Technology built for hospitality. Trusted by the UK’s biggest brands.
For more than 45 years, Zonal has powered the UK's leading hospitality businesses with a seamlessly connected technology ecosystem - reliable, fully integrated, and backed by people who understand your operations inside out.
We know your business because it’s our business too
In 1979, founder Ralph McLean set out to solve stock and takings shortfalls in his family’s Edinburgh hotel, and the EPoS system he built quickly caught the attention of famed brewer Scottish & Newcastle, who persuaded him to adapt it for their entire pub estate, where it gave both site managers and head office a level of information that had never been available before. That spirit of solving real operational problems has driven us ever since. Today, the UK’s largest hospitality businesses rely on Zonal’s connected ecosystem of EPoS, booking, kitchen, loyalty and guest engagement technology, including some of the UK’s largest pub companies, restaurant groups and hotel chains.
In 2026, Zonal joined Volaris Group, a community of more than 1,500 software companies and 52,000 employees worldwide, bringing additional investment, global best practice and long-term commitment to our customers. Joel Chapman became CEO in July 2026, having joined Zonal in 2002. As Chief Customer Officer he helped build the customer-first culture that defines how Zonal operates, and as Chief Operating Officer he oversaw the frontline teams who keep our customers trading every day. That combination of customer obsession and operational depth now shapes Zonal's strategic direction as we continue to drive innovation and growth for the UK's hospitality operators.
As CEO, my role is to guide our future direction by listening closely to our customers and our people, ensuring we continue to strengthen our position as the UK’s leading hospitality technology provider.
Our culture and values
Customer obsessed
Our customer obsession shapes our product roadmap. We work closely with our customers to discover the unique challenges they face, the goals they want to achieve, and the opportunities ahead. We are deeply committed to understanding and meeting the needs of our customers, now and in the future.
Our culture and values
Innovation
Solving our customers’ problems through innovation is at the heart of what we do. Our curiosity for learning and exploring new technologies means that we thrive on building solutions that make a measurable difference to our customers, enhancing efficiency, revenue and guest experience.
Our culture and values
Accountability
We understand and play our part in fulfilling our commitment to our customers and we empower our people to have the autonomy they need in their roles to take ownership of their work. Our experts understand the needs of our largest and most complex customers, holding ourselves accountable to the same standards they set for themselves.
Our culture and values
Teamwork
Hospitality is all about people, and we believe teamwork is key to success. Our relationships with our customers are long-term partnerships based on trust, reliability, and responsiveness. We actively listen and strive to deliver the best solutions for our customers.
Our culture and values
Passion
We live and breathe hospitality. It’s in our blood, and we’re as passionate about hospitality as you are. We bring passion for our customers and dedication towards innovation to the everyday.
Our culture and values
Professionalism
As a team of hospitality natives, we understand the pressure that operators face – especially at scale. We provideexpert, UK-based support seven days a week, 365 days a year, dedicated account management and a team of field engineers so you’re never left waiting when it matters most. We’re the reliable partner you can trust behind the scenes, to do what’s right for you.
What we care about
We’re invested in the long-term health of UK hospitality - not just through our technology, but through the initiatives and partnerships that support the sector and the people who work in it.
Hospitality community
We are hospitality: organisations we support
Hospitality is a real community, and we’re proud to partner with organisations to help the industry prosper such as UK Hospitality, to support vital causes, and champion growth and innovation in a sector that we know and love. We’re actively involved with the digital charity box Pennies, a leading hospitality charity that enables micro-donations in venues to support good causes.
Hospitality is a real community, and we’re proud to partner with organisations to help the industry prosper such as UK Hospitality, to support vital causes, and champion growth and innovation in a sector that we know and love. We’re actively involved with the digital charity box Pennies, a leading hospitality charity that enables micro-donations in venues to support good causes.
Celebrating diverse voices, ideas and perspectives
Inclusivity and diversity are what make hospitality vibrant, and we’re committed to holding ourselves to these values. We’re increasing representation across all our teams and building accountability at every level, so everyone has a voice regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation or disability.
Celebrating diverse voices, ideas and perspectives
Inclusivity and diversity are what make hospitality vibrant, and we’re committed to holding ourselves to these values. We’re increasing representation across all our teams and building accountability at every level, so everyone has a voice regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation or disability.