Gordon Ramsay has introduced a discretionary service charge of 20 per cent at his upscale Lucky Cat restaurant in London, marking a shift towards US-style tipping. The charge was applied to the New Year's Eve menu, where dishes such as Japanese A5 sirloin cost £138 and a chef's selection of sushi £140.
The menu's small print states: “A 20 per cent discretionary service charge will be added to your bill.” Ramsay typically charges 15 per cent at most of his establishments, while other renowned chefs like Marco Pierre White charge 10 per cent and Rick Stein 12.5 per cent.
Niaz Caan, chef at award-winning Paro in Covent Garden, called the 20 per cent charge “exorbitant” but acknowledged it might be justified on New Year's Eve. He noted that while discretionary charges help incentivise good service, mandatory tipping goes against that purpose.
The move reflects a broader trend of UK restaurants adding automatic service charges, driven by rising costs including minimum wage increases, business rates, and energy bills. A UKHospitality survey found one in five hospitality businesses fear collapse within a year.
UKHospitality chair Kate Nicholls said 100 per cent of tips go to staff, but social media users criticised the practice, with one calling it “a disgrace” and urging higher wages instead.
