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4w ago

London Pubs Start Adding 4% ‘Optional’ Bar Charge as Practice Spreads

The fee is added automatically on card payments, requiring customers to ask for it to be taken off.

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Customers have to opt out of the bar service charge, which some find awkward

Overview

  • The Well & Boot at Waterloo station applies a 4% charge to bar-ordered food and drink, with signage stating the venue is cashless and that all tips go to staff.
  • A pint listed at £7.65 rises to £7.95 once the fee is included, and a £12.50 cocktail carries a 50p add-on.
  • The same 4% ‘optional’ bar charge has been reported at other London pubs, including the Prince Alfred in Bayswater.
  • Consumer advocates Martin Quinn and Martyn James criticised the practice as inappropriate for bar service and awkward to opt out of in a country where pub tipping is uncommon.
  • Payment firm SumUp reports a two-year rise in pubs prompting bar tips, reflecting cost and staffing pressures across hospitality, while owner Glendola Leisure has not publicly explained the change.