London Hotel Etiquette Question...
 

Hello, I was hoping to get the consensus about a question regarding hotel etiquette in London:

I booked a flight and hotel package which includes complimentary breakfast daily. I don't know what the general tipping policy in London hotels are and what the expected etiquette is.

Since the breakfast is complimentary, there won't be a bill for the server to add automatic gratuity to, or for me to tack on an extra tip. Instead, should I tip them some cash each time they drop off the breakfast to our room, or is it more polite to leave one large amount at check-out?

Thanks for your help!

In Britain, you seldom tip someone for just doing their job. You might tip someone if they provide service beyond the normal.

My questions would be. How many people in the room are having breakfast? Is this a breakfast normally served in the hotel restaurant but brought to the room at your request? Is it a pre-packed breakfast left outside the door, or a full cooked breakfast served on a silver tray by a flunky? What sort of hotel are you staying in? Are you fussy, or do you accept what you are given?

If this is your first visit to Britain, you will find enough to adapt to without worrying about tipping etiquette at breakfast. Nobody will insult you or chase you down the road because you failed to tip at breakfast.

What we do is wait until checking out.
We ask, "Do you have a staff box?"
Often, an actual box will be produced.

Still, as Chartley says, nobody is going to chase you down the road.

If it's a full English in the dining room, it willprobably be buffet so no one to tip.I never order room service so can't comment on that.

"We ask, "Do you have a staff box?""

We don't.

Nice people like Miss Prism, if she's away on one of on her dirty weekends with Canon C, sometimes ask that, just in case one of the other parishioners is in town too and might mention seeing them together in the church magazine. It's sort of a sacrifice to allay Fate.

But the rest of us don't, unless there was really stellar service.

The simple answer, I believe is:

- Guests in hotels don't normally tip at breakfast, wherever it's served (nor do you tip in the greasy spoon next door where a far better brekkie's sold at a quarter the price)unless there's been something extraordinary.
- If for some reason (like getting off a sleeper train and having breakfast in the station hotel) you pay cash for a table-served breakfast in a full-featured hotel, you leave a tip in the usual way.

I agree with what has been said above about taking breakfast in the breakfast room - no tip. BUT... the OP specifically said "...should I tip them some cash each time they drop off the breakfast to our room..." If I was having the breakfast sent up as room service, I'd normally tip the person that brings it a quid, provided they brought it on time.

Who are these people who pay for brekkie in a British hotel?

Are they made of money?

Nice people like Miss Prism, if she's away on one of on her dirty weekends with Canon C, sometimes ask that

Expect a letter from that nice Mr. Carter-Ruck.
It is quite obvious in my friend Mr. Wilde's play that the Canon's intentions are honourable.

IME, it never hurts to leave a Euro or so tip, on the bkfst tray or table, to show appreciation.

I have had staff give me a bit of extra service because I left them a little something.

OTOH, I have had people give me dirty looks because they thought I should have given them more. :)

((I))

Don't leave a Euro in the UK though....

"Who are these people who pay for brekkie in a British hotel?
Are they made of money?"

The shareholders are. So they're the ones that pay.

And bloody well should, if I've spent the night on a train to make an 8 am Edinburgh meeting for the sake of their profits. Think how much they've saved on a room for the night.

Spent the night on a train to Edinburgh for an 8am meeting?

Every once in a while I realise why I work in the public sector.

Expect a letter from that nice Mr. Carter-Ruck.>>>>

Could you check the return address 'cos I want to make sure he's in hell (he's dead you see).

Re above:
<i>"If it's a full English in the dining room, it willprobably be buffet so no one to tip."</i>
I disagree -- what about those who clear your table?

I do agree with Ira, we always leave some change and feel it's good karma. If we're fortunate enough to be on holiday, we can afford to leave a modest gratuity.

"we always leave some change and feel it's good karma""

"IME, it never hurts to leave a Euro or so tip"

What have either of these interesting insights got to do with the question?

The question was "what's the etiquette in Britain?" Which is: don't tip.

No doubt we're crude and heartless.

But at least we know the difference between answering a question and giving a lecture that just ignores it.

CW asked: "Who are these people who pay for brekkie in a British hotel? Are they made of money?"

I have had breakfast in a number of British hotels, and never paid for it. Some high percentage of hotel breakfasts are included in accommodation deals and might fairly be seen as complementary (as, it appears, is the situation with OP).

As to etiquette: I would not tip in a breakfast room, for fear I be taken for an American. I would probably give a £1 tip for room service if I were ever to use it.

have had breakfast in a number of British hotels, and never paid for it.>>>>

What we’re talking about is trolling in of the street and ordering, and paying for, brekkie. And that is simply mental.

Given the current exchange rate of Euro vs Sterling, I tend to slip the waitress (if her looks qualify) a 50 pound note when giving her my room number in the breakfast room. And arrange for late check-out at the reception afterwards. Not sure if that qualifies as tip, though.

Cowboy, those women aren’t waitresses.

NOW you tell me!

Just make sure you're wearing your party hat.