Tipping in restaurants and bars is widely accepted, but how much do you tip and when should you? Many people often get confused about tipping in the UK compared to other countries, like the United States of America. Tipping across the pond is seen as part of the overall bill while in the UK, there’s a different attitude towards it. If you’re interested in finding out how much to tip in the UK, continue reading this guide from tastecard!
Tom Pressman
17-07-2024
If you’re ever wondering how to figure out a tip at a restaurant, it’s customary to tip around 10 to 15% of the bill’s total when you feel you’ve had good service. This can be adjusted based on the quality of the service and how generous you’re feeling!
Some restaurants in the UK will automatically add a service charge to your bill, which is typically around 12.5%. This is often only included for larger parties. If this is added to the overall bill, there is no need to leave an additional tip, unless you feel it necessary.
When leaving a tip, it’s common practice to do so in cash. You can either leave the cash on the table for the server to collect when clearing up, or you can hand it to them personally.
If you’re dining out as a group, whether it’s friends or family, make sure to agree on an even split for not only the bill but also the tip. It’s likely, though, that you’ll have a service charge added to your bill if you’re a large booking. If not, ensure you reward your server!
Another tip, which is more common in bars and fast food restaurants, is the round-up tip. This is when you choose to let the server “keep the change” when paying with cash for your order. So, if your order comes to £16.20, you’ll round up the overall bill and leave an 80p tip instead of taking change from a £17 payment.
Images sourced directly from Adobe stock. All restaurants available on tastecard at the time of publishing.
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