as a backup or for takeaway orders.
Can I use my existing restaurant EPOS software?
Usually. Our terminals run Windows, Linux or Android, so they work with most UK hospitality software. Tell us which platform you use and we’ll confirm compatibility.
Do you supply ICRTouch software?
We work closely with ICRTouch and our network of approved resellers to supply complete hardware and software solutions.
How many handhelds does a restaurant need?
A common starting point is one handheld per server on a busy shift, plus a spare for charging. Larger venues with outdoor areas or multiple floors may need more. We can help you work out the right number based on covers, layout and service style.
Can I see the hardware before I buy?
Yes. Terminals, kitchen displays, handhelds and kiosks are all on display in our Leicester showroom, and we can arrange demonstrations for operators and resellers.
How do I get a quote?
Call 0116 260 3100, email sales@b-spokesystems.com or contact us online to discuss restaurant EPOS hardware for your venue.
About B-Spoke Systems: As an ISO9001-certified EPOS hardware distributor, B-Spoke Systems supplies HiStone terminals, kiosks, handhelds and kitchen displays from stock in Leicester. Our EPOS distribution team configures and tests every unit before it ships. Browse our EPOS hardware range or read about EPOS distribution for resellers and software houses.