Marco Pierre White’s London Steakhouse is under fire for a new £1.50 napkin charge, sparking outrage among diners and industry experts alike
London: So, Marco Pierre White’s London Steakhouse is getting some serious heat lately. They’ve decided to slap a £1.50 charge on napkins and tablecloths. Can you believe that?
People dining at the Liverpool Street spot will see this fee pop up on their bills. They say it’s to cover the cost of linens, plus there’s a 9.5% service charge on top of that. Yikes!
This whole thing seems to be part of a trend where restaurants are sneaking in extra fees to deal with rising costs. It’s a tough time for the industry, and this isn’t helping.
Oh, and get this: they also charge a £10 fee if you book certain set menus more than 48 hours in advance. That’s a bit much, right?
Hospitality expert Steven Hesketh weighed in, saying these extra charges are just making things worse for the industry. He’s not wrong there.
Consumer expert Jane Hawkes also chimed in, saying it’s unfair to hit customers with fees for things that should be included. When you go out to eat, you expect to pay for your food and drinks, not extra charges.
The restaurant started as Lanes Restaurant & Bar back in 2003 and became the London Steakhouse with White’s help in 2008. They claim to focus on proper dining with a personal touch.
But diners on Twitter are not having it. One person tweeted that this is why restaurants are closing down, calling it stealing from customers. Another suggested they should just raise menu prices instead of adding these annoying fees.