Tipping the Bar Staff in a Pub?
Mar 25th, 2007, 12:53 PM
#21
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>>>>>
you are offering some affirmation to visitors who go against the local custom.
>>>>>
for myself, i always read up on the tipping customs when i travel abroad. when i visit the US, i tip just as locals do.
however, i do not fear, dislike, condemn, or otherwise speak ill against those who come to my country and tip in a pub. it's called tolerance for foreigners.
visitors and immigrants have been 'going against local custom' for centuries. (although 'going against' is biased language....we are really just talking about doing things differently).
i have no problem with the headscarves, the turbans, those who 'go against' christianity (probably one of the strongest historical customs of my country), or anyone else who peacefully comes here to live or visit. i certainly have no problem with those who wish to give away money unnecessarily to barmen (who probably need it anyway). i have a hard time seeing why this is a problem to anyone. it's really none of my business how foreigners settle their bill, if they drink coffee instead of tea, etc.
britain has never tried to be a melting pot as some other immigrant welcoming countries have. 'going against customs' is decidedly VERY BRITISH. it's part of our culture.
for better or worse, we have never tried to establish or protect a notion of british-ness... in fact, if you listen to our leaders, we will only hear 'tolerance' as the defining british attribute.
i'm still scratching head over how tolerance for foreign behaviours is xenophobic.
but driving on the left is one custom that i would hope all foreigners mind.
you are offering some affirmation to visitors who go against the local custom.
>>>>>
for myself, i always read up on the tipping customs when i travel abroad. when i visit the US, i tip just as locals do.
however, i do not fear, dislike, condemn, or otherwise speak ill against those who come to my country and tip in a pub. it's called tolerance for foreigners.
visitors and immigrants have been 'going against local custom' for centuries. (although 'going against' is biased language....we are really just talking about doing things differently).
i have no problem with the headscarves, the turbans, those who 'go against' christianity (probably one of the strongest historical customs of my country), or anyone else who peacefully comes here to live or visit. i certainly have no problem with those who wish to give away money unnecessarily to barmen (who probably need it anyway). i have a hard time seeing why this is a problem to anyone. it's really none of my business how foreigners settle their bill, if they drink coffee instead of tea, etc.
britain has never tried to be a melting pot as some other immigrant welcoming countries have. 'going against customs' is decidedly VERY BRITISH. it's part of our culture.
for better or worse, we have never tried to establish or protect a notion of british-ness... in fact, if you listen to our leaders, we will only hear 'tolerance' as the defining british attribute.
i'm still scratching head over how tolerance for foreign behaviours is xenophobic.
but driving on the left is one custom that i would hope all foreigners mind.
Mar 25th, 2007, 01:29 PM
#22
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My how things have changed over the years. In th old days OK late 1970's early 1980's. You would go to your local pub and no you would not tip the barmaid. Most of the bar staff in those days were ladies. If you were feeling in a good mood, or if I was one of the betting lads who had just come up lucky on the horses. Also during xams and new yaer if you had a favourite you might offer them a drink for the new year. You would say to the barmaid and have one yourself. They were allowed to have a drink in them days. Then as more and more pubs were taken over by the big brewries and times changed they were not allowed to have a drink. So you would still said ( once in a blue moon) have one yourself,but they would reply I am not allowed a drink but I can take the money for one, say thanks put the money aside and take any tips home with them. This does not happen very often these days. Some of the town bars that tend not to be pubs as such but bars with Dj's or trendy music and cocktails as well as your normal beers still get people tipping, not a lot thou.
It depends on the rules of the manger as to how that works. Some let you keep your own tips, some have a jar that all the tips go in and they get shared between all the bar staff and the end of the night. My son works in one of these types of trendy places, he has worked in a few plain pubs and bars. If he comes home with any tips it is very rare and he is so pleased. He tells me that most of the tips seem to oome from 2 sources. Music people that are in town for a big gig like the rolling stones crew, or Americians on a visit who insit on giving a tip.
It depends on the rules of the manger as to how that works. Some let you keep your own tips, some have a jar that all the tips go in and they get shared between all the bar staff and the end of the night. My son works in one of these types of trendy places, he has worked in a few plain pubs and bars. If he comes home with any tips it is very rare and he is so pleased. He tells me that most of the tips seem to oome from 2 sources. Music people that are in town for a big gig like the rolling stones crew, or Americians on a visit who insit on giving a tip.
Mar 25th, 2007, 02:24 PM
#24
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Goodness, you're busy with arguments today, walkinaround! I tend to agree with you about how to manage on narrow single carriageways, but I think we are going to remain divided about overtipping in bars.
You advocate tolerance, and I am still with you. It is a good thing, and should be encouraged.
But here we diverge.
First, I do not believe that all your compatriots are as tolerant as you are, and if one visits Britain one should be prepared for the possibility of intolerance (I think it less common than in some other places, but it is not absent).
Second, it's a two-way street. I see tolerance and respect as being inextricably linked. If you fail to show respect, you are less likely to receive it.
True, the average barman is unlikely to resent it if you give him an enexpected gift of, say £2. But I don't think he will necessarily respect you more for it; there is a chance he will respect you less, considering you to be an idiot, or flash, or just out of tune.
Being Irish, it is easier for me to relate to an Irish barman's reaction, but it might not differ greatly from an English one: he would pocket the money, thinking (and maybe saying to me) "Bloody Americans. They throw money about as if we needed it and they didn't". On the other side, I have heard Irish restaurant workers grumble about French and German visitors because they do not tip at the 10% level that is the custom here.
You have indicated that your personal policy is to find out the local custom and observe it. In my opinion, there is no better way.
