The Surprising Addition of a Service Charge for Bar Drinks
After a much-anticipated night out at a well-known brasserie in Soho, my partner and I experienced something a bit unexpected when ordering drinks at the bar. We requested a simple cocktail and a beer, only to find a 12.5% service charge neatly included on our bill. This led us to ponder—a service charge usually relates to table service, right? So, what exactly justifies this additional cost here?
We began questioning whether this fee was indeed for the bartender’s skill in crafting our beverages. It seems as though tipping customs are becoming somewhat imposed in certain places, and it’s becoming a concerning trend. When you’re already splashing out £15 for a cocktail and £7 for a beer that doesn’t even fill a pint glass, adding a service charge feels excessive.
Admittedly, this happened at The Ivy brasserie in Soho, yet it’s fair to assume that this practice isn’t unique to this location. Have we reached a point where dining out in the city has become increasingly unreasonable due to these hidden costs?
Exploring the potential reasons behind this charge made me reflect more broadly on how dining etiquette is evolving. Can we really justify such automatic fees, especially when service isn’t at a high table-side level? It’s a debate worth having as we navigate the modern dining landscape.