General Beach Bar - Local QR Ordering System
QR ordering built around the beach bar's real sunbed layout.
The General Beach Bar Order Management System came from a practical problem I saw while spending time and working at The General's Beach. Guests sitting under umbrellas and on sunbeds had to walk back to the bar in the heat to order drinks, while staff had to work out exactly where each order belonged. After building the main website, I wanted to solve that local workflow with a useful technical project.
Built around the physical beach layout
I mapped the beach into rows, columns, and numbered umbrella or sunbed positions. Each position received a QR code. Scanning it opens the menu for that exact location, so a customer can place an order without having to explain where they are. The client interface supports multiple languages and uses temporary access for the ordering session.
Make the incoming order obvious to staff
The staff computer receives the order, plays a recognisable sound through the bar's sound system, and highlights the right location on the beach map. Staff can open the order, see what was requested, and mark it complete. This was designed for speed and clarity in a busy, physical environment rather than as a polished consumer SaaS product.
A small operational tool, not a new payment system
The operation continued taking payment in cash, so payments were deliberately outside the system. The tool focused on receiving, locating, opening, completing, and logging orders. It also kept simple information about demand by location and time.
Used locally
The system was used locally at the beach bar. Staff and managers liked the idea, and it reduced the need for customers and waiters to repeatedly move back and forth in the sun. There are no formal performance metrics attached to the project.
The interface was intentionally functional rather than highly polished. The important part was that it fit the actual workflow and made it easier for staff to act on an order.
Technical overview:
- React 18 client interface
- Node.js and Express backend
- MongoDB with Mongoose
- Socket.IO for real-time staff updates
- QR-generated temporary customer access
- Multilingual ordering interface
- Local staff dashboard and operational order logs