How To Tip In A British Restaurant

Step 1: You will need

Step 2: Evaluating service

When deciding how much you should leave for a tip think about your overall enjoyment of the meal and how or if the waiting staff has contributed to it.

Step 3: The average tip

10% of the final bill is a nominal amount you should tip, and is expected if the staff have delivered normal, adequate service. This may vary depending on the quality of service and is a sliding scale from 0% to 25%

Step 4: When to give a big tip

There are several occasions when leaving a larger tip than 10% is appropriate and could be anything up to 40%.

If the service has been unusually helpful, friendly and unobtrusive.
If your waiter has been particularly knowledgeable about the food and wine.
If the waiter has gone out of their way to accommodate an unusual request or problem.
or If you are a large group of 6 people or over

Step 5: When to leave a small tip

If the waiter has done less than the bare minimum and has been generally unhelpful it is appropriate that your tip should reflect that.

Also if the waiter gets the order wrong or doesn't pay attention to special requirements and food allergies then you are within your rights to reduce the tip.

In the rare occasion that a waiter is actually rude or abusive to a customer the tip should be dramatically reduced or removed.

However be careful that you are not penalising the wrong person for problems during your meal. If the chef cooked something badly but your waiter handled the situation well by apologising immediately and replacing the dish then they still deserve a good tip.

Step 6: When to leave no tip at all

Not tipping at all sends a strong message about the level of service you have received. Reserve 0% tips for venues to which you never wish to return as you may find it difficult to get a table once you've made known your disappointment.

Step 7: Included discretionary tip

Increasingly restaurants are choosing to include a discretionary or optional charge with the final bill which can vary from about 12% to 15%.

While an optional charge takes away the hassle of having to work out a tip remember it is just that- optional. If the service doesn't live up to their suggested tip then don't be embarrassed to remove it.

Step 8: Tipping by card

In some restaurants you will be given the option to leave a tip on your credit card when paying the bill. This is a simple and discreet way of tipping but bear in mind it is now legal in Britain for the restaurant to use that tip as a contribution towards its waiting staff's wages. To ensure that the waiter actually receives all of the tip it may be best to leave it for them in cash.

Step 9: Tipping in cash

Once you have paid the bill, leave the desired amount on the table in a neat pile. If there is a tray or a bill wallet left on the table you can leave it on or in them.

Never thrust money into the waiter's hand during the meal or as you leave as it could potentially be embarrassing for the waiter.

If you don't have the correct change for a tip don't be embarrassed about asking your waiter to break a note.

Step 10: In a hurry?

If you are in a hurry and are paying for your bill and service in cash it is acceptable to pay the waiter for the meal with enough excess to cover his tip and immediately leave. You do not need to wait for the change only to hand it back to the waiter.