# Group bookings

> Sell a block of spaces at one price - a 'bring a friend' rate that fills part of a session, not the whole thing.

Who can do this: admins only.

A group booking is a price that sells several of a session's spaces together as one purchase - a "bring a friend" or "group of 4" rate. It fills a fixed block of spaces while the rest of the session stays open for other customers, unlike [private hire](/docs/private-sessions), which takes the whole session. Group is one of the three [price types](/docs/price-options#price-types), and it works on any session, repeating or [one-off](/docs/one-off-schedules).

<Screenshot
  shot="customer-group-price"
  alt="Customer booking page showing a group 'bring a friend' price alongside a standard Adult price on the same session"
  caption="Booking page - a group 'bring a friend' price sits next to standard prices on the same session"
  mat="peach"
/>

## Add a group price

<Steps>
  <Step>Open the session on [Sessions](/go/admin/sessions). In the Prices section, choose **Add a price**, then **Create new**.</Step>
  <Step>Pick the **Group** type and set how many spaces the block takes (for example, 4 for a "group of 4").</Step>
  <Step>Give it a name, like "Bring a friend", and an optional description. Set the price for the whole block (0 for free) and save.</Step>
</Steps>

<Screenshot
  shot="editor-price-group"
  alt="Prices section of the session editor with a group price type selected and a spaces value set"
  caption="Session editor, Prices section - the Group type takes a fixed block of spaces"
  mat="sage"
/>

The customer pays for the block as one unit, not per space. A block can be larger than your usual per-booking limit - the limit only caps how many single tickets one customer stacks, not the spaces inside one group purchase.

## Capacity and capping

A group price only shows at checkout when the session has enough spaces left for the whole block. For example, on a session with 8 spaces, a "group of 4" can be sold while at least 4 remain. Once 5 are taken, the group price disappears and customers can still book the remaining 3 as standard tickets. The session editor flags a price that could never fit, like a "group of 10" on a session that seats 8.

## How customers manage a group booking

- **Cancelling and rescheduling** - customers can [cancel or move a group booking themselves](/docs/manage-bookings-customers) under your [cancellation and reschedule policy](/docs/cancellation-policy), like a standard booking.
- **Adding or removing spaces** - the +/- spaces control is hidden for a group booking, because the block has no per-space price. To change the group size, the customer cancels and rebooks, or you adjust it [as staff](/docs/manage-bookings-admins) from the booking details panel.
- **Buying a block with other prices** - a block is bought on its own. Picking any other price at checkout, including a membership, replaces the block, and the booking page marks those prices with "Replaces" and the block's name.

In admin, a group line reads as the block and its price - for example, "Bring a friend (3 spaces) - £20".

To charge a different group price on one date, change it in that date's **Prices** section - see [override a single session](/docs/instance-overrides).

## Common questions

1. **What's the difference between a group price and letting someone book several spaces?** Standard tickets are priced per space, up to your per-booking limit. A group price sells a fixed block at one set price.

2. **A group price won't appear at checkout - what's wrong?** Check the price is on that session and that the session has enough remaining spaces for the whole block. Group is only offered on sessions with 3 or more spaces.

3. **A customer wants the group rate and an extra space or two - can they do that in one booking?** Not in one checkout. They book the block first, then book the extra spaces on the same session using the same email address. Both arrive on a single booking with the right total, so you see one party rather than two.

4. **Can I run a "bring a friend" offer behind a code, so it isn't open to everyone?** Yes. Add a group price for two spaces at the normal price of two spaces. Then create a [discount code](/docs/vouchers) with **Share a code**, open **Applies to** under **Limits**, choose **Choose prices** and tick **Group** only. The code is rejected on a solo booking and only works on the two-space option. A code with **Spaces per booking** set to **1 space** under **Usage** discounts one space on any booking instead, which is simpler but can be used by someone booking alone.