Restaurant becomes home to Bristol’s first robot waiter

If you’ve taken a trip to one Bristol restaurant recently, you may have noticed your waiter looks a little different than usual.

Equipped with animated eyes, an Alexa-like voice and a set of speedy wheels, Pocket Intelligence’s Robot Pocket is undergoing alpha testing.

It is currently in its second week of testing and has been a resounding success so far for customers and staff alike, according to restaurant owner Tracey Koh.

The robot is programmed to follow a virtual map of Bento Boss on Whiteladies Road in Clifton, and is fitted with multiple sensors, a laser radar and a visual camera to aid self-location.

If you block its path, the robot will stop and make a few disgruntled beeps or say a polite “excuse me”.

Customers can summon the robot via a QR code to collect dishes and bring them drinks – photo: Flossie Palmer

Both customers and staff can interact with the robot too. Customers can scan a QR code on their table without downloading an app to summon the robot, with the option to place an order or request drinks through it.

The robot will also bring customer orders to tables and take away dirty dishes.

However, it is not set to replace human employees anytime soon. James Long, managing director of Pocket Technology, explained that the robot is a helper rather than a replacement: “We believe it will reduce staff stress and make things more efficient.”

Tracey Koh, owner of Bento Boss, also reassured Bristol24/7 that the robot will not cause unemployment, stating that “It is intended to make the customer happier and the environment more fun.”

The robot has a four-layer design, allowing it to carry more dishes than a waiter, which Long believes will reduce human error, including droppages and spillages.

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Koh told Bristol24/7 that her staff often walk over 10 kilometres per day while waiting on customers. However, the robot can be programmed to perform repeat tasks that waiters would usually carry out to reduce staff tiredness.

However, the robot isn’t just a boost to restaurant efficiency. It has its own inbuilt personality for customer entertainment.

After interacting with the robot, customers can expect a funny quip or a one-liner such as “I’m vegetarian, I like green energy.”

So far, Koh explained that the robot has had a positive impact on customers’ dining experiences, noticing an increase in customers taking photographs and videos inside the restaurant. “People love this kind of technology!” she exclaimed.

Bento Boss is currently the first restaurant in Bristol to have a robot waiter, although it is currently in its testing stage. London and Milton Keynes are among the few cities in the UK outside Bristol to have implemented robot waiters in restaurants.

Bento Boss boasts an open-plan seating area for their new team member to easily roam about in – photo: Flossie Palmer

As the future looks towards further integration of technology into our everyday lives, Long emphasised that it is important to remain open-minded.

After seeing how the Pocket Robot has transformed the running of her restaurant, Koh told Bristol24/7 that she is considering having the robot in place long-term once it passes its testing stage.

Long also has his eyes on greener possibilities for the Robot Pocket, expressing his desire to reduce food waste. He suggested that this can be achieved by programming the robot to remind customers to finish their food, and offering an option to request a takeaway box.

For now, the robot remains in its testing stage. Could it one day take over our jobs?

Main photo: James Long

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