Britpick Question

[amberfocus]

What's the deal on tipping?  Do you tip the bartender?  Or is tipping just a no go in Britain (I think I read that somewhere)?

Comments

[wendymr.livejournal.com]

After my first response, I wondered if you were also asking about tipping in general. It wasn't customary - just, as draconin says below, if you feel service has been particularly good. More recently, though, tipping's becoming more common. In full-service restaurants - as opposed to cafeteria-style or fast food - many people will probably now tip something, but nothing close to US levels. They might add on a couple of quid to a £25 bill, for example, either added to the credit card or as cash left on the table.

In major cities, and in exclusive (high-priced) restaurants around the country, at times a mandatory service change will be included, usually around 15%. As far as waiter/waitress wages go, expected earnings in tips can be deducted from the minimum wage, and I did see a newspaper article on the subject commenting that at least one fashionable restaurant pays its serving staff nothing - though that's very unusual.

In a taxi, the tendency would be to say 'keep the change' when you pay; if the fare is £13.90, the customer would probably hand over £15. If you're on expenses, then maybe you'd tip more. *g* I did tip my hairstylist when I lived in England, but that would have been again a couple of quid as opposed to 15-20%. We certainly would not tip chambermaids or tour-bus drivers or the leaders of guided tours.

This is a pretty good guide to tipping etiquette as a whole.

[apurplepatch.livejournal.com]

I've just finished 16 day guided bus tour of the UK and we were told that we were to tip out tour-bus driver and guide 2 - 3 pounds per day spent with them. We were also told that a couple of pounds per half day was appropriate for local guides who joined out tour for the day/half-day.

[wendymr.livejournal.com]

Interesting! I do suspect that you were told this because you were foreign tourists - Brits, in general, would not tip in that situation :)

ETA: realised my meaning may not be clear. I meant that it presented an opportunity for staff to make a bit more money, which they wouldn't normally do with British tourists. Perhaps their basic wage was less as a result.