The
unanswerable question I get a lot from visitors to the UK is 'how much do I
leave as a tip? '
As talking
cash in the Former European Country of Great Britain is still considered terribly
rude to most of us and simply not the done thing dear boy, I am here to give
you some answers.
The culture
of leaving or receiving a gratuity is still very alien to us Brit's so the
perennial problem for any fair minded North Americans heading this way (and
knowing you will tip), how much you should leave can become as complex
to you guys as 'how many times do I apologise for Donald Trump?' When the first
question when here is actually 'should I tip?'...you should
always apologise for Trump.
The first and
most important thing you need to know is that 'WE ONLY REWARD GOOD SERVICE'
Whereas in
the US it seems that it is an (unwritten) part of the Constitution to leave a
tip, you do need to reset that thinking when calling in on us here in the UK.
For, brace yourself, a tip here is NEVER expected but ALWAYS
gratefully received. To explain,
most of us (I'll come back to that) are happy to reward good service but can as
easily register our disapproval of bad service by 1) NOT tipping before 2) 'tut
tutting' our disapproval loudly while shuffling out of the restaurant.
Traditionally,
rule of thumb says that, we leave a gratuity of between 10-15%, my wife gives
10%, me 15%. But then it gets a bit more complicated...
I'll Keep
it Simple..
Restaurants
Scenario 1
A £100
check - with ok service and you all getting the correct burger, leave £110.
Scenario 2
A £100 check
- the service was good, lots of smiles and directions to Abbey Road, leave £115
- £120
However,
you'd be no less thought of in sticking to the £110 tip, as in Scenario 1, as
long you back it up with a pleasant 'thank you' to your server as you
depart.
Scenario 3
A £100 check
- the service was exceptional, burger cooked to how you, not the chef, like it,
leave £130......you are now more popular than a Downtown Abbey Christmas
Special and should have the restaurant door held open and next Royal baby named
after you.
Simple Eh?
Hmm, buckle up.
Most
restaurants now automatically, and somewhat sneakily, add a thing they call 'Service
Charge' to your final bill, which we Brit's do not consider to be Cricket.
For example
purposes, and sticking with the £100 bill, a 'typical' service charge added
would read:
Total.
£100.00
Service
charge. £12.50
Total.
£112.50
The British
do not like Service Charge as it is the management telling us that we are happy
with the experience, before we have had the experience, we do not like being
told what to do (A little German fellow tried similar bully boy tactics back in
the 1940's so we took the cane from atop the cupboard and administered a damn,
sound thrashing) . Restaurants
do this because should the meal turn out to be a bad experience most of us, being
British, will never ask for the check to be adjusted (we consider public
confrontation unacceptable unless up against the French). Restaurant
management guilt you by saying that the Service Charge is introduced to ensure
all waiting staff received a gratuity (nessacery because of the terrible wages they
pay them!! ) Very worthy.... except remember? 'WE ONLY REWARD GOOD
SERVICE!!!!'
Back to our
£100 check..
Scenario 1.
Pay the Service Charge but DO NOT ADD A FURTHER GRATUITY!!
Scenario 2.
Pay the Service Charge then add £5 - £10 cash tip directly into the servers
hand.
Scenario 3.
Pay the Service Charge and add extra cash to server of around £20.
Poor Service.
If you have
had poor - terrible service then be brave, you are not going to like this next
bit, but ask for the
service charge to be removed from your check AND DO NOT TIP. They won't argue
but simply return an amended check with you paying for only the food/ drinks
you've consumed. Service Charge is NOT a law or an official tax (unless it is
clearly brought to your attention, usually on the menu, prior to you ordering)
and is, ultimately, them deciding what gratuity you should pay. A few
years ago it was exposed that a lot of restaurants, not all, were charging you
the service charge then NOT passing it onto their staff. Scandalous!!!
Here's what I
do.
Assuming I
first want to leave a tip, when the bill arrives I, quietly, ask the server if
they actually benefit from the service charge. You will be shocked at how many
of them give you a discreet shake of the head.
So, I insist
the service charge be removed from the check then pass the cash tip (pertinent
to Scenario's 1, 2 or 3) directly to the waiter/waitress. The restaurant will
not/cannot complain as that money was going to the server anyway, RIGHT??. If
the server tells me that the management are fair and that they split the
gratuity then I would keep it official ensuring all, waiter to chef and
dishwasher, benefit.
Remember,
if *Service Charge is going to be added then the restaurant should inform
you of that on their menu before you order.
Transport.
My particular
field of expertise and should I ever have the pleasure of driving you please
don't forget to add your tip for these tips to my driving tip. You have
several options with ground transportation so I'll break it down again as
you'll get away with paying less to some than others.
London Black Cab
With over
6000 'Cabbies' swarming the city they count many fantastic, polite and
knowledgeable drivers on their ranks.
For a
Heathrow to City Centre a £70 fare can be rewarded with a £7 - £10 tip
Journeys
across city. If the meter reads £17.20p give £20 and a 'keep the change'
victory speech, if it is bang on £20 give £2. If you have no change for that,
just say so, pay the £20 and leave ' as a tip is never expected but gratef.....
yeah, you get it.
Good to
know:
All, but all
London Taxi's have a credit card machine but you wouldn't believe the amount of
times the machine is faulty or lost Wi-Fi. Reflect that in your gratuity.
Also, conversations best avoided are Uber, Brexit and 'which soccer team they
follow?'
Black Car/Chauffeur Service
Heathrow to
City Centre, Tip £10 - £15
Journeys
across City - all depends on service, vehicle and competence (as ever) but if
making single journey £5 is good. If making several journeys then always wait
until after last drop off and give £20 - £40.
Uber
Heathrow to
City Centre £10.
Journeys
across City: £3 - £5
Always much
more appreciated in cash and not on the app, as they have to wait for. (and
declare) that.
Hotels
5*
Concierge/Door
man - give him/her £20 as soon as you arrive.
Luggage
Delivery £5
Taxi hail -
£2
Hotel
restaurant - see Scenario 3 in Restaurant section.
4*
Concierge/Door
man - give him/her £20 as soon as you arrive.
Luggage
Delivery £2
Taxi
hail: £1 - £2
Hotel
restaurant - see Scenario 2 in Restaurant section.
3*
Concierge/Door
man - you'll open your own door
Luggage
Delivery: lifts are over to your left
Taxi hail -
you will hail your own taxi
Hotel
restaurant - do not eat in a 3* hotel restaurant, you deserve better.
Good to know:
while at the airport money change load up with £5 notes and £2 coins, very
useful.
Private Tour Guides
A tip should
be between £40 - £100 depending on length of day and enjoyment of tour.
Good to
know:
Please do not
proffer cash towards your guide while in the hotel foyer, especially towards a
lady, Other guests will witness this and could jump to the wrong conclusion on
the type of service she has provided. On the flip side the same applies if you
have enjoyed a 'lady of the night' as other guests might, again, jump to
the wrong concussion and begin testing her Henry Vlll knowledge when all she
wants to do is go home and sleep.
In summary :
A tip is
never expected but always gratefully received.
'WE ONLY
REWARD GOOD SERVICE'
Service
Charge is still at your discretion* and not compulsory to pay.
Lastly,
believe it or not, some people in the UK never, ever leave a tip, some will
even ask for the service charge to be removed then still not tip the waiter
even when the experience has been excellent!
So, believe
me, you leaving any form of appreciation will be appreciated.
Enjoy your
visit to the UK
I am Kevin
Willis and I Travel for...My clients.
Chirton
Grange Ltd. Award winning Chauffeur Company
www.twitter.com/chirtongrange
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+44 7725
467263
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