A new free app which will allow businesses and consumers to safely use hospitality services again is to be launched in the BCP conurbation.

Capp is the brainchild of entrepreneurs Simone Ippolito and Kevin Gunputh, pictured left.

The capacity management, track and trace, kitemarking and ID checking app enables businesses to show in real time their capacity and how many spaces they have available, all in compliance with government guidelines.

Consumers will be able to instantly select a more – or less – busy area of their choice using the live tracking system.

In time, it’s hoped the app will link into the seafront to help beach management.

Capp is supported and part-funded by local hospitality entrepreneurs Andy Lennox, Ben Reynolds and Ty Temel.

Ty Temel.

It has already won the support of Tobias Ellwood, Bournemouth East MP, who described it as “brilliant.”

He added: “It’s said that necessity is the mother of invention – and that’s exactly what led to the creation of this brilliant app launched by entrepreneurs to help the hospitality sector get back to business during these challenging times.

“Great effort, I wish it every success.”

The creation of Capp comes as ministers announce capacity management and track and trace checking to be the new norm.

Ben Reynolds

The app will look to support and contribute to the track and trace efforts of both the government and NHS.

It will feature:

• Capacity management tracking
• ID and a local badge verification
• QR Scanning
• Live mapping
• A best practice mark provided by The Wonky Table for customers to know that businesses have signed up to best Covid-19 Safe practices.

It’s hoped Capp will become a mainstay app for BCP conurbation hotspots before being rolled out nationally to other hospitality hotspots.

Co-founder Simone said Capp was the solution to a logistical and schematic problem that would assist everyone.

He added: “We aim to help everyone to gradually get back to normality, by providing a platform that will enable each person to enjoy hospitality services again, respect the government guidelines and help people stay connected and alert in the new post Covid-19 world.”

In another key development, the first batch of hand sanitiser stations are to be supplied to levy payers in a partnership between The Wonky Table and Bournemouth Town Centre Business Improvement District (BID).

A total of 14 units will be delivered to members of The Wonky Table in an initiative funded by the BID.

The Wonky Table was founded in March with the aim of acting as one voice during the pandemic crisis.

It has now grown to represent more than 300 venues.

Andy Lennox, Founder, said: “I hope this is just the first stage of the project.

“We hope we can work with BCP Council, Coastal BID and Poole BID to help with further funding.

“This will be incredibly important in alleviating some of the substantial PPE costs as the hospitality sector looks to open up safely in July.

Andy Lennox

“Wonky and Bournemouth Town Centre BID have been exploring different ways of helping the sector as we look to open, and we’ve been trying to find cost effective ways of helping alleviate some of the strain of PPE equipment.

“The Town Centre BID, and Paul Kinvig [Chief Operating Officer], have been incredibly supportive of Wonky and their own levy payers.

“This starts the ball rolling to, hopefully, provide hundreds of units to the sector.”

Paul added: “We are really delighted to be able to help and get this important project off the ground.

“It’s vital that we play our part in assisting the hospitality sector which is so critical to the success of Bournemouth town centre.”