Service standards in the UK

[Viney]

This weekend we went out for something to eat. Once on Saturday evening, and the other yesterday, and i was totaly suprised by the complete lack of good service in this country.

1st off was a Chinese place in China town. Now, i know they are renowned for thier dodgy service, but the food is great. So we sort of put up with that, also we dont want to meet with the triads!!

However, yesterday took the biscuit. There where 4 of us, and we decided to pop into a pub in Greenwich (The Yacht) for a spot of lunch. We didnt order anything to complicated. A couple of sandwichies, and a burger. We where told half and hour to 40 mins. No problem, we, at the time, wasnt in any rush. An hour and a half later, we are still waiting, and after being told 10 mins, at least 4 times, the food arrived. Only, after being told an hour and a half later that they had no burger buns, so is a couple of slices of bread ok!!

So, verna, being verna, complained. The attitude from the 'waiter' was unbelieveable. Telling us it wasnt thier fault, Sunday is the busiest time, and that if they dont briong the food out togehter then 'people like us' complained. Then another girl came over, and he told her the story using the same sort of words. She, was pleasnt, and sorted us a part re-fund which we accepted, but this little git was on borrowed time.

So, i ask you people out there in SV land, stand up for bad service in this country, complain if you think its bad. If you where american, you wouldnt stand for it.

[gettin2dizzy]

If you where american, you wouldnt stand for it.
You shoot them!

[Viney]

Give me a gun, and i would. Falling down Styleeeee

[Ceri JC]

Yes, service in this country is generally pretty appalling unless you go to fairly pricey restaurants and even then you're not guaranteed that it's going to be any where near as good as in some $4 American buffet diner. A few chains (Pizza Express being one) seem to consistantly be able to manage to train their staff in all their restaurants to a good standard, so it is possible. I've worked as a (good quality, silver serving) waiter and it's not particularly hard unless you are really understaffed or looking after big tables (8+). Really riles me to see 3 members of staff waiting on a total of 4 tables and still ballsing it up and taking hours. I got so fed up at one place's lack of interest in refilling my supposed infinite refills on my drink (they'd not done it once after half hour of it being empty and my asking 3 times) I took the glass into their kitchen and refilled it myself. They looked uncomfortable, but none of them said anything.

[Berlin]

It's not just restaurants.

Being self employed I have contact with many different service and good providers and at least once a week I come off the phone shaking my head thinking "how the hell are they still in business?"

C

[gettin2dizzy]

I don't blame them. Having worked in many many Restaurants from Nandos to Cordon Bleu it's not worth making an effort. People in this country will not tip regardless of the standard of service. I would often have tables running bills over £600, complimenting the food, having a bit of friendly banter and even pouring every glass of wine and not recieve a penny in tips. When you're working at less than £5 an hour busting a gut you soon lose enthusiasm.

[gettin2dizzy]

BTW in my last service job main courses were £18-£25, starters £10+

I was earning £4.65/hour, working my **** off and tips averaged an additional 30p/hour.

[tigersaw]

Some places now give the standard lousy service, but add their service charge on the bill themselves.

[gettin2dizzy]

Some places now give the standard lousy service, but add their service charge on the bill themselves.
Which goes in to the pockets of the restaurant. Not the staff.

[Gazza77]

I don't blame them. Having worked in many many Restaurants from Nandos to Cordon Bleu it's not worth making an effort. People in this country will not tip regardless of the standard of service. I would often have tables running bills over £600, complimenting the food, having a bit of friendly banter and even pouring every glass of wine and not recieve a penny in tips. When you're working at less than £5 an hour busting a gut you soon lose enthusiasm.

I tip if I see the services deserves it. If it doesn't then no tip.

Having said that, if they are employed to do a job they should do it properly, not sulk they don't get paid enough. That way whilst not guaranteeing tips, they are increasing their chance of getting one!

[gettin2dizzy]

I tip if I see the services deserves it. If it doesn't then no tip.

Having said that, if they are employed to do a job they should do it properly, not sulk they don't get paid enough. That way whilst not guaranteeing tips, they are increasing their chance of getting one!
It's very difficult to maintain a positive attitude when people treat you like crap and expect you to put up with it. The service indistry is very badly paid as they expect tips to 'top-up' your wages. Sadly people seem to see cost cutting as skipping leaving a tip. Whilst I fundamentally disagree with a mandatory 10 % service charge (as it somewhat renders the whole concept pointless) and an expected tip; if each table left as little as ?2 provisding the service was good, that would massively subsidise the staffs wages and leave the staff in a far more willing and positive attitude.

As another point the way people treat the staff is appalling. In my last job I often had to ask men to stop harassing the waitresses or leave, grabbing them (even pulling their hair!), slaps on their bums and constant talking to their chest. I don't know where some people must develop their social skills!

[SoulKiss]

It's very difficult to maintain a positive attitude when people treat you like crap and expect you to put up with it. The service indistry is very badly paid as they expect tips to 'top-up' your wages. Sadly people seem to see cost cutting as skipping leaving a tip. Whilst I fundamentally disagree with a mandatory 10 % service charge (as it somewhat renders the whole concept pointless) and an expected tip; if each table left as little as ?2 provisding the service was good, that would massively subsidise the staffs wages and leave the staff in a far more willing and positive attitude.

