Restaurant Digital Signage: Trends, Benefits, and Best Practices

Introduction: From Chalkboards to Touchscreens, Why Digital Signage Matters

Not too long ago, updating a restaurant’s menu meant printing new flyers, swapping out chalkboards, or manually changing lightbox signs. Fast forward to 2025, and restaurants across the UK are turning to restaurant digital signage to modernise how they communicate with customers.

It’s not just about looking high-tech. Digital Signage for Restaurants offers real operational and marketing benefits—boosting upsells, cutting costs, and improving the overall dining experience.

Let’s break down why more restaurants are making the switch, what trends are shaping digital menus, and how you can get the most out of your investment.

Put simply, restaurant digital signage refers to the use of screens—like LED displays or commercial monitors—to display menus, promotions, and real-time information inside or outside your venue.

These digital displays can replace:

• Traditional printed menus
• Menu boards above the counter
• Posters advertising promotions or specials
• Window signs or pavement boards
• In-store paper signage

Unlike traditional boards, a digital menu board can be updated instantly, managed remotely, and designed to be visually engaging. You’re not locked into static formats—you can experiment, adapt, and update without printing costs or design delays.

Digital signage isn’t just about appearance—it drives real business results. Here’s how:

1. Easy Updates with No Printing

If you’re frequently changing your menu or running time-sensitive offers, traditional signage becomes costly and time-consuming. With digital signage for restaurants, you can make updates on the fly—switch from breakfast to lunch, push a happy hour special, or highlight a seasonal item instantly.

2. Increased Upsells

Studies show that visual cues significantly impact customer decision-making. When you use vibrant images, motion graphics, or animated specials, you encourage customers to try something new—or spend a little more. Upselling a side, a dessert, or a drink becomes far easier when it’s front and centre on a screen.

3. Improved Order Accuracy

When customers can see menu items with prices, images, and descriptions, they’re more likely to order correctly. This leads to fewer order mistakes, less food waste, and a smoother kitchen flow, especially during busy periods.

4. Enhanced Customer Experience

A well-placed restaurant digital signage can entertain, inform, and reduce perceived wait times. It adds to the ambience and makes your restaurant feel more modern and professional.

The digital signage space continues to evolve. Here are some key trends UK restaurants should keep an eye on this year:

1. Real-Time Data Syncing

More restaurants are connecting their digital signage directly to their EPOS systems. This means when an item sells out, it disappears from the board automatically, avoiding awkward conversations and disappointed customers.

2. Dayparted Menus

Breakfast, lunch, and dinner menus can now rotate automatically based on the time of day. This helps restaurants stay relevant and avoid overloading customers with too many choices at once.

3. QR Code Integration

Some digital boards now display QR codes that let customers scan and order directly from their phones—great for fast-casual setups or self-serve environments.

4. Social Media Content

Restaurants are integrating customer Instagram posts, reviews, or promotional videos into their displays, bringing a community-driven feel to their space.

It’s not enough to just display your menu on a screen. You’ve got to make it compelling. Here are a few pointers:

• Use high-quality images of your top-selling items
• Stick to readable fonts and avoid clutter
• Keep animations subtle to avoid distraction
• Highlight offers, combos, and meal deals in a dedicated section
• Rotate content weekly or seasonally to keep it fresh

You want to strike a balance between helpful and promotional, giving customers what they need to make a decision, but nudging them towards higher-value items.

Location matters. Even the best-designed digital menu board won’t help if no one can see it. Here are some ideal placement ideas:

• Above the counter: For quick-service or takeaway setups
• At the entrance: Great for highlighting specials and driving walk-in traffic
• Near seating areas: Share wait times, promote desserts or drinks
• Window displays: Attract attention from passers-by
• Self-service kiosks: For larger chains or fast-casual venues

The key is visibility—make sure your signage is where decisions are made.

Mistakes to Avoid

It’s easy to get carried away with flashy content. Here are a few common pitfalls to avoid when implementing restaurant digital signage:

• Overloading the screen with too much text or too many items
• Using low-resolution images that don’t match the actual food
• Failing to update the board regularly
• Choosing screens that are too small or positioned awkwardly
• Relying solely on an internet connection without an offline backup

Consistency and clarity should always come first. If customers can’t read or trust what’s on the screen, they’ll default to asking your staff, which defeats the purpose.

If you're already using Foodhub for your EPOS, online ordering, or mobile app, integrating digital signage is a natural next step. Foodhub’s partner platform allows restaurants to:

• Connect menus directly to signage
• Schedule content updates across multiple locations
• Promote offers and loyalty incentives through in-store screens
• Use signage to drive mobile engagement and repeat orders

And as with all of Foodhub’s services, everything runs on a fair pricing model—no inflated costs or hidden fees.

Final Thoughts

If your restaurant is still relying on paper menus or outdated signage, you might be missing out on increased sales, smoother operations, and a better customer experience.

Digital signage for restaurants isn’t about chasing trends—it’s about giving your customers clearer information, engaging visuals, and better service.

Whether you’re running a fast-paced takeaway, a cosy cafe, or a high-volume restaurant, digital signage offers the flexibility and control you need to keep up with customer expectations in 2025.

Want to Modernise Your Restaurant Without Breaking the Bank?

Explore Foodhub’s digital signage solutions by partnering with Foodhub and discover how you can integrate EPOS, online ordering, and visual display tools in one powerful platform.