If you’ve dined out in London recently, you might have noticed something unusual—restaurants that used to add a 12.5% service charge are now bumping it up to 15%.
This trend is spreading across the city, with high-end spots like The Delaunay (Covent Garden), Bebe Bob (Soho), Langan’s (Mayfair), Sessions Arts Club (Clerkenwell), Cut at 45 Park Lane, and Hutong (London Bridge) all making the shift. Even The Wolseley (Piccadilly) now includes a £2.50 cover charge on top of the higher service charge.
But why is this happening? 🤔
Restaurants Are Staying Silent
We reached out to several London restaurants asking why they’ve raised their service charges—but guess what? None of them wanted to talk about it. That silence leaves us guessing, but there are a few possible reasons behind this shift.
Is the UK Adopting American Tipping Culture?
In the U.S., tipping is part of the culture. A 15% tip is considered the bare minimum, and many diners leave 20% or more. That’s because restaurant staff are often paid below minimum wage, so tips make up a significant part of their income.
But here in the UK, service charges are supposed to be optional, and hospitality workers should be paid a fair wage. So, why the sudden push for higher tips?
The New Law on Tips 💰
In October 2023, a new UK law—the Employment (Allocation of Tips) Act—came into effect. This law requires employers to give 100% of service charges and tips to staff, without any sneaky deductions. Before this, some restaurants were pocketing a portion of tips instead of passing them on to workers.
The UK government estimated that this law will put an extra £200 million into workers’ pockets annually. That’s great for employees—but could restaurants be increasing service charges to compensate for the fact that they can no longer skim off the top?
What This Means for Nigerians in the UK 🇳🇬
If you’re dining out in London, here’s what you should know:
✅ Service charges are optional – You can ask for it to be removed if you’re not happy with the service.
✅ Always check your bill – Some places now add both a service charge and a cover charge.
✅ Tipping is not mandatory – Unlike in the U.S., you don’t have to tip on top of the service charge.
Have you experienced this 15% charge at restaurants? Let us know in the comments! 👇🏾 #NaijaUKConnect
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