denise3233

We leave for Scotland tomorrow and it just dawned on me that I don't know how to handle tipping while in Scotland. Could someone please enlighten me please? Am I correct that a bill indicating services included, I do not tip? What about other situations? How about taxi drivers? Thanks for all your help.

janisj

If service is included - you can leave a few odd small coins if you had special service (but carefully looks at those coins - there are small denomination coins but also 50p, £1 and £2 coins - and those can add up fast). About 10% or a skosh more is good in most other restaurants. 12% or a bit more for upscale places.

For cabbies around 10% - bit extra if he schleps your bags.

Don't tip in B&Bs - the staff is usually family members.

In a full service hotel I'd leave £1-£2 a day for the housekeeper.

In a pub tip a small amount for the person who brings your food (you usually order at the bar and then someone serves you at a table). If you want to tip bar staff in a pub - don't leave money but say something like "and one for you". But that is only if you've been there a while - in other words, not for every round of drinks.

wellididntknowthat

What Janis said is pretty spot on. But don't sweat it, we're not a tipping culture and if you get it wrong no one is going to chase you down the street or embarrass you.

flanneruk

The simple rule in pubs is:

Don't.

sashh

I've never tipped anyone bringing me food in a pub.

I also wouldn't leave small coins. If I left someone 5p. As a child I was told that's how you show someone the service was bad. If I'm tipping then never less than a £.

Minimum wage here is minimum wage. Employers cannot use tips to top up a wage. Well actually that doesn't become law until October but employers are encouraged to pay min wage now.

janisj

no - I didn't mean 5p. I meant 40p - £1+-ish in small coins.

In a straight pub (I don't mean sexual preference ) I don't tip. But when its a pub w/ a dining room the definitions blur

chartley

"Service" in a British pub means taking your order at the table, answering questions about what's on the menu, making sure your food arrives promptly, clearing your table as soon as you have finished, checking if you require anything else, bringing your bill, and taking your money. That may be done by a single individual, or by whichever member of staff is free, or walking past at the time.

If all those conditions are true, then it is behaving like a restaurant and you can leave a tip. No tip for a meal should be less than £2, otherwise it is an insult, and worse than no tip at all.

If those conditions (all of them) do not apply, then do not leave a tip.

janisj

"<i>No tip for a meal should be less than £2, otherwise it is an insult, and worse than no tip at all.</i>"

Just so there is no confusion, my "40p - £1+" refers to my original post about leaving small change when the service is already included.

But -- I've had lots of £7-£12+ meals. Surely you don't suggest leaving £2 (minimum) in all cases?

MissPrism

Don't forget to give the tip to the waiter/waitress rather than adding a gratuity via your credit card.

MissPrism

Further to my former comment

http://tinyurl.com/m8b3xa
The article is only about one company, but it's quite disturbing

Alec

In most pubs (unless there is a separate restaurant with dedicated staff etc), you order at the bar, point to where you are sitting - the tables are often numbered, and you pay there and then, without a tip. There is sometimes a box for gratuities at food-ordering point. You can leave small change there, but it's entirely optional. And you don't tip whoever brings you food.
Only person I've ever tipped in a hotel was in a 5-star property in London when the doorman fetched a taxi for me. As service is always included, there is no obligation to leave a tip to housekeeping staff, and nobody thinks you are cheap for not doing so.
In restaurants, if the menu clearly states service (10%, 12.5% or whatever) is included or optional service charge will be added to the bill, then there is no need to leave anything extra. If the menu and the bill state service is not included (or is at the discretion of the customer), then add 10-12%, either on the credit card (with chip and pin terminal, you have to physically key in the amount) or in cash, if you were pleased with the service received.
Tipping taxi driver is again optional - most drivers in Edinburgh probably expect 10% or so, but in smaller places, or in non-touristy towns, most people just pay the fare displayed.

chartley

I admire Janis for finding a pub which offers all of the service I described and will still provide her with a decent meal, and presumably a drink, for £7.

If all you have is a pot of tea and a cake, then a £1 tip might be thought adequate.

However, if the standard of service provided for a proper meal has made all the difference, and the meal has been a memorable experience, then a miserly tip is an insult.

I would not think of giving less than £1 in a charity street collection, and would give more if it was something I really wanted to support.

I am always surprised at the people who leave $1 bills in museum donation boxes. How much do they think it is really worth after exchange costs?