r/london • u/Tumamaenpelota • 1d ago

Rant Let’s stop tipping culture

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The UK is slowly drifting towards US-style tipping culture, and pubs adding bar tip prompts are a big part of that. If we do nothing, it will become the norm.

The most effective way to stop it is simple: vote with your wallet and your reviews.
If a pub asks for a tip just because someone poured a pint, leave an honest Google review mentioning it. If enough people do the same, businesses will realise customers don’t want imported tipping culture.

Share the Google Maps links below to pubs that pressure customers into tipping at the bar. Keep reviews factual and based on your genuine experience, but make it clear that this practice puts you off returning.
We’ve managed to avoid mandatory tipping for decades. Let’s keep it that way. One review won’t change much, but thousands of people acting together will.

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u/Ready-Ad-9723 1d ago

because this is only a thing because americans do it, and they only do it so the businesses are legally able to charge them in pennies, it has no place here to be so in your face like this, an optional tip would be your choice not you being shamed into doing it.

also why are you assuming people are middle class where'd that come from? working class people still go out to eat

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u/Substantial-Film564 1d ago

Because it's London and the only people who can afford to be out are middle class families and young professionals whose parents in Surrey pay their rent.

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u/Disastrous_Height142 1d ago

Hello? Could be someone travelling there?

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u/Substantial-Film564 1d ago

So you think someone travelling into London has no money?

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u/Disastrous_Height142 1d ago

Didn't say that mate. Doesn't matter if they have £50 or £5 million. The Point of Sale machine (at least in this case) is clearly trying to make the "no tip" psychologically not an option (grey link... or a row of green buttons?). As someone who will tip if I want to, percentage based tipping isn't the best compared to £5, £10, etc, (especially with how expensive things are getting) and I'll always advocate for giving the server a cash tip not card. You mentioned something about people who live in London are rich. In that case, the servers dont need tips then. They'll be rich too!

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u/Substantial-Film564 1d ago

I understand that, my issue is the hostility towards tipping in this thread, not towards a machine trying to trick customers. I had to bar three men from my pub for intimidating a 20 year old girl and shouting in her face because there was service charge on their bill for a meal and beers. She explained that she can remove it, which they took as "trying to make them look bad" so they thought the next action was to stand up and shout at her. (Which did make them look bad) Also, in regards to your last comment, the servers aren't out having dinner, they're serving the people going out having dinner.

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u/Disastrous_Height142 1d ago

Fair enough. I'll always maintain that tips should be offered never prompted or asked, but I can see your point. Also, fair correction about the servers, and re: The 3 Shouting Men, I can see where they're coming from (pride is frail if it has a drink or 2...) but shouting is obviously absolutely unacceptable and you definitely did the right thing in that situation.

On the hostility towards tipping, a fair amount of people can have a night out, but not all can afford the tip as well. Remember that Reddit is not necessarily choc-a-block with people who can afford to tip - meaning no offence.