Do you usually Tip on top of the bill when you eat out?

[LunarLass]

Hi everyone,
Just curious, how many of you usually leave a tip when you eat out?
I generally don't, but the other day, we went out with some friends who always tip. This time, I stuck to paying just for what we ordered—no tip—and you should've seen the looks on our friends' faces! Our bill came to £55, so it wasn't exactly cheap, to be honest. The meal was lovely, no complaints there; it's just that I don't usually tip out of principle, since they're getting paid for their job like anyone else

For us is when my husband told the waitress about his food allergy a kitchen manager came out and checked every item my husband ordered. He wanted seafood which he never orders but they made sure there was no citrus in the meal. They even checked his dessert. That is good service to us

If there's a service charge then no. Maybe if the service is exceptional but mostly £2

Why should waiting staff (or any staff come to that) have to put up with awful customers? Why also would it be acceptable to be a foul customer just as long as the tip money is 'right'? How much money would make it ok to be a twattish customer? That is a truly grim thought that restaurants would effectively pimp out their staff like this instead of getting rid of those 'customers'.

Most people do not behaviour boorishly towards any staff and that's as it should be. The job is worth what it's worth and it's up to employers to step up and make sure their employees' are paid an actual living wage rather than pass that on to the customers via a hit and miss 'custom'.

The sooner that minimum wage becomes a living wage for everyone and tipping stops, the better. If that means that some dodgy places close down then perhaps that's for the best.

I think a lot of people who tip just do it because it's expected or because they care about what the people they are dining with think of them. Crowd followers.

They can never explain why it's so tight and embarrassing not to tip restaurant staff BUT completely fine not to tip amazon delivery drivers, HCPs, teaching assistants, bar staff, coffee shop baristas, shop assistants, call centre staff, cleaners....all of whom also work hard and only get paid minimum wage....

The only difference is usually in those cases their friends aren't watching them being lady bountiful so without the kudos they don't bother...

@easylikeasundaymorn - a lot of us worked in the service sector when younger and remember what it was like.

I tip because I feel under social pressure to, but tbh I begrudge it and it puts me off eating out as prices are overinflated as it is, so the value isn't there. I'd rather get a takeaway, pay normal prices for our own drinks and no tips and no waiting around for slow service or stingy portions of tap water.

In independent places, always, and generously.

Chains...I might round up or leave a small tip but I'm far less inclined to do so because I feel if the restaurant can afford to have multiple premises then (1) it can afford to pay its staff more and (2) they are likely to have buying power for better benefits.

I generally do unless already added but I usually double check who gets the tip.

One of my kids worked somewhere where the manager pocketed all the tips as my daughter was on probation. This isn't unusual.

Don't tip, everything has rocketed in price, especially things like eating out. And while I luckily earn more than minimum wage, there are people who eat out who are paid the same minimum wage as the people serving them, why should they feel obligate through peer pressure to tip people who earn the same as them for doing their job.

Not if there's service on the bill
If no service charge, I'd tip for a meal, less likely for a snack

I just don't get this
It just doesn't make sense in this day and age (assuming you're in the UK!)
We have a minimum wage of £11.44 an hour for adults.
Why are some of us worthy a tip but not others?!
It's an outdated notion that doesn't translate well nowadays.
It's also a bit patronising and Lady Bountiful throwing a few extra crumbs for a job well done, bravo you. Head pat...

I think it depends on the place you are eating, a lot of places now you go up to the bar to order food and also order/fetch your own drinks, in that case I think tipping 10% for a £50 meal is abit much if all they have done in bring the plates of food out. In a restaurant where the orders are taken at the table, the server comes to check if you are ok, when drinks etc then a tip should be given unless the service has been really poor

Depends. When we were sofa surfing we had to eat out to get a hot meal and every penny counted, wasn't expensive places eg weather soons, local fish and chips etc. How we slightly better off for cakes etc no I wont, possibly for a meal. We won't returning to one place as they added service to the bill. If I tip I tip what I want. I remember tipping one place as the waiter went out of his way to sort something. Saying that we rarely go out now we not sofa surfing as it's a pleasure to actually be able to cook for yourself. Before we had too or else it be cold sandwiches again. Surprised how many say they tip on here automatically. Don't think been out for a meal since pre covid now though .. sandwiches, jacket potatoes at lunchtime yes. Does that count. Last time was the local garden centre and no tipping expected and they were lovely helpful staff.

I haven't read the entire thread and the OP hasn't come back. But I am more concerned that a nice meal for at least 3 people (based on her phraseology) came to £55 and the OP says that's not cheap.

@TofuTart I think because this forum has a lot of people with money then they assume everyone is the same when infact the majority of people in this country and the rest of the world don't have much. It's like they're in their own little bubble.
Fair enough if they tip.. but the ones who have judged those of us who don't and called us insulting names.. you are horrible human beings.

I don’t tip. I don’t care what other people do, that’s up to them 🤷‍♀️

I find it so annoying that tipping culture has made its way to the UK. Really? When do you think that the UK was free from tipping? Certainly not in your lifetime.

I choose which people I tip based on whether what they do is influential in the overall experience. If I go to Sainsbury’s and the man on the checkout is a bit surly or doesn’t say hello or is slow or whatever, my experience of buying apples and milk isn’t really affected, because I’m not in Sainsbury’s for the experience. Likewise the man from Yodel who delivers my new pair of shoes, it makes no difference. Whereas if I go out for a meal and the waiting staff don’t have a pleasant attitude or are inefficient or not very observant to signals, that does materially affect the experience - because most people go out to a restaurant for the ambience, the enjoyment, and want to feel good. So I tip them for that aspect, rather than the act of them carrying plates to the table.

That's probably a very valid point, but while of course it's their choice to make it does worry me to read the number who'll tip on top of a service charge - as in do they also sneer at those who won't?

It seems to me the sort of thing that spreads until that too becomes an expectation, and also explains why including it all in the headline prices wouldn't work. As in the US there'll always be those who like to flash the cash, and while that's completely up to them, the same "your choice" doesn't seem to work the other way round

But waiting staff being observant, efficient and having a pleasant attitude are aspects of their job description, so why tip them for doing the job they’re paid to do?

I get the service charge removed and tip directly if service is good. Don't bother tipping for crap service though

@paranoidnamechanger Exactly it's part of the job description. As is paying attention to allergies, sorting the wrong food out etc

It's not compulsory though. You don't have to pay it

If service charge is in then never. If not then I tend to do it service is ok.

I always ask for the service charge to be removed and tip in cash separately.