Leaving a Gratuity?

As an American I was raised to tip for certain services - hair dressers, taxi drivers, wait staff/bartenders, et cetera - and now in the UK I'm a little unclear on who and how much one should tip. I know it's not a gratuity-based economy, that employees are (hopefully?) paid a living wage but my BF implied it's becoming more common but there's no standard.

What do you guys think? Do you leave tips? Under what circumstances? How much?

I'm dying to know a great & detailed answer to this!

Years ago, I worked as a bartender. I lived off my tips and because of that, I am a generous "tipper". However, in the UK I realize this is not the same practice. But when my husband and I go out to eat, that's where things get weird. I want to leave a tip, but he claims "you don't have to". That's too unclear for me. You don't have to or you just don't do it? I can't expect him to feel the need to tip as I do so I feel like he's not the best person to ask... bless him

I nearly tipped a bartender in the UK and he said something similar "you don't have to, but you can if you'd like". So I did! Only to have him chase me down to give me my change... which confused me even more.

There have been a few threads regarding the subject of tipping in the UK (although I haven't got time to find them right now). It's not really customary to tip in the UK, at least not like it is in the US. In general though, who to tip and how much is an individual thing and so it's different for different people.

I'm a Brit and I tip the following:

- Restaurants/Sit down meals: 10-15% (usually 10% or I round up the bill amount to an even number)
- Hairdressers: I don't tip (other people do though)
- Taxis: I don't tip
- Bartenders: I don't tip (I believe it's customary to offer the bartender 'and a drink for yourself' rather than give a straight-out tip)

we always tip at a restaurant, I would stick to 10-20 % but my husband (the brit) spent years working in pubs and so he tends to tip quite well, too well if you ask me... He once left a £15 tip on a £30 meal cause the waiter was expecting a new baby. he didn't understand my point when I said so are we...

he also tends to tip taxi drivers by rounding up to the nearest note, I will round to the nearest pound, mostly because I can't be bothered to get change. although if they make me listen to a blaring radio or talk on their phones while I'm in the car I will count the pennies

My friend (british), never tips for anything. She says that she doesn't get tipped in her job, why should they...

so I'd say it depends. It isn't expected, and I use the same criteria as in the states. Couple of quid for a hair cut, 20 ish percent of the bill for a meal with good service.

There have been a few threads regarding the subject of tipping in the UK (although I haven't got time to find them right now).

I did a cursory search but I mostly found things about people whose jobs in the US included earning gratuities and general advice (non-gratuity "tips"), not information on tipping in the UK

- Restaurants/Sit down meals: 10-15% (usually 10% or I round up the bill amount to an even number)
- Hairdressers: I don't tip (other people do though)
- Taxis: I don't tip
- Bartenders: I don't tip (I believe it's customary to offer the bartender 'and a drink for yourself' rather than give a straight-out tip)

Ta!

I agree, 10% at a restaurant, none at a pub that serves food though. I only tip the hairdresser if I'm very happy with the cut, and even then only a pound. If the taxi fare is quite close to a round number (e.g. £4.50) I might just round up (e.g. to a fiver), but only if the driver was extra friendly or we were a large group or other unusual circumstances. I've never tipped a bartender here, but then again, I don't think I ever tipped a bartender in the US either!

Threads on tipping:
http://talk.uk-yankee.com/index.php?topic=11087.0
http://talk.uk-yankee.com/index.php?topic=39511.0
http://talk.uk-yankee.com/index.php?topic=56561.0
http://talk.uk-yankee.com/index.php?topic=54877.0

Advanced search usually works better than normal search. Also best to search tips or tipping rather than gratuities, as that expression doesn't tend to get used here.

I had searched under tipping and gratuity/ies but subjected it this way to clear up the ambiguity of the word "tip".

Thank you for the list of previous threads.

I tip 10% for table service but not if we order at the bar.  I tip quite generously for haircuts but that's just me.

I tip at restaurants if the service is good and/or the server is nice and I tend to tip taxi drivers to save faffing around for small change.  Don't tip anywhere else. 

I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THIS THREAD!!!!  I know there are others, but I'm going to post to this one.

I'm a Brit and I tip the following:

- Restaurants/Sit down meals: 10-15% (usually 10% or I round up the bill amount to an even number)
- Hairdressers: I don't tip (other people do though)
- Taxis: I don't tip
- Bartenders: I don't tip (I believe it's customary to offer the bartender 'and a drink for yourself' rather than give a straight-out tip)

I understand you're a Brit, but I have a question for you.  Why don't you tip hairdressers or taxi drivers?  I know that I'm trying to understand the UK culture more and it's a slightly harder for me to grasp because I work in a service-related industry in the US.  Can you please elaborate?  Thanks! 

Oh, and I love your advice on tipping bartenders.  It's a fair amount and they don't have to buy the drink if they don't want.

I understand you're a Brit, but I have a question for you.  Why don't you tip hairdressers or taxi drivers?  I know that I'm trying to understand the UK culture more and it's a slightly harder for me to grasp because I work in a service-related industry in the US.  Can you please elaborate?  Thanks!  

To be honest, I have no idea! My main reasoning is that I can't afford to tip (I've been either a student or working in a low-paid retail job for the last 9 years and I can barely afford the haircut/taxi fare itself, let alone a tip on top of that too) and usually the hairdressers and taxi drivers actually earn more than I do!

Oh, and I love your advice on tipping bartenders.  It's a fair amount and they don't have to buy the drink if they don't want.

That one isn't really my personal advice (as I've never actually done it myself) - it's just something that's 'done' in the UK (http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/alabaster/A640018):

United Kingdom

All British people know this: you do not tip cash at the bar in a pub. If you are impressed with the barkeep's service, you can offer to buy them a drink. Such an offer will be genuinely appreciated, even though it may not be accepted. If it is, the barkeep might take the tip in the form of cash to 'have one [a drink] later'. This will generally be for half a pint of beer, or a small measure of spirits - you would not expect them to take for a larger drink unless you specifically asked them to.

It seems to be a grey area whether to tip for meals served in a pub. Generally, you have to decide whether a particular establishment is a pub that serves food (don't tip) or a restaurant with a bar (do tip).

To be honest, I have no idea! My main reasoning is that I can't afford to tip (I've been either a student or working in a low-paid retail job for the last 9 years and I can barely afford the haircut/taxi fare itself, a tip on top of that too) and usually the hairdressers and taxi drivers actually earn more than I do!

Bless your heart.   And thank you for your honesty.  Even in the US where our wages basically come straight from our tips, I always feel bad for those who probably "can't" tip.  As a waitress (and full-time student) I can usually spot the students.  I don't feel bad if I don't get a good tip because I understand it's tough. 

Just remember after you get your degree, are making some £, and travel to the US, to tip us well....only if we serve you well.

Do hairdressers work on an hourly wage?  I know taxi drivers definitely do not.

I tip everyone but bartenders. Especially taxi drivers because my husband told me they are the ones that always get a tip. And I just learned recently that when a restaurant adds a "service charge" that the servers dont get this so I tip on top of it. Only about 10% but I hate them not getting something.

I tip everyone but bartenders. Especially taxi drivers because my husband told me they are the ones that always get a tip. And I just learned recently that when a restaurant adds a "service charge" that the servers dont get this so I tip on top of it. Only about 10% but I hate them not getting something.

  My fiance drives taxi and I might be a little biased, but I will always tip taxi drivers in the UK because of the cost of diesel/petrol alone.  However, if they take you on a route you know is incorrect, then they can forget the tip...

Also, I was told that service charges are not mandatory and can be reversed in cases of poor service.  Is this true?