Uk customers face new huge tipping rules – and it's being 'quietly' introduced

CUSTOMERS ARE FACING NEW TIPPING RULES AS 15% SERVICE CHARGES BECOME THE NEW STANDARD IN RESTAURANTS - AND THEY'RE BEING 'QUIETLY' INTRODUCED ACROSS THE UK ADAM CAILLER Senior

reporter and Reddit team lead and HANNAH AHMED 09:43, 21 May 2025Updated 09:43, 21 May 2025 UK restaurant-goers are set to grapple with a new US-style rule that will slap them with a 15%

service charge. The trend of adopting American tipping customs is on the rise, with a 15% fee increasingly becoming the norm. Kitty Slydell-Cooper from Countertalk advises patrons to

"expect to see 15% on your bill as standard, and don't be horrified when the card machine is asking you to add an additional gratuity". Slydell-Cooper remarked: "Before

the legislation, the service charge was pooled and often used as an emergency buffer for restaurants." Ryan (not his real name), a bar manager, disclosed: "One of my bartenders got

paid £1,600 in January," adding, "I just don't know how some are surviving.", reports Birmingham Live. Peter Briffett, the chief of Wagestream, commented: "The

exact opposite has happened with their policies, which is that people are forced out of work, or forced to move jobs." He pointed out: "They're high volume businesses with low

margins, yet now have to pay millions of pounds extra in tax. They need that money to operate their businesses. "Eating out is already very expensive, and there's a sense that

diners want to tip their server, but not be paying their wages," says Maya (name altered), who works at a restaurant. "My restaurant is falling into the US system." In the

States, tipping is technically optional. By law, it's a voluntary act but if you sneak out of an eatery without leaving a tip of around 20 to 25%, you're likely to be pursued by a

disgruntled server demanding an explanation. In the UK, the Employment (Allocation of Tips) Act 2023 requires employers to pass on all tips, gratuities, and service charges to their workers

without deductions (other than usual tax and National Insurance), provided the employer has "control or significant influence" over how they are distributed. This means staff must

receive 100% of the tips they earn. The Act also mandates fair and transparent allocation of tips, with employers required to have a written policy and keep records. The Act applies to a

wide range of workers, including those in restaurants, cafes, bars, and other hospitality businesses. It also covers agency staff and those on zero-hour contracts. Article continues below If

employers fail to comply with the law, staff can bring claims to an employment tribunal. _FOR THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS AND STORIES FROM ACROSS THE GLOBE FROM THE DAILY STAR, SIGN UP FOR OUR

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