General Discussion

as US culture has unfortunately infected UK life and shit is so expensive here. But only in some respects and I believe it might be a bit of a hangover from Covid rules (but Brits or longer term residents can correct me if I’m wrong).
I work part time in a pub. We don’t get tips, but I make over £12/hour and occasionally patrons will offer to buy us a drink. Great, awesome, we appreciate it.
I go to a pub and order a meal and drink at the bar- no tip. But I might leave £1 on the table for whomever brings out the meal. Maybe I do, maybe I don’t.
My partner and I go to nice, sit down restaurants about twice a month. Sometimes 10% is added to the bill, which we pay no problem. If it’s not, we generally add it ourselves. But again, this is discretionary and only in nicer establishments where the service/food is top notch. I refuse to tip in cafes and the like. Tipping culture in the US is absurd.

We just got back from France and did not tip. Same when I was in Spain in May or if I’m in Italy. In the Netherlands or Germany, I’ll round my change up (so if the bill is 18.80€, I’ll leave 20€).

I’m going to Croatia in October and we’ll figure out what to do before we go.


I’ll never forget being in a bar at Newark airport before the last flights to the UK and Ireland were set to leave. The bartender was run ragged and nobody tipped. I felt so sorry for the guy, I tipped him $100- but this was back when I had a good paying job in the US and could afford it!