![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/GettyImages-1308067545.jpg\")
\n\t\tService charges are quietly changing in restaurants (Picture: Getty Images\/iStockphoto)<\/p>\n
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\n\t\tService charges are quietly changing in restaurants (Picture: Getty Images\/iStockphoto)<\/p>\n
Key Points<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\tAI-generated content<\/p>\n
Service charges in UK restaurants are rising, with many now adding 15%, compared to the previous 10-12.5% norm<\/p>\n
The Allocation of Tips Act ensures all tips, including card tips, go to staff, contributing to service charge increases<\/p>\n
UK diners remain hesitant about larger tips, often sticking to the traditional 10% despite rising hospitality costs<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\tCreated with AI assistance. Quality assured by Metro editors.\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\tShow moreShow more<\/p>\n
Name something more awkward than the moment when one person wants to contest the service charge at dinner, and the other wants to pay the bill <\/a>and skedaddle.<\/p>\n The whole situation becomes ten times more uncomfortable when it happens on a first date\u2026\u00a0<\/p>\n This point of contention isn\u2019t going to get any easier any time soon; in fact, it might end up causing even more tension. That\u2019s because the UK\u2019s unwritten restaurant<\/a> rules around service charges and tipping seem to be changing across the nation.<\/p>\n Service charges are being added to bills just about everywhere these days \u2013 from your local pub to the tiny cafe on the corner. And honestly, with the struggles the hospitality industry<\/a> has been facing amid the cost of living<\/a> crisis, it\u2019s not much of a surprise.<\/p>\n But what might come as a shock to some is that it\u2019s becoming the norm to see service charges of 15% these days on bills, instead of the 10 or 12.5% we\u2019d all become accustomed to.\u00a0<\/p>\n \t\t When it comes to the purpose of these charges, Kate Nicholls, chief executive of UK Hospitality, previously told Metro: \u2018Service charge policies are set and determined by individual businesses, so it is up to them to determine the level of charge.<\/p>\n \u2018Service charges serve a variety of functions, but primarily reward staff and provide a boost to employees\u2019 earnings, ensuring that venues can continue to provide the highest standard of service possible.\u2019<\/p>\n How are service charges changing in the UK?<\/p>\n Experts have claimed that 15% is becoming the new industry standard for restaurant service charges, while some suggest we could see this moving more in line with the 20 to 25% tipping rate that\u2019s standard across America<\/a> in the future.<\/p>\n Several popular restaurants have already started adding a 15% charge to bills, so it\u2019s not difficult to see how this could quickly increase.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tLatest London news\t\t\t<\/p>\n To get the latest news from the capital, visit Metro’s London news hub<\/a>.<\/p>\n In London, European restaurant The Wolseley has a discretionary 15% service charge in addition to a mandatory \u00a32.50 cover charge.<\/p>\n Similarly, Fallow in St James\u2019s Market, a popular brunch spot, adds a 15% service charge to bills and a \u00a31 charge to be donated to support UN Women UK.\u00a0<\/p>\n And the newly reopened Simpson\u2019s in the Strand<\/a> has also set a 15% service charge as standard.<\/p>\n The story is the same at Gordon Ramsay\u2019s Lucky Cat restaurants in Mayfair and Bishopsgate, plus Bob Bob Ricard and Bebe Bob in Soho.<\/p>\n \t\t Some believe the fees have been driven up by recent government legislation <\/a>that made it mandatory for all tips to be passed on to workers without any deductions.<\/p>\n Corin Camenisch, marketing and growth Lead at SumUp, tells Metro: \u2018The current economic climate presents challenges for consumers, hospitality workers and employers. Part of the reason for the rise in service charges is the Allocation of Tips Act, which dictated that all tips and service charges must be given to hospitality staff. <\/p>\n \u2018The act aimed to to create a fairer playing field for those in the service industry, meaning employees get a fair slice of their well earned gratuity, while also giving consumers peace of mind that when they tip, their money is going to the right place.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u2018Cash tips are already protected by law, but the new legislation goes further to cover tips added to a card payment which are more and more becoming the norm.\u00a0 Many hospitality workers are on the national or living wage and rely on tips, so making sure they get their fair share of the pie is the right thing to do both for businesses and the wider economy.