Armagh-based tech firm DrinkApp Ltd, the brainchild of brothers, Ryan and Mark Fegan, is gaining momentum as the leading app of its kind on the island of Ireland with more than 60 bars now signed up to the service and glowing endorsements from some of the hospitality sector’s most influential people.
Developed over the past two years, DrinkApp was originally a solution to queue management in busy bars, clubs and events across Ireland. Now it has a place as a much-needed solution to futureproof the industry’s existence in the face of COVID-19.
Having spotted a gap in the market to revolutionise the hospitality, retail and leisure industries, Mark and Ryan developed an intuitive and universal app that allows publicans, restaurant owners and other leisure providers to accept drink orders from patrons without them having to leave their table or be served across a crowded bar, significantly increasing the number of orders and driving sales by simply making it more accessible and easier to order.
The app has now made its way into popular bars across Ireland with a total of 60 premises signing up since its launch in January, including well-known hospitality group, McGettigans, owners of Warehouse Bar & Kitchen Letterkenny, and The Downey Group, owners of popular bar chain, The Thirsty Goat in Derry~Londonderry and Belfast. Further afield, it’s now making its way into the Dubai market with five bars already signed up.
Ryan Fegan discussed the creation of DrinkApp, saying: “The idea for the app came to me about two years ago on a busy night in the bar that my brother Mark owns in Armagh. The bar is small and the space was rammed like most bars around Northern Ireland on any given weekend and I began to wonder if there was an alternative solution to crowded pubs than to simply reduce numbers which would impact sales or expand, which would be a significant investment and not always possible.”
The app has also been further developed to allow for food to be ordered as well, meaning publicans and restaurant owners can utilise the technology to increase sales, track promotions and enhance customer experience – all while navigating a Covid-compliant world.
