A London eatery is under fire for imposing a £1.50 charge per diner for tablecloths and napkins, raising eyebrows among patrons.
They say it’s to cover the cost of the linen, but many folks think it’s a bit much. Plus, there’s a 9.5% service charge on top of that. Hospitality expert Steven Hesketh is worried this trend of extra charges is just going to keep growing, especially with minimum wage hikes coming soon.
He mentioned that adding more fees is like putting another nail in the coffin for the hospitality industry, which is already struggling. The extra charges are listed on the menu, but it feels a bit off to pay for something that should be included, right?
The restaurant, which opened in 2008 near Liverpool Street, markets itself as a fancy spot with “linen-topped table dining.” But consumer expert Jane Hawkes thinks it’s just crazy to ask customers to pay for the ambiance. She believes when you go out to eat, you should only be paying for your food and drinks.
Interestingly, this kind of cover charge is common in Italy, where it covers things like table linen and bread. But it’s becoming more common in the UK too. Even Harrods has jumped on the bandwagon with a £1 charge at their restaurants.
On top of that, the London Steakhouse Company also charges a £10 fee for booking certain set menus more than 48 hours in advance. They clarify that this isn’t a deposit and won’t go towards your bill, which seems a bit cheeky.
Hawkes argues that businesses should focus on making customers feel valued instead of piling on fees. She gets that the hospitality industry is having a tough time, but confusing customers with extra charges isn’t the way to go.
New laws were introduced recently to ensure tips and service charges are shared fairly among staff. But with all these new fees, Hawkes worries that customers might tip less, which could hurt the hardworking staff in the long run.
The London Steakhouse Company hasn’t commented yet, but it’s clear this situation has sparked quite a debate.