Revealed: Wales among the UK’s most generous tipping regions

Tipping points: Study reveals Brits dig deeper after lockdown

– A third of Brits are more inclined to tip restaurant staff than before the pandemic 
– One in five will leave a tip between 16% – 20% of the bill

A new study1 carried out by workforce management platform, Planday, reveals that a third (32%) of adults intend to dig deeper when it comes to tipping restaurant staff this year – due to the industry-wide struggles caused by the lockdowns.

The study reveals Brits have embraced a sense of generosity post-lockdown, with one in five (19%) leaving a tip of between 16%-20% of the overall bill when going for a meal, whilst almost half will tip their waiter between 6% – 10% of the bill. 

On average, those surveyed expect to spend £40 at a restaurant, with an average tip on top of this of 8% of the bill (£3.20). 

With nearly one in three (31%) people expected to visit restaurants at least once a week throughout the summer months, that’s more than 16 million people spending an average of £40 on a weekly basis and leaving an average tip of 8% – from these weekly visitors alone, the UK hospitality sector could welcome nearly half a billion pounds in tips through the summer.

As the pandemic fuelled the nation’s transition to an almost completely cashless society, a previous Planday study2 revealed that the use of contactless payments, apps and QR codes has had a dramatic effect on tipping culture. More than a quarter of those surveyed (28%) said they believe tipping is now far easier than before the pandemic. The main reasons people said they prefer ‘digital tipping’ are; speed (48%), less awkwardness (37%), less interaction with waiting staff (37%) and anonymity (25%). 

Kevin Ryan, expert in hospitality industry operations at Planday commented: “Digitisation is set to continue to play a big role in the dining industry, and it’s great news that some of the barriers to tipping have been knocked down with the focus shifting to apps and QR codes, Long may it continue. Not only easing the stress for customers, technology such as rota templates and staff scheduling apps simplify processes for managers and restaurant owners.” 

Taking a closer look at the regions with the most post-pandemic generosity in the UK, Greater London and Northern Ireland came out on top (40% each), followed by Wales (39%):

1. Greater London (40%)
2. Northern Ireland (40%)
3. Wales (39%)
4. South East (34%)
5. Scotland (34%)

Kevin added: “It’s fascinating to see how people’s habits and attitudes towards tipping have altered since the start of the pandemic, and it’s brilliant to see how keen Brits are to show their support for the hard workers in the industry. Hospitality staff have taken a huge hit when it comes to loss of earnings during the pandemic, and it’s heartening to discover so many people are keen to give back when they can.”

For more information on Planday, visit: www.planday.com