<\/p>\n \t\t And while these charges might be a positive for hospitality employees, not all diners are happy about the changes.\u00a0<\/p>\n Former Metro journalist Gergana Krasteva branded London\u2019s tipping culture \u2018out of control\u2019 after being charged a 12.5% service fee for just one glass of wine at a bar in High Street Kensington.\u00a0<\/p>\n She said: \u2018I\u2019m happy to tip if I sit down and have dinner at a restaurant, but not if the wine is poured in front of me at the actual bar and then I carry it to my table. Plus, they didn\u2019t give me an option. It was only after that I realised, which is the more annoying part. In general, I think tipping is out of control in London.\u2019<\/p>\n And Tom Bourlet had strong feelings about the idea of 25% charges like in the US.<\/p>\n He told us: \u2018I\u2019ve not seen any charge higher than 10% but it would be a shock to suddenly see 25% put on. Without wanting to sound harsh, I wouldn\u2019t exactly be happy, that\u2019s a huge amount to add. 10% being added to each drink in bars is bad.\u2019<\/p>\n \t\t And it\u2019s clear from new research by SumUp, that people in the UK aren\u2019t keen to leave bigger tips.<\/p>\n Despite the number of businesses that have been applying suggested tips to digital payments increasing by 78% between 2022 and 2024, Brits haven\u2019t got on board with digital prompts to pay more. Instead, we\u2019ve been sticking firmly at the familiar 10% rate.<\/p>\n The average tip given by customers over the last three years remained between 10.2% and 10.6% according to the data.<\/p>\n Corin comments: \u2018Unlike the US, where tipping is ingrained as the norm, British customers have historically been more reserved about tipping. Even as digital tipping simplifies the process, it seems this cultural reticence persists.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u2018To British punters\u2019 credit, they will go out and support venues and they\u2019ll tip the same 10% regardless of how bad the economy and inflation may hit them.\u2019<\/p>\n Do you have to pay a service charge?<\/p>\n Don\u2019t worry \u2013 if you\u2019re not happy with the idea of paying an extra 15% or 20% on top of your bill, we checked with an expert and, yes, you can ask for it to be removed without sounding like a dreadful person.<\/p>\n Etiquette coach John-Paul Stuthridge<\/a> told Metro<\/a>: \u2018The hospitality industry is often too turbulent at the best of times. It rarely has healthy cash flow or reserves other industries can depend on, not least the high turnover of staff and cost of recruitment. Throw in an extensive lockdown and a world cost of living<\/a> crisis, restaurants have added service charges to help recoup their losses. Increasing the charge further helps them combat the crisis that is hard for some to say no to.<\/p>\n \u2018You can much more easily not go to a restaurant that\u2019s upped its prices by 15%, but how many people will just accept a 15% service charge and politely say nothing? Many.\u2019<\/p>\n He continues: \u2018Whether you should ask to remove it may depend on how charitable you feel, or if the service genuinely deserved it. It is your call.\u2019<\/p>\n If you truly don\u2019t feel like the service is worthy of the charge on the bill, don\u2019t get mean about it, just be, as John-Paul recommends, \u2018direct and honest\u2019.<\/p>\n \u2018No reason needs to be given, however, if you are asked, then give your polite feedback in an honest, but short to-the-point manner,\u2019 he adds.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u2018The higher the figure for service charge, the less likely customers will oblige, but having it removed altogether, so guests can tip the individual server the amount they want to give remains a legitimate and more proper compromise.\u2019<\/p>\n This article was first published on May 18, 2025.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tMore money news from Metro:\t\t\t<\/p>\n Do you have a story to share?<\/p>\n Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk<\/a>.<\/p>\n Arrow Arrow Arrow![\"Young](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/GettyImages-2201008404.jpg\")
\n\t\t15% service charge is becoming the new norm in the UK \u2013 but this could continue to rise (Picture: Getty Images)
\nWhat is a service charge?<\/p>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Simpsons-in-the-Strand_GrandDivan_credit_Helen_Cathcart_0251_R2-551a.jpg\")
\n\t\tSimpsons in the Strand has reopened recently, with a 15% charge (Picture: Helen Cathcart)<\/p>\n![\"Shopping](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/GettyImages-1298414017.jpg\")
\n\t\tMany still only want to tip 10% in the UK (Picture: Getty Images)<\/p>\n![\"Woman](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/GettyImages-2255608905.jpg\")
\n\t\tSome say tipping culture is \u2018out of control\u2019 (Picture: Getty Images)<\/p>\n
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