To tip less than a service provider's reasonable expectations is bad. To tip more is almost as bad.
You advocate tolerance, and I am still with you. It is a good thing, and should be encouraged.
But here we diverge.
First, I do not believe that all your compatriots are as tolerant as you are, and if one visits Britain one should be prepared for the possibility of intolerance (I think it less common than in some other places, but it is not absent).
Second, it's a two-way street. I see tolerance and respect as being inextricably linked. If you fail to show respect, you are less likely to receive it.
True, the average barman is unlikely to resent it if you give him an enexpected gift of, say £2. But I don't think he will necessarily respect you more for it; there is a chance he will respect you less, considering you to be an idiot, or flash, or just out of tune.
Being Irish, it is easier for me to relate to an Irish barman's reaction, but it might not differ greatly from an English one: he would pocket the money, thinking (and maybe saying to me) "Bloody Americans. They throw money about as if we needed it and they didn't". On the other side, I have heard Irish restaurant workers grumble about French and German visitors because they do not tip at the 10% level that is the custom here.
You have indicated that your personal policy is to find out the local custom and observe it. In my opinion, there is no better way.
To tip less than a service provider's reasonable expectations is bad. To tip more is almost as bad.
Mar 25th, 2007, 02:30 PM
#25
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Don't tip anyone. I never do.
Example of why I don't tip taxi drivers
I was in a taxi last night with friends from a hotel to a wedding.
Distance was half a mile.
We ordered a taxi.cost £5.00 My mate who sat in the front picked up the bill and tipped the driver £1.
Mrs Muck and friends mrs decided to nip back to hotel to change after the wedding. They scrounged a lift there and got a taxi back. Same distance still mid afternoon cost £3.50.
Other friends arrive at hotel ordered taxi same places and same distance . Cost £8. Late evening taxi back to hotel same distance but after 1am cost £16. Taxi drivers are thieving leaches and make it up as they go along. DO NOT TIP THESE PEOPLE.
Why didn't I complain? Too much guinness I'm afraid..lol
Rant over.
Muck
Example of why I don't tip taxi drivers
I was in a taxi last night with friends from a hotel to a wedding.
Distance was half a mile.
We ordered a taxi.cost £5.00 My mate who sat in the front picked up the bill and tipped the driver £1.
Mrs Muck and friends mrs decided to nip back to hotel to change after the wedding. They scrounged a lift there and got a taxi back. Same distance still mid afternoon cost £3.50.
Other friends arrive at hotel ordered taxi same places and same distance . Cost £8. Late evening taxi back to hotel same distance but after 1am cost £16. Taxi drivers are thieving leaches and make it up as they go along. DO NOT TIP THESE PEOPLE.
Why didn't I complain? Too much guinness I'm afraid..lol
Rant over.
Muck
Mar 26th, 2007, 01:06 AM
#26
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In Dublin AND London, I always give a small tip for "table service" - ie if someone takes your order at a table away from the bar. This is common practice in Ireland.
I have never left change on the bar for the bar man and I have never said "have one yourself" to the barman. I have seen tip jars in American style bars - ie you tip then they bang a gong or something - but I can't for the life of me remeber where exactly.
I have never left change on the bar for the bar man and I have never said "have one yourself" to the barman. I have seen tip jars in American style bars - ie you tip then they bang a gong or something - but I can't for the life of me remeber where exactly.
Mar 26th, 2007, 03:15 AM
#27
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Lawchick wrote: "I have seen tip jars in American style bars - ie you tip then they bang a gong or something - but I can't for the life of me remeber where exactly."
That figures. Something happens in bars that plays havoc with the memory.
That figures. Something happens in bars that plays havoc with the memory.
Mar 26th, 2007, 11:02 AM
#34
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I had forgotten all about this but the swansea to cork ferry had avery smal irish bar on the ferry. It was run by an old man that looked like an old sea dog I think he was Polish. If any one tipped him he had a big bell he would ring. Poeple use to tip him just to watch him ring his bell.
Mar 27th, 2007, 11:42 PM
#38
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thank you finally. those who have advised not to tip in uk or ireland pubs have obviously never worked in the hospitality trade. bartenders and waitresses alike really appreciate tips, after working their asses off and getting treated like second grade citizens or stood on in busy bars or knocked into by drunks without apologies. If someone leaves a tip or gets a drink in for the bartender (which hey is a little more common than those "non-tippers" think) they will always get singled out and served first the next time...your choice...
Mar 28th, 2007, 03:18 AM
#39
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The whole concept that some barman will be somehow upset or insulted because a patron left him an extra quid or two is laughable. I can understand that it will certainly not be expected and that he will not be at all offended if one does NOT tip. Are you really saying that a barman will think a person daft for leaving a little something for good service?
Mar 28th, 2007, 03:35 AM
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Padraig:
I'll tell you what is "wrong with respecting the local custom"..
very simple...when I hear things like don't spoil people by tipping them and other <b>rubbish</b> like that I figure it is coming from someone, perhaps you? who has never had to work for a tip, OK?
Slavery was once the "local custom" and when peoiple figured out they shouldn't "respect it" things actually improved.
Now, if you don't like my answer I'm sorry but that's the way it is.
I'll tell you what is "wrong with respecting the local custom"..
very simple...when I hear things like don't spoil people by tipping them and other <b>rubbish</b> like that I figure it is coming from someone, perhaps you? who has never had to work for a tip, OK?
Slavery was once the "local custom" and when peoiple figured out they shouldn't "respect it" things actually improved.
Now, if you don't like my answer I'm sorry but that's the way it is.
