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Ramsay's Restaurant Adds 20% Service Charge
27 Apr
Summary
- Lucky Cat restaurant added a 20% discretionary service charge.
- This move aligns with increasing US-style tipping culture in the UK.
- Rising costs pressure restaurants, impacting staff wages and tips.
Gordon Ramsay's Lucky Cat restaurant in London has introduced a 20% discretionary service charge on diner bills. This policy, noted on the New Year's Eve menu, aligns with a noticeable trend in Britain towards a U.S.-style tipping culture, where automatic gratuities are increasingly common.
The 20% charge is higher than the 10-15% typically seen at establishments run by other renowned chefs. Restaurateurs suggest these charges may help offset rising operational expenses, such as increased minimum wage thresholds, tax, and energy bills.
Industry leaders express concern over cost pressures, with one trade body indicating that a fifth of hospitality businesses fear collapse within the next year. Social media commentary has largely criticized the practice, advocating for direct payment of adequate wages to staff.
While some experts believe the full U.S. tipping model is unlikely to be adopted in the UK due to cultural differences, the trend towards mandatory service charges continues.
