Expert: Willie Wallace - 2/21/2004

Question
I will be spending about six weeks in Scotland this Spring. What is right, fair, and reasonable tipping practice in Scotland and the rest of the UK? For restaurant meals? Taxi drivers? Hair dressers? I want to walk the line between 'penny-pinching ugly American' and 'mindless over-tipper.' Thanks!

Answer
Hi Nancy.

Tipping is an area where Americans often make mistakes in Scotland, so good for you for asking in advance.  My answer for Scotland counts for all of the UK.

Our social history shows us trying to prove each other's equality and seeking respect for a job well done.  Fair pay for a fair job, perhaps you'd say.  Unfortunately, here, like anywhere else in the world, certain jobs attract a less fair pay than others.  Sevice industries are right up there, so when somebody performs a service for you and does it well, you expect to pay for it.  This should be reflected in the amount you pay for the meal, drink, laundry service, whatever.  Sometimes though you add a bit more for special service.  

In restaurants, 10% is considered normal and you would expect to tip almost everywhere.  Not fast food joints of course, but even in a coffee shop, we would normally leave 10%.

Bars are the area where most people make a mistake.  Although as badly paid as any other job, bar staff a) don't expect tips and b) can be a little offended if offered them.  We get round this easily by offering to buy them a drink.  Usually they won't be allowed  to drink while working, so they will keep the money and put it aside for later.  This not only has the advantage of them having a drink bought, or the money if they prefer, but it is not taxable, unlike the waitresses tip.

Tipping in a taxi is a preference thing.  I always do, some don't.  I have friends who drive taxis and they certainly will not be offended when you tip them.  I'd say most people tip them.  10% is the figure again.

You would tip a hairdresser, if you felt like it, although it isn't quite so expected as the restaurant.  A man would not tip their barber.

If you stay in a hotel with porters who take your bags to the room, then you would probably tip them, even though that is exactly what their job is - taking you and your bags to the room.  If you are staying in a hotel where that happens, you have enough money to tip exactly whoever you want to :o)

You wouldn't tip anybody else, except maybe your driver/guide on a tourist trip if you REALLY liked the tour.

The tip, for anything, is usually 10%, but we would never think of leaving 10% exactly, we'd round up or slightly down, so if the bill was £19.20, we wouldn't add £1.92, we would round it down to £21.00.  If it was £18.00, we wouldn't add £1.80 we'd make it up to £20.  You probably do the same, but people would be surprised if you were scrupulously exact.

Realistically, the only places Scots tip are restaurants and taxis.  Gosh, I could have said that at the start and left out all the long winded bit before I got there.

Note: If you don't like the service, tell them and DON'T tip.  Some people in this country use the "never going back to the place" form of criticism, but the only way to improve bad places is to tell them they are bad.  Then never go back.

I hope that helps.

Cheers,

Willie Wallace
http://www.rental-cars-scotland.com