Oakman Inns & Restaurants Ltd Case Study

The group's offering includes imaginative Mediterranean and modern British food, with cooking methods including Josper and wood-fired ovens. Several venues also provide hotel accommodation, including The Kings Arms in Berkhamsted and the Beech House venues.

Over the years, Oakman Inns has expanded across Hertfordshire, Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Essex, Northamptonshire, Bedfordshire, Warwickshire and Berkshire.

The company has also developed a strong reputation within the hospitality industry, receiving multiple Publican Awards, including recognition for its work as an employer and community pub operator.

As the group expanded, maintaining effective communication between management, hospitality teams, operational staff and evening security became increasingly important.

The Requirement

Oakman Inns had previously used a two way radio systemA Radio System is a complete communication solution comprising two-way radios and, where required, equipment such as repeaters, antennas, base stations, mobile radios and network infrastructure. supplied by another provider. However, the existing system had experienced reliability problems , with users suffering from radio drop-outs and individual radios occasionally failing or going down.

For a busy pub and restaurant environment, unreliable communication can quickly become an operational problem. Management, bar teams, restaurant supervisors and security personnel need to be able to communicate when the venues are at their busiest.

Oakman Inns therefore wanted to replace the existing system with a more reliable, professional two way radio solution across six of its venues.

The new system needed to provide enough radios for management, food and beverage teams, operational staff and evening security, while also ensuring that communications were reliable throughout each venue.

The key requirements were:

• Replace the existing lower-quality radio system
• Resolve previous radio drop-out problems
• Reduce equipment failures and radio downtime
• Supply 12 two way radios per venue
• Provide 72 radios across six venues
• Connect management and supervisory teams
• Improve communication between bar and restaurant teams
• Support evening security operations
• Provide clear, reliable push-to-talk communication
• Ensure reliable radio coverageRadio Coverage is the geographical area in which a two-way radio system can provide reliable communication. Coverage depends on the radios, antennas, frequency, terrain, buildings and system infrastructure. throughout each venue
• Carry out site testing at each location
• Select professional equipment suitable for demanding hospitality environments

Because each venue had its own building layout and characteristics, simply supplying the same equipment and assuming it would work everywhere was not enough.

The solution needed to be properly tested and designed around each individual venue.

The Solution

Our Recommendation

DCS 2 Way Radio carried out several site tests across the six venues to assess radio performance and identify potential coverage issues.

Each venue was tested in the areas where radios would actually be used, including restaurants, bars, operational areas, entrances and areas used by security personnel.

The testing allowed us to understand the individual characteristics of each location and identify any areas where radio signals could potentially be affected.

Rather than relying solely on manufacturers' quoted radio ranges, the system was tested in the real-world environment.

The objective was simple: to make sure each venue had reliable radio coverage throughout its operational areas.

Following the testing, DCS 2 Way Radio supplied 72 professional two way radios , providing each of the six venues with a fleet of 12 radios.

Site Testing & Radio Coverage

Radio coverage was one of the most important aspects of the project because Oakman Inns had already experienced problems with its previous system.

DCS 2 Way Radio carried out multiple site tests across the six venues before finalising the solution.

Testing focused on the areas where staff would be using their radios, including:

• Bars
• Restaurants
• Kitchens and service areas
• Front-of-house areas
• Entrances
• Security positions
• Management areas
• Back-of-house facilities
• Other operational areas

This allowed potential coverage issues to be identified before the final deployment.

Every venue is different. Building construction, walls, floors, equipment and the physical layout of a property can all influence radio performance.

By testing each location individually, we could ensure the system was based on the actual requirements of the venue , rather than theoretical coverage figures.

The result was a radio solution designed to provide reliable communications throughout each participating venue.

Professional Quality Radio Equipment

The quality of the equipment was another important part of the project.

Oakman Inns had previously experienced problems with lower-quality equipment, including radio drop-outs and radios going down.

At DCS 2 Way Radio, we take a different approach.

We supply professional two way radios from established and well-known manufacturers , selecting equipment based on reliability, performance and suitability for the environment in which it will be used.

We don't believe that the cheapest radio is necessarily the best solution for a business that depends on its communications system every day.

Hospitality radios can be used continuously throughout busy service periods and during demanding evening operations. The equipment therefore needs to be dependable.

By combining professional-quality radio equipment with proper site testing , DCS 2 Way Radio provided Oakman Inns with a communications system designed around reliability.

