Tipping in Great Britain (or more specifically, England).

[R_J_K75]

I tipped mine on Monday. 20%

I used to go to one specific artist exclusively. He was really cheap, and I never left or saw anyone else leave without an unfinished tattoo. Of course, large pieces would take more sessions. For years he had a sign up saying he charged $150/hr. but he never did, and most sittings were 3-4 hours. I never paid more than $100 for any tattoo because I always tipped him usually $40-$50.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

I remember going to that shop a number of times and not only was it cramped but I remember it being rather dusty as well with all sorts of books stuffed into racks.

These days the shop off Leicester Square has improved the number of people you can now fit it there by adding a second floor. Although when they originally did this upgrade they used some industrial looking metal grating for the floor and didn't give any thought about being able to see up onto that level. These days the floor is I think a thick opaque plastic that preserves the modesty of the upper floor shoppers.

It's still pokey, even with the 2nd floor. But I guess it's a good spot, it must have been there the best part of 50 years.

But the trend these days seems to be towards the game café, which provides a venue then makes money selling refreshments to the gamers.

 

[Dioltach]

Orc’s Nest is certainly best suited to very tiny orcs!

As they grow, they probably flee the Nest.

 

[Ruin Explorer]

I would say tipping for served or delivered food, isn't even always expected, or at least it wasn't until say after 2020. If you have good service/food you might have left 10%, or just throw a few extra quid/£5 on the table after playing the bill. With large group yes it was expected. Now as we have moved cashless it is getting common for restaurants to add 10% to 15% to the bill as a service charge. Not used JustEat or Uber Eats, normally just order direct, and drivers for the local Indian or Dominos, don't seem to expect a tip and I've never given one.

Back when I was getting taxis, it was usually just keep the change (rounding to the nearest £1, no idea what it is like in the cashless society we live in now.

I mean, I would disagree that it wasn't always expected, but I'm coming at it from a upper-middle-class inner Londoner perspective, and it probably varies a lot across the country and even between inner London and the suburbs. In fact I know from living in Manchester for a while that people were pretty shocked by tips of any kind so it definitely does vary across the country. From my perspective it's bad manners/déclassé to not tip food service/delivery. I literally won't order delivery if I don't have money for a tip (even if it's just a couple of quid).

EDIT - I just want to note this "I literally won't order delivery if I don't have money for a tip" is such an "old man" thing to say but I am in mid-40s so there we are!

For clarification though from my perspective one doesn't normally tip people who just give you stuff from behind a counter - which is most coffee places.

Oh yeah and agree on hairdressers/barbers - I often tip more like 20% if I genuinely like the one in question and they reliably do a good job (as my current one does) - I even get out cash to make sure I can get it to them directly.

 

[General_Tangent]

It's still pokey, even with the 2nd floor. But I guess it's a good spot, it must have been there the best part of 50 years.

But the trend these days seems to be towards the game café, which provides a venue then makes money selling refreshments to the gamers.

It's only been 40 years , the second oldest games shop in London

 

[Paul Farquhar]

It's only been 40 years , the second oldest games shop in London

So which is the oldest?

 

[Bagpuss]

What about tattoo artists, do people there tip them?

Never had a tattoo, or know that many people with them to know what the convention is.

 

[R_J_K75]

Never had a tattoo, or know that many people with them to know what the convention is.

People in my circle, and myself who have gotten tattoos all tip the artist. I can't say if it's even common anywhere than where I live, but it is here.

 

[General_Tangent]

So which is the oldest?

Leisure Games opened 1985, a few months before Orcs Nest.

 

[Clint_L]

People in my circle, and myself who have gotten tattoos all tip the artist. I can't say if it's even common anywhere than where I live, but it is here.

It's the norm everywhere, I think. You're hiring an artist to work on your body. If I'm going to tip my barber, I'm definitely going to tip my tattoo artist.

What bugs me is suggesting that I should tip for retail service, like buying a game from a FLGS. I specifically go to my FLGSs in order to support them; I think they bring a lot of value to the community. Generally, I could buy online for less. So it's probably not a great idea to further incentivize me to avoid going into a shop.