Provider reviews · Independent
Takepayments, Teya and Paymentsense: a straight take for UK hospitality.
Three providers a lot of pubs and restaurants get pitched. One section each, no commission, no spin.
What they're good at, the complaints that keep coming up, who each one actually suits, and my verdict as someone who's run the tills, not sold them.
Last reviewed: 7 June 2026
Short version: all three can take a card. Where they differ is contract terms, the all-in cost, and what happens when a terminal dies mid-service. So pick on those, not on the headline rate.
I'm Andy. Forty years in the trade, ex-Whitbread, and I've run my own pubs. I don't take a penny from any of these providers, so I can tell you straight.
Here's the bit nobody likes to say out loud. The Payment Systems Regulator found that card-acquiring "does not work well" for small and medium merchants, and that most SMEs never search around, switch provider, or negotiate with the one they've got (PSR market review). That's how you end up overpaying for years without knowing it. UK cards handled 31.4 billion transactions in 2024, worth around £1 trillion (UK Finance), so a fraction of a percent matters more than it sounds.
Provider 01
Takepayments reviews
One-line verdict: a solid, support-heavy option that lives or dies on the contract you sign. [ANDY TO CONFIRM: Andy's one-line verdict on Takepayments]
What they're good at
Local account managers get a lot of praise. People like being able to ring a person who knows their setup rather than a faceless queue. The hardware range is broad, from countertop to mobile, and onboarding tends to be quick. For a single-site pub that wants a hand getting going, that hands-on support is a real plus.
The common complaints
The grumbles that come up again and again are about contract length and exit terms, not the kit. Trustpilot's listing sits split between five-star praise and one-star contract complaints, which tells you the experience hinges on what you signed. Pricing is bespoke, so two pubs on the same street can pay very different rates.
Worth knowing: core scheme and processing fees rose more than 25% in real terms between 2017 and 2023 (PSR final report). A long contract locks you out of reacting to that.
Who they suit
Smaller venues that value a named contact and aren't fussed about chasing the lowest possible rate. If you want help rather than a self-serve app, Takepayments fits the brief.
Provider 02
Teya reviews
One-line verdict: the simple, no-fixed-contract pick, best where support depth isn't make-or-break. [ANDY TO CONFIRM: Andy's one-line verdict on Teya]
What they're good at
Teya's pitch is refreshing: no fixed-term contract, clearer pricing, fast setup, and a tidy app. Independents like that they can leave when they want without an exit fee fight. Teya's own guidance is also honest about the rules, noting UK debit interchange is capped at 0.2% and credit at 0.3% (Teya). Reviews skew positive on ease.
The common complaints
The usual caution with any fast-growing fintech is the depth of phone support when something breaks. Forum threads raise the odd payout-timing and account-review query. None of that is unusual for the model, but on a packed Saturday you want a human, fast, not a ticket.
The reliability test: it's the busy night. If a terminal drops at 8pm with a full restaurant, how quickly do you get it back? That's the question to put to Teya before you commit.
Who they suit
Cafes, independents, and smaller pubs that want flexibility and a modern app, and that can live with mostly app or chat support rather than a dedicated rep.
Provider 03
Paymentsense reviews: is Paymentsense any good?
One-line verdict: a big, established UK provider with plenty of features, where the all-in cost and contract are what you have to read carefully. [ANDY TO CONFIRM: Andy's one-line verdict on Paymentsense]
Is Paymentsense any good? For many UK small businesses, yes. It's one of the larger card-payment providers serving SMEs, founded in 2009 and backed by The Carlyle Group since 2017, with a wide feature set and connected EPOS options. Reviews are mixed, which is normal at that scale.
What they're good at. Breadth. Card machines, online payments, and EPOS integrations under one roof, plus next-day settlement options. If you want one provider covering several needs, that's the draw.
The common complaints. The recurring themes in public reviews are contract terms, cancellation, and the gap between the headline rate and the real monthly cost once terminal hire and add-ons stack up. Complaint-led threads rank high on this for a reason, so read your terms before you sign.
