Hacker News Reader

Definitely changing that though, esp over last 10 years. Many pubs in London (and increasingly other areas) will put an "optional" 12.5% for service for food, especially if they have a "dining area" off the main bar. It's also increasingly common for pubs to have people asking if you'd like another drink, and charging you 12.5% for the pleasure - this seems to be a lingering effect after covid where you couldn't go to the bar to order.

> Barstaff don't get tips in the UK.

At least when food comes into it they may do, quite a lot of tips where my brother worked a few years back (pooled and shared between bar & kitchen staff). Nothing like the US though indeed.

Fair point. I'm looking at this from an American point of view, and I forgot that wait staff in the UK get paid actual wages unlike in the US.