Perched right on the banks of the Swan River in Mount Pleasant, The Rowing Pavilion is the kind of venue that feels instantly familiar, and instantly special. With sweeping water views, a relaxed but refined menu focused on fresh, seasonal produce, and a layout that moves effortlessly from morning coffees to sunset drinks, it’s become a true local favourite. More than just a riverside pub, The Rowing Pavilion is designed for gathering, whether that’s intimate dinners, long lunches, corporate catch-ups or large-scale community celebrations.
Sustainability is woven into the venue’s DNA. From being a Plastic Free Champion to partnering with producers who share the same environmental values, The Rowing Pavilion is thoughtful about the impact it has, on its guests, its community, and the planet. That care extends to the way the venue runs behind the scenes, where systems and processes need to support a constantly shifting mix of trade.
We sat down with Head of Brand and Marketing, Hannah Selbie, to talk about the challenges of running a high-volume, multi-purpose venue and how Now Book It plays a critical role in keeping everything running smoothly.
The challenge of balancing scale, flexibility and experience
With a venue as versatile as The Rowing Pavilion, no two days look the same. Weekends are packed with locals and visitors chasing river views, weekdays swing between casual coffee runs and corporate lunches, and functions, which often need to slot in alongside regular trade. Managing all of that without compromising the guest experience has been one of the venue’s biggest challenges.
At the heart of it was finding a booking system that could handle serious scale without losing flexibility. The Rowing Pavilion needed a way to manage everything from a table of two on the balcony to a 150+ person wedding, all while giving guests clarity, choice and confidence when booking. Like many venues, they’d experienced the pain of systems that worked well for one type of booking but fell short when it came to complexity.
“ Finding the middle ground has been the hardest part, we needed something that could handle high-volume service, large events and everyday bookings, without turning it into a nightmare for the team.” Said Hannah.
On top of that, guest expectations have changed. Diners want more control over their experience, from choosing where they sit to booking into specific events with clear inclusions. At the same time, staff need a system that’s intuitive, reliable and doesn’t require constant workarounds to make it fit the venue’s needs
A reservations platform that adapts to the venue
For The Rowing Pavilion, Now Book It became the solution that finally brought everything together. Instead of forcing the venue to fit into rigid booking rules, the platform allowed the team to shape the system around the way they actually operate, across service periods, spaces and event types.
One of the most valuable features has been the ability to let guests choose exactly where they want to sit. Whether it’s inside, outside, high tables, low tables or balcony seating, guests can book with confidence knowing their preference is locked in. This not only improves the guest experience but dramatically reduces back-and-forth enquiries and last-minute changes.
“Giving guests the ability to choose where they’re sitting has been huge for us, It sets expectations upfront and makes the experience feel more considered from the moment they book.”
From an operational perspective, Now Book It has helped the Pavilion streamline how bookings are managed across busy services. Clear table allocations, flexible rules and real-time visibility mean the team can confidently manage high-volume periods without overbooking or underutilising space.
The impact has been felt across the business. With fewer manual adjustments and less time spent managing enquiries, the team has been able to focus more on service and less on admin. While the Pavilion’s success has always been driven by its location and offering, having the right system in place has allowed them to scale confidently.
“It’s taken a lot of pressure off our team, we’re spending less time fixing issues and more time focusing on the guest experience, which is exactly where we want our energy going.” Shared Hanna
Events that drive revenue and elevate the experience
Events are a major part of The Rowing Pavilion’s offering, and Now Book It’s events functionality has become a key tool in managing and growing this side of the business. From bottomless brunches to ticketed dining experiences, the venue uses events to create moments that feel special while also driving predictable revenue.
One standout example is their popular bottomless brunch. Using Now Book It’s event booking options, the team can offer multiple tiers of prepaid packages, each with clear inclusions and pricing. Guests know exactly what they’re booking, and the Pavilion secures commitment upfront, a win for both sides.
“The events feature has completely changed how we run things like bottomless brunch, having prepaid tiers means fewer no-shows, clearer expectations and a smoother experience on the day.” Explained Hannah.
From a marketing perspective, events are easy to promote and manage through a single platform. Bookings, payments and guest information all live in one place, giving the team full visibility ahead of service. This level of organisation has made it easier to scale events without adding complexity for staff.
“It’s made us more confident in launching new ideas, we know the system can handle it, which gives us more freedom to be creative.”
Support that feels like an extension of the team
While features and functionality are critical, one of the biggest differences for The Rowing Pavilion has been the support they receive from the Now Book It team.
Having access to a dedicated customer success team means they’re never left to figure things out on their own, whether it’s troubleshooting a small issue or rolling out a new campaign.
In hospitality, where time is limited and service never stops, responsive support isn’t a nice-to-have, it’s essential. For Hannah and her team, knowing help is always on hand has provided confidence that their reservations system is working with them, not against them.
“The support has honestly been one of the biggest standouts, whether it’s a quick adjustment or something more complex, the team is always there and incredibly responsive.”
That partnership has allowed The Rowing Pavilion to continue evolving how they use the platform, adapting settings as the business grows and trade patterns change. It’s not just about having a system, it’s about having a long-term partner who understands the realities of running a venue.
“Now Book It gives us the confidence to do what we do best, create great experiences, bring people together, and keep raising the bar for what a riverside venue can be.” Said Hannah.
As The Rowing Pavilion continues to grow as a destination for locals and visitors alike, having the right systems in place gives the team confidence to keep pushing forward. With Now Book It supporting everything from casual dining to large-scale events, the venue is well positioned to keep creating moments worth sharing, without compromising on quality or experience.
Now Book It tip: If you can, get a table on the balcony just before sunset, there’s nothing quite like watching the rive light up while dinner arrives.
