英国付小费

In the UK, is tipping necessary? How much is the typical tip in the UK?

 

In many countries, such as the United States, Canada, and others, tipping has become a customary practice in restaurants, hotels, taxis, and other services. When I was in the US, I was always required to leave a tip every time I dined out. Most of the Chinese restaurants I went to only accepted cash payments, not card payments. I also remember my experiences in Thailand where tipping was expected for meals, hotels, transportation, and even massages.

 

So, should you tip in the UK?

According to UK law, customers are not obligated to tip. Some restaurants may include a service charge percentage on the bill, clearly indicating it as a service fee, but otherwise, there is no obligation to tip. This means that, except for the specified service charge mentioned on the bill, other restaurants will not expect tips. However, if you are satisfied with the service and the food, you can choose to leave a tip, typically around £2-£3 per person. Of course, if you're feeling generous, you can give £50 directly. I have even encountered situations where customers left tips of over £20.

 

I want to remind you that even if some restaurants have a service charge, if you are extremely dissatisfied with their service, you can request the restaurant to remove the service charge. This process may be a bit uncomfortable or unpleasant, but the restaurant will comply and remove the service charge.

 

This reminds me of Chinese restaurants in London's Chinatown, where some restaurants are always bustling, but the service staff's attitude can be extremely poor and even arrogant. However, you have no choice but to eat there. Before experiencing it myself, I didn't react much, thinking it couldn't be that bad. But after dining there, oh my, it was unbelievable! As a customer, it's best not to bother them. They have extremely short tempers and might explode at any moment. These Chinese restaurants also only accept cash payments and do not accept card payments.

 

In reality, most polite locals in the UK do leave a tip whenever they dine out. Some round up the change and consider it a tip, while others leave a separate amount as a tip or include it when paying by card, deducting it directly from their account.

 

One of my classmates who worked at a restaurant in the UK encountered a situation where a customer was very satisfied with his service and personally gave him a £10 tip or more. It was the first time he received a tip from a customer outside of the regular bill payment process. He was happy about it but still asked the restaurant owner for advice. The owner said, 'The customer was pleased with your service, so this tip is for you. You can keep it.' However, I want to remind you that not all restaurants operate this way. Some restaurants pool tips and distribute them later, while others may not distribute them at all. It mainly depends on the owner's policy.

 

So, whether or not to tip primarily depends on you. For example, when taking a taxi or dining out, you can consider rounding up the change as a tip or actively giving a few pounds as a tip. Of course, it's also okay if you choose not to tip. However, there is a small cultural aspect in the UK that tipping is seen as a polite gesture and a way to show respect to others, just like holding the door for someone, queuing up consciously, or saying thank you casually. Nevertheless, I still recommend leaving a small tip, such as keeping the change when given.