The new year is almost here! We’ve had another year of seeing some great growth with our clients, and have welcomed a grand total of 70 new clients this year. As we bring this year to a close, it feels like the perfect opportunity to highlight some of the exciting new venues we’ve worked with this year – from Danish bakeries, to high-brow restaurants, to bingo. It’s truly been an exciting year!
Back in February, we welcomed back Byron. Diners who have been with us for a while may remember their visits from before the pandemic, so we’re delighted to be reviewing their service and tasty burgers again! February also saw Ministry of Sound joining us, who are assessing their nightlife experience with us to ensure it’s hitting their standards, as well as their workspaces. Truly something for everyone.
If you’re a night owl and live in the Manchester or Sheffield area, Insomnia Cookies are your kind of client. They came on board in March, and despite their late-night ethos, they’re certainly nothing to sleep on! With a lively atmosphere and warm, tasty cookies, they’re truly the party person of the cookie brands!
April was our busiest month, with 10 new clients joining us. Among them is the prestigious Firmdale Hotels, offering afternoon tea and dinner visits in their classy restaurants. We also welcomed St Austell Brewery, who have pubs all over the country and a good meal and drink just waiting to be enjoyed.
Playlist Live joined us in April, where music is just as much a part of the experience as the food and drink! The concept is a fun one – you request the songs, and they play them live. In another vein of fun, we also have Royal Botanical Gardens in Edinburgh, who joined us in May. If you’re a plant lover, make a day out of it with one of our visits and check out the eateries within the Royal Botanical Gardens!
In July, we started Guinness Storehouse visits. Based in Dublin, these visits allow you to visit the home of Guinness, taking a tour of the brewery and sampling the famous stout beer. Continuing the theme of visits with a difference, we also welcomed Caffeine & Machine, who combine good food with the culture of cars! Our visits cover ticked and non-ticketed events, so if you’re a motor fan, these are ones to look out for.
September saw us welcoming in a couple of big names in the café business – Blank Street have been assessing their aesthetically pleasing coffees and interesting flavour combinations across both hot and iced drinks. Ole & Steen have their cosy barista-made drinks alongside some gorgeous pastries and cakes, making a truly indulgent visit. If you’re looking for something on the fancier side, Bettys also came on board in September – and have just announced they’re starting mystery visits next year!
If bingo and casinos are your kind of vibe, there are a couple of new clients that will certainly pique your interest. Metropolitan Gaming joined us in August, with casinos all across the UK for our diners to explore. Our visits cover the restaurants in these venues, so you can dine in style and feedback on the experience. However, if you would like some gaming mixed in with your visit, Mecca Bingo are good ones to look out for! Starting with us in October, their visits include a game of bingo and the slots, as well as food and drink.
November and December had a nice variety of clients to finish off the year. We were thrilled to welcome back Punch Pubs, who have pubs all over the UK for when you’re craving a good drink and some pub grub. If you’re looking for a more specialist restaurant, Angus Steakhouse also joined us recently, with a wide array of steaks for you to choose from (among other options, if you’re attending with someone who isn’t a steak fan!).
It's truly been a packed year over here, and we couldn’t have done it without our amazing mystery diners. In total, this year, 90,090 mystery visits were completed! From us and our clients, thank you so much for your valuable feedback and hard work – together, we help people to see what could really make them shine in terms of hospitality, and give them the lift to get there. Here’s hoping for another fruitful year in 2025, and we hope that your year is happy and fruitful, too!
Until next year! 😊
