Self and Lady Kaht have lit upon a terrific outlying local pub which serves great lunches/evening meals. Service (it seems to me) is largely delivered via the proprietors or family. The food is excellent and the service also. Is this a tipping situation? There isn't a tips jar or anything like that. 'Service charge' - or anything like - is not routinely added. If you tip, do you tip in cash, or via an addition to your card charge? (I've always felt a bit wary of that regime). Or is it simply a situation where the proprietors have already had the benefit of your custom? Money is not an issue in this situation, and I'm not being tight. But I'd like to be doing the right thing, whatever that is.
Perhaps they’ll appreciate you being forthright with them when you get your bill and ask how they’d like to receive their tip????
I've asked Stephen Dawson and he says that he spits on the tip first and then gives it the lady. I think that's a bit rude personally
It looks to me like you'd like to give them a tip so I'd compliment the service to them and take that opportunity to say you'd like to leave a tip but was wondering whether they'd prefer it in cash or added onto the bill. I don't think it would come across wrong or anything like that, especially as you complimented them first.
Just say ‘do you accept tips?’ If they do they’ll let you know their preferred method and if they don’t want any then they’ll decline.
There’s no reason why you cannot settle the bill with a card and then present them with a cash tip. If they have a problem with that they’ll say so, but I very much doubt that they will
I think it is a tipping situation, and if it was me after settling the bill i'd leave cash behind on the table on whatever vessel the bill was delivered on.
I allus leave a tip when service is included. (A service charge on the bill is not allus welcome but sometimes convenient and appropriate. Especially if several of you are sharing the bill) I just leave it on the table. In cash. Or tin on the bar. And if i enjoyed it. will mention in passing. If not. (And not generally the servers fault) A thanks but unlikely return. A hotel I stayed in recently. Had an envelope in the room. Written on it 'gratuities' I asked one of the staff who it went to. She said shared among all those who provide a service. Cleaners. Servers etc. Not management. We had great service all round. But not the same employees every day . I thought it was a great idea.
The service charge annoys me, it seems to have crept in here from America, where tipping and service charges are there to make up the wages of poorly paid staff in many cases.
Check how the tips are distributed. Since it's family it might not matter but some nefarious places take tips from the staff and keep them as profit. Nice.
I don't think so, I ask these days. Primarily because I know some restaurants don't share the tips if given on card.
I always leave cash as I want to try to make sure the people who have served me get the benefit and I want them to make sure I have appreciated their efforts. My thoughts are if it’s by card they just get a lump sum at end of week/month/shift so it’s less personal.
Concur with what a lot have said. If you genuinely wish to leave a tip then asking or suggesting to staff is quite correct and sincere. You dont have to be clumsy or feel awkward as Im sure you'll be diplomatic about it
If I pay by card, I always leave cash on the table as we leave and collar the server to make sure they clear the table. If I pay cash I just tell them there's no change.
Which is illegal for cash tips now and for card tips from July 1st - under the Employment (Allocation of Tips) Act 2023. Possibly one of the only good things achieved in the last 14 years. Most places we go to eat only take card payments and I rarely carry cash...
