If you’ve ever been to The Camfield, you know it’s not your average local. Sitting just 100 metres from Optus Stadium, this venue proudly holds the title of Australia’s largest pub, and it wears it well. With five bars, 175 beer taps, an onsite micro-brewery, and a massive beer garden complete with a container bar, it’s built for big days, big crowds, and even bigger moments.
From relaxed weekday lunches to packed-out match days, The Camfield is a venue designed to flex. On game days, it becomes a go-to destination for thousands of sports fans. On quieter days, it’s a local favourite for casual catch-ups and celebrations. No matter the occasion, one thing stays the same, the volume.
Behind the scenes, keeping everything running smoothly takes a strong team and the right tech.
To understand how The Camfield manages bookings at this scale, we spoke with Functions Manager Molly Ryan, who oversees functions, events, and reservations across the venue.
Managing the madness at scale
Running Australia’s largest pub means dealing with challenges most venues never face. On peak days, especially when there’s a major event on at Optus Stadium, The Camfield can have over 1,000 people booked in across a single day. That’s hundreds of bookings spread across multiple spaces, time slots, and group sizes, all while still welcoming walk-ins.
Without a strong booking system, things can unravel quickly. The team needs to know exactly who’s coming, where they’re sitting, and how long they’ll be there. One missed detail can snowball into overcrowding, long waits, or unhappy guests, none of which are an option for a venue of this profile.
Last-minute cancellations were another ongoing headache. Large group bookings take up valuable space, and when those groups cancel late (or don’t show at all), it directly impacts revenue and planning. Staff would be left with empty tables on days that should have been at full capacity.
“When you’re working at this scale, last-minute cancellations hurt a lot more. You can’t just fill those spaces easily, especially on big event days.”
The team needed a system that could handle volume, reduce risk, and give everyone confidence heading into busy services, without adding more admin to an already stretched team.
How Now Book It helps keep everything under control
Now Book It quickly became the backbone of how The Camfield manages bookings, functions, and events, since they started using it in 2021.
By bringing everything into one central system, the team gained instant visibility over what was happening across the entire venue — no guesswork, no juggling multiple tools.
One of the biggest wins has been pre-authorisations. The Camfield uses them for group bookings and high-demand periods to help reduce no-shows and last-minute cancellations. It’s a simple step that’s had a huge impact.
“Pre-authorisations have been massive for us, they set clear expectations with guests and really cut down on last-minute cancellations.”
With Now Book It, the team can also tailor booking rules depending on how busy they expect to be. On game days, they can adjust availability, minimum spends, and booking durations to keep the flow of guests moving smoothly throughout the venue.
“It’s saved us so much time, instead of chasing bookings or answering the same questions, our team can focus on service.”
From a team roster perspective, the time savings have been just as important. Automated booking confirmations and reminders mean fewer phone calls and emails, and less manual follow-up for staff. Everyone, from management to floor teams, can see bookings in real time, making it easier to plan staffing and service.
This means smoother shifts, fewer surprises, and a venue that can confidently handle huge numbers without the stress.
Making the most of every booking
Beyond everyday reservations, The Camfield also uses Now Book It to manage events, functions, and extra revenue streams.
The events feature allows the team to easily set up and manage ticketed experiences, special occasions, and large group events, all within the same platform they already use day to day.
Gift cards have also become a strong performer. In 2025 alone, The Camfield sold over 300 gift cards through Now Book It, giving guests an easy way to gift an experience while driving guaranteed revenue back into the business.
“Gift cards are such an easy win, people love them especially around big events and holidays, and they’re really simple for us to manage.”
Gift card users also tend to spend up to 20% more per visit, meaning the team are also able to maximise every customer that walks through the door.
For functions, Now Book It helps keep everything organised from enquiry through to arrival. Clear booking details, secure payments, and structured communication mean fewer back-and-forth emails and a more professional experience for guests booking large groups.
“Now Book It just works for how we operate, no matter how busy we get, it gives us confidence that everything is under control.”
At a venue as big as The Camfield, consistency is key, and having one smart reservation system that supports bookings, events, pre-authorisations, and gift cards makes a real difference.
With Now Book It in place, they can do what it does best — host big crowds, deliver great hospitality, and handle the busiest days of the year without breaking a sweat.
Want to show The Camfield some support? Book a table here.
Now Book It tip: Be sure to book in early for a busy game day, the atmosphere is unmatched!