How Much Do You Tip a Barperson

In an English pub in England?

It used to be 10 pence, no matter the size of the order. Some tipped, some didn’t. If someone told you to have one yourself, you put 10 pence in a jar. I’m wondering how much it’s changed.

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SW-User

When were you last in a pub in England? I think tipping someone 10p would be seen as an insult. Most people generally just say keep the change, otherwise they don’t tip unless they have food

Carissimi · 70-79, F

I worked in several English pubs when I was younger. The tip was always 10 p. @SW-User

Carissimi · 70-79, F

@SW-User So no tipping if you just go in for drinks? It’s changed then.

SW-User

@Carissimi no, unless you just let them keep the change

SW-User

I've never tipped a barman in pub. Maybe told them to keep the change if it's a few coins or asked if they want a drink, but not very often.

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MartinII · 70-79, M

@Carissimi Yes, that’s certainly true, and seems to have died out now, not least because few barpeople nowadays drink on duty. But in my experience the barperson had to specify the drink they would have, and pour it and charge for it, or alternatively say no thank you. They might say they’d have 10p’s worth of beer (beer was cheap in those days!) but they couldn’t pocket the 10p, it had to go in the till. At least, that’s my recollection.

Carissimi · 70-79, F

It was rare for anyone to actually buy us a drink, even when they said, “have one for yourself.” We all knew we were to take 10P out of the change, and place it in our tip jar. That custom was just something all bar staff knew, and so did the customers. @MartinII

MartinII · 70-79, M

@Carissimi Different tradition where I was brought up. Different region, different pubs, who knows.

MartinII · 70-79, M

It wouldn’t be normal to tip if you had been served at the bar. As an aside, one of my local pubs recently became card only. But there is a jar on the bar marked “tips”! I don’t think it’s used very much.

Carissimi · 70-79, F

Things have changed if you don’t tip at the bar now. @MartinII

Freeranger · M

Call me direct I suppose but, were it me, I'd lean back in my chair and ask another patron, explaining you were visiting and unaware of how it works.
I'm perfectly willing to, I certainly want to leave on decent terms.

Carissimi · 70-79, F

I do that when I’m in a foreign country, but I’m asking to see if it’s changed since I lived and worked there. Apparently, it had. They don’t tip bar staff anymore, like they used to back in my day. @Freeranger

Freeranger · M

@Carissimi Ah, well then, if anything I suppose it's the ago old observation that nothing lasts forever and that everything is subject to change.

Carissimi · 70-79, F

I’m surprised that tipping the barman/barmaid went by the wayside. @Freeranger

smiler2012 · 56-60

{@carissimi] 😄 i always think it is right to give the water a tip as you leave . 😄 look both ways when you cross the road

Carissimi · 70-79, F

I’ll be sure to remind my tap before it takes its daily walk. 😉@smiler2012

SW-User

Half a shilling

Carissimi · 70-79, F

No, that’s 6d or 2.5 pence. At the very least it was 10 P. Did you write that with an English accent? 😉@SW-User

lumberjackslam · 41-45, M

👍

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