Foodhub for Business vs Lightspeed Restaurant: Which EPOS Is better for UK takeaways?
While both are cloud EPOS systems, Lightspeed Restaurant UK and Foodhub for Business target fundamentally different setups. Lightspeed prioritises traditional sit-down dining, offering advanced floor planning, course pacing, and split billing. Foodhub focuses on speed-first takeaway operations with casual seating. Delivering fast counter tools, caller ID, driver dispatch, and direct online ordering, with native QR table tools for dine-in guests.
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The quick verdict
Foodhub for Business vs Lightspeed Restaurant UK: A closer look
Foodhub for Business
Foodhub for Business brings counter, phone, online and dine-in orders into one EPOS ecosystem. Kitchen screens update instantly, wherever the order came from; no separate tablets to manage for each channel.
Lightspeed Restaurant UK
Lightspeed Restaurant UK is strong on full-service dining — floor plans, seat-by-seat bill splitting, course timing. Its own online ordering comes through Order Anywhere, an add-on product with pricing available on request, compatible only with Lightspeed Restaurant K Series — L Series stores need a different product, Order Ahead, instead. Pulling multiple delivery platforms (UberEats, Deliveroo, DoorDash) into one feed still typically needs a further integration like Deliverect, adding another monthly cost on top.
Foodhub vs Lightspeed: A detailed comparison
Compare venue focus, ordering channels, delivery dispatch, marketplace reach, dine-in tools, and hardware between Foodhub for Business and Lightspeed Restaurant UK.
| Platform scope | Foodhub for Business | Lightspeed Restaurant UK |
|---|---|---|
| Core venue focus | Speed-first takeaway, QSR, & delivery operations with native tools for casual seating. | Full-service sit-down dining rooms, gastropubs, and multi-course establishments. |
| Ordering channels | Counter, phone, direct web, mobile app, and marketplace orders unified in one till. | In-house dining focus; online ordering via Order Anywhere add-on (K-Series only). |
| Phone & delivery dispatch | Native: Caller ID popups with order history, and live driver tracking (Drive2Success). | Add-on dependent: Requires third-party middleware (e.g. Deliverect or Orderlord) for routing. |
| Marketplace reach | Included: Direct branded site plus active listing on the nationwide Foodhub Marketplace. | None: Direct ordering software only. |
| Dine-in capabilities | Native & casual: QR order-at-table, quick tab creation, and table management. | Advanced: Interactive multi-floor maps, course pacing (Tempo), seat splitting, and PMS links. |
| Hardware & setup costs | Flexible & re-usable: Touchscreen tills, KDS, caller ID, plus hardware audits to reuse kit. | iPad & smart terminal focus: Built around iOS devices and dedicated smart card terminals; software fees apply per terminal (£79+/mo base). |
Features and pricing structures are updated regularly. Confirm exact terms directly with each vendor.
Key questions to ask when comparing EPOS providers
Before committing to an EPOS provider for a takeaway with seating in the UK, ask these 3 operational questions:
"Can counter staff ring up walk-in and phone orders in seconds without navigating through full-service dining floor maps?"
Why it matters: Systems built primarily for sit-down dining force staff to navigate table views before entering items. Takeaways with seating need fast-tap counter screens.
"Can your team audit my current receipt printers and cash drawers before requiring new hardware purchases?"
Why it matters: Buying brand-new hardware and terminals for every counter station creates high upfront costs. A provider that assesses what can be reused keeps switching expenses minimal.
"Does your setup include exposure on an active food app, or am I entirely responsible for driving online customer traffic?"
Why it matters: Standalone direct-ordering software relies entirely on your own ad spend to gain traction. Being listed on an active marketplace brings nearby buyers who are already browsing to order food.
Which EPOS is right for your takeaway?
Choose Foodhub for Business if:
You run a takeaway with casual seating and need an all-in-one system. You primarily focus on online delivery orders. Therefore, you want a system that speeds up counter and table orders, handles deliveries with native driver dispatch, can integrate with third-party delivery apps, and want a provider that builds you a website to process direct online orders.
Frequently Asked Questions
Find out how much you can save with Foodhub for Business
Speak with our team to review your current counter setup and weekly order volume. We’ll show you how a true takeaway EPOS system compares for smoother order management.