Who they suit. Multi-need businesses and small chains that want one provider across payments and EPOS, and that will actually read the contract and check the all-in figure.
One reminder on cost: you can't add a card surcharge to cover fees: that's been banned since 2018, after surcharging was estimated to pass around £473m in processing fees to UK customers (ABDO). So the fees are yours to absorb, which makes the all-in rate the number that counts.
Head to head
The three, side by side for a pub or restaurant
Nobody else seems to put all three next to each other through a hospitality lens, so here it is. Busy-night reliability, integrated tills, tronc, and one accountable contact are what I weigh, not just the percentage.
| What matters | Takepayments | Teya | Paymentsense |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contract | Fixed term, watch exit terms | No fixed term | Fixed term, read carefully |
| Pricing style | Bespoke quote | Clearer, app-led | Bespoke, bundled |
| Support style | Local account manager | App and chat led | Phone and account team |
| EPOS / till fit | Decent range | Own ecosystem | Broad integrations |
| Best for | Want a named contact | Want flexibility | Want one provider for all |
[ANDY TO CONFIRM: any specific effective rates or saving figures Andy has seen across these three on real client statements. Don't invent numbers.]
Why this is independent
I make the same money whichever one you pick. None.
Most "review" pages you'll find are run by comparison engines that get paid when you click through and sign up. That's not a review. That's a lead-gen funnel wearing a review's clothes.
I take no commission from Takepayments, Teya, or Paymentsense. I've stood behind the bar on a Friday when the card machine drops out and there's a queue to the door. That's the lens I judge them through, and it's why my consultancy work starts from your statement, not their sales sheet. Want the detail? See how I work with venues.
What I actually weigh
- Busy-night reliability
- The all-in monthly cost
- Contract length and exit terms
- Integrated EPOS and tronc
- One accountable contact
- Not just the headline rate
Common questions
Takepayments, Teya and Paymentsense, answered straight.
For a lot of UK small businesses, Takepayments does the basic job of taking card payments well enough, and many merchants rate the local account-manager support. The common gripes are about contract length and exit terms rather than the hardware. For a pub or restaurant, the question I'd ask is what happens on a busy Saturday and whether the rate you signed is still the rate you're paying two years on.
Takepayments uses bespoke pricing rather than a single published rate, so two pubs on the same street can be paying very different amounts. That's normal across the acquiring market and it's exactly why so few merchants ever switch. Your real cost sits across the headline rate, the terminal hire, authorisation fees, and minimum monthly charges, so ask for the all-in figure on a real month of your takings.
Yes. Takepayments processes card transactions to the card-scheme security standards (PCI DSS) like any legitimate UK acquirer, and supports chip and PIN, contactless, and online payments. Security isn't where the real differences between providers show up. Cost, contract terms, and what happens when something goes wrong on a Friday night are where it matters for hospitality.
Teya is a newer, app-led provider that a lot of independents like for its simpler pricing and no fixed-term contract, and reviews are broadly positive on ease of setup. The fair caution with any fast-growing fintech is depth of phone support when a terminal goes down mid-service. For a venue that lives or dies on busy nights, reliability under load is the test that counts.
Paymentsense doesn't publish one flat per-transaction figure. Pricing is quoted per business and typically bundles a card rate, terminal hire, and other monthly charges, so the true per-transaction cost depends on your card mix and volume. As ever, ask for the all-in monthly cost on a real month of your takings, not just the headline percentage.
Paymentsense is a UK payments company founded in 2009 and is backed by The Carlyle Group, a global private-equity firm, following an investment in 2017. It operates as one of the larger card-payment providers serving UK small and medium businesses.
Before you sign anything
Don't pick on the percentage. Pick on the contract.
The cheapest headline rate can cost you most if it ties you in for years while fees climb. Read the exit terms. Check the all-in figure on a real month of takings.
And if you want a sense of why I care about getting this right for proper pubs, have a read of why community pubs still matter. Or come and talk through your own setup with me.
Want a straight read on yours?
Send me your current statement and I'll tell you what I see across Takepayments, Teya, Paymentsense, or whoever you're on. No commission, no pressure.
A free, independent statement review.