# Block out dates and times for appointments

> Stop customers booking appointments on chosen dates or times by enabling calendar blocking and adding one-off or recurring calendar blocks.

How-to guide · Appointment Bookings · Last updated 15 September 2026

URL: https://personalisationhub.com/support-centre/appointment-bookings/block-out-dates-and-times-for-appointments/

Calendar blocking stops appointments being booked during a named period, for example a stocktake morning, a weekly team meeting or a store closure. You enable it once in Platform Admin, turn it on for each store that uses it, then define the blocks. Public holidays are handled separately through each store's holiday hours.

## Before you begin

- An HQ Admin account with the Admin role.
- Appointments enabled. See [Enable appointment bookings](https://personalisationhub.com/support-centre/appointment-bookings/enable-appointment-bookings/).

## Enable calendar blocking for the platform

1. In the left navigation, select **Platform Admin**.
2. Under **Enabled Features**, select **Queueing / Appointments**, then the **Appointment Settings** tab.
3. Turn on **Enable Calendar Blocking**. The **DEFINED CALENDAR BLOCKS** section shows how many blocks are defined for your stores.

## Add a calendar block

1. In **DEFINED CALENDAR BLOCKS**, select **Add New Calendar Block**.
2. Enter a **Block-Out Period Name** that staff will recognise, for example `Monthly stocktake`.
3. Set the **Date** and **Time** the block covers.
4. Set the **Recurrence** if the block repeats, or leave it as a one-off.
5. Save the block. It appears in the table with its name, date, time and recurrence.

## Turn calendar blocking on for a store

Each store has its own **Enable Calendar Blocking** toggle, so a block only affects stores that have it on. Turn it on in either place:

- **HQ Admin:** **Stores / Branches → **(store)** → Store Hours → Appointment Settings**, then turn on **Enable Calendar Blocking** and select **Save Changes**.
- **Retail Admin:** **Store Info → Store Hours → Appointment Settings**, then turn on **Enable Calendar Blocking** and select **Save Changes**.

> **Note:** For a whole public holiday, do not create a block. Instead set the holiday's **# of Appointment Slots** to **0** on the store's holiday hours — see [Set special holiday opening hours (Retail Admin)](https://personalisationhub.com/support-centre/stores-and-retail-data/set-special-holiday-opening-hours-retail-admin/).

## Verify it worked

The **DEFINED CALENDAR BLOCKS** count has increased and the new block is listed. On the store's Retail Admin **APPOINTMENTS** tab, the blocked date or time offers no timeslots, and customers booking online cannot choose it.

## Related

- [Set appointment slots per store and per day](https://personalisationhub.com/support-centre/appointment-bookings/set-appointment-slots-per-store-and-per-day/)
- [Appointment template settings reference](https://personalisationhub.com/support-centre/appointment-bookings/appointment-template-settings-reference/)
- [Enable appointment bookings](https://personalisationhub.com/support-centre/appointment-bookings/enable-appointment-bookings/)