Communication Across Busy Hospitality Venues

Pubs and restaurants can become extremely busy during peak service periods.

Kitchen teams, bar staff, restaurant supervisors, management and security may all be working simultaneously across different areas of the venue.

Two way radios provide an immediate communication channelA two-way radio channel is a programmed set of communication settings, typically including frequency and signalling, that allows compatible radios to communicate with one another. between these teams.

Rather than relying on mobile phones or having staff physically locate a colleague, users can simply press the push-to-talk button and communicate directly.

This can be particularly valuable when:

• Restaurants are operating at full capacity
• Bars are experiencing busy service periods
• Large bookings or events are taking place
• Managers need to coordinate multiple teams
• Security teams need to communicate quickly
• Customer issues require a rapid response
• Staff need assistance in another area of the venue

Supporting Evening Security

Security was an important element of the radio deployment.

As venues become busier during the evening, security personnel need to remain connected with each other and with management.

The three security radios at each venue provided a dedicated communications channel for the evening security team, while also allowing communication with management when required.

Discreet earpieces provided a professional and private method of communication for security and door personnel.

This allowed security staff to communicate without unnecessarily broadcasting conversations to customers or other employees within the venue.

A Consistent Radio Solution Across Six Venues

A key benefit of the project was the deployment of a consistent radio solution across six separate Oakman Inns venues .

Rather than each venue operating different communications equipment, the project provided a standard approach to two way radio communications.

With 12 radios at each location , Oakman Inns could allocate radios according to the operational structure of each venue while maintaining a consistent overall system.

This also provided flexibility as staffing levels and operational requirements changed throughout the day.

The Results

The project provided Oakman Inns with a professional and reliable communications solution across six venues.

72 Two Way Radios

A total of 72 professional two way radios were supplied across the six venues.

Six Venues

Each participating Oakman Inns venue received its own 12-radio fleet.

Site Tested for Coverage

Multiple site tests were carried out at each venue to ensure reliable radio coverage throughout the areas where the radios would be used.

Improved Reliability

The new system replaced the previous equipment that had suffered from radio drop-outs and equipment failures.

Professional Quality Equipment

The radio fleet was built using professional equipment from established, well-known manufacturers .

Management & Hospitality Communication

Management, bar and restaurant supervisors could communicate instantly during busy service periods.

Dedicated Security Communications

Three radios per venue were allocated to evening security personnel, with discreet earpieces providing private communication.

Consistent Multi-Venue Solution

Six Oakman Inns venues were equipped with a consistent professional radio communications solution.

Why Two Way Radios Matter in Hospitality

Hospitality businesses rely heavily on teamwork.

A busy service can involve numerous employees working across kitchens, bars, restaurants, entrances and external areas. Managers need to coordinate those teams while responding quickly to changing customer and operational requirements.

Two way radios provide an immediate communication channel between the people who need to stay connected.

For hospitality groups operating multiple venues, standardising communications can also provide a more consistent approach to managing operational teams and security.

The Oakman Inns project demonstrates how professional radio equipment, combined with proper site testing , can provide a dependable communications solution across multiple hospitality locations.

Professional Two Way Radio Systems for Hospitality

DCS 2 Way Radio supplies professional two way radio systems for pubs, restaurants, hotels, leisure venues and hospitality groups across the UK.

Our solutions can include:

• Digital two way radios
• Two way radio hireRadio Hire is the temporary rental of two-way radios and related communication equipment for events, projects and operational requirements, providing professional communication without purchasing the equipment.
• Discreet earpieces
• Radio repeaters
• Control stations
• PoC radio systems
• Chargers and accessories

Whether you need a small radio fleet for a single pub or a standardised communications solution across multiple venues, we can design a system around your operation.

Quality Equipment. Proper Testing. Reliable Communication.

For Oakman Inns, the deployment of 72 two way radios across six venues provided management, hospitality, operational and security teams with a dedicated communications solution.

Crucially, the project wasn't simply about supplying radios.

Following problems with the previous system, DCS 2 Way Radio combined professional equipment from leading radio manufacturers with detailed site testing at each venue to ensure the system provided the coverage and reliability required.

The result was a communications solution designed around the way each Oakman Inns venue actually operates.

Looking for reliable two way radios for your pub, restaurant or hospitality group?

Talk to DCS 2 Way Radio about your requirements.