As another point the way people treat the staff is appalling. In my last job I often had to ask men to stop harassing the waitresses or leave, grabbing them (even pulling their hair!), slaps on their bums and constant talking to their chest. I don't know where some people must develop their social skills!

If I am in a place that automatically adds a tip I cancel it and only pay the ACTUAL bill.

I also, as a comment on the policy do NOT leave a tip, unless the service WAS good.

I know that the "automatic" 12.5% (or whatever) doesnt go to the waiting staff so I dont pay that "tax".

I do not regard it as the staff's automatic right to get a tip - if you go to the US where tipping is more of the culture, you DO generally get better service, over here not to good.

[arenalife]

I always tip at least 15% for good, friendly service and 0% if it's poor. I used to bust a gut for minimum wage once too but I didn't expect to be tipped for it. Ironically Nando's always has great friendly staff and they tend not to get tipped at all because you pay when you order. Sometimes they've run up the street after me because they wanted to shake my hand to thank me for coming.

[timwilky]

My classic one was the Bowling Green at Charnock Richard. I had to send our main courses back after 40 minutes as we were still waiting for our starters. Unbelievably they then served up the same main course cold 30 minutes later. Those had to be sent back as well and we left hungry and refusing to pay.

Best was a curry house in preston. We told them we had just walked out of a place down the road because of the poor service and they gave us our on the house saying we want you to come back.

another classic I have walked out of was the Algeha by get you knee down roundabout at Riley Green. we walked (13 of us) when they refused to put our drinks on the table bill. We hadn't even seen a menu at that point. A pre booked group and they can afford to upset and loose at least £300 of custom. Somehow I think they must be making serious money somewhere, but not from service

[Viney]

Which goes in to the pockets of the restaurant. Not the staff.
Ah, but thats not my issue. Why should i pay 10% service charge then expect to tip the waiter/waitress.

Like its been said, i quite happily tip 10% if the service is good, even if its just ok. But when you get rude staff and shoddy service, then i want my money back.

The girl that helped us, got a thank you.

[gettin2dizzy]

Ah, but thats not my issue. Why should i pay 10% service charge then expect to tip the waiter/waitress.

Like its been said, i quite happily tip 10% if the service is good, even if its just ok. But when you get rude staff and shoddy service, then i want my money back.

The girl that helped us, got a thank you.
Totally, I agree, a tip should NOT be expected at all. If you leave 10% for good service; chances are you've made the servers night. You can be lucky to get a fiver between 40/50 tables in a night.

You'd be surprised how many people work the staff so hard 'because they can'. There are groups of men who have techniques in to how to complain enough to get a discount on their meal. It's unnecessary and ultimately ruins the atmosphere for everyone.

Tipping should never be mandatory but the service industry is famously underpaid with an unwritten understanding that tipping is pretty normal given good service. Bad service IMO shouldn't even be tolerated. I bet 9 times out of 10 it's nepotism at the heart of it.

[Ed]

I never leave a tip. Nobody ever gives me a tip so why should I give one to anyone else?

[Alpinestarhero]

The last restraunt I went to with maria was an italian restraunt in palmers green, north london. Really nice place, we've been there before and have enjoyed the food and the service.

However, the last time we went, the man serving us commented on my physique, stating, openly, that i was rather thin (and compared me to the width of his finger). He made this comment in front of me to maria.

His comments made me feel nervous and pressured to eat, and when I didnt eat my mean (spagetti carbonara, loverly) he asked "what happened?" with an expression that suggested he was really saying "eat that plate of food or I will kill you, you ungratefull boy".

I thought about his attitude all night when I got home, and really wanted to write a letter explaining that whilst i enjoy the food, I do not expect to have my body size and my appetite questioned when I am out dining.

I never did write that letter.

But I did get my own back; I saw the waiter taking his daughters to school a few days later in his car. I made a right old racket and held them up :smt038

Matt

[Wayluya]

It's not just restaurants.

Being self employed I have contact with many different service and good providers and at least once a week I come off the phone shaking my head thinking "how the hell are they still in business?"

C

Yeah, for sure it is completely unbelievable. Self employed also.

One firm I was working at I went around looking around for the hidden cameras - was sure it was a reality TV show........on a personal level I am sorry they went down the toilet (a great place to work at!), but proffesionally I am glad - as even I was starting to think "is it me?".

[600+]

The last restraunt I went to with maria was an italian restraunt in palmers green, north london. Really nice place, we've been there before and have enjoyed the food and the service.

However, the last time we went, the man serving us commented on my physique, stating, openly, that i was rather thin (and compared me to the width of his finger). He made this comment in front of me to maria.

His comments made me feel nervous and pressured to eat, and when I didnt eat my mean (spagetti carbonara, loverly) he asked "what happened?" with an expression that suggested he was really saying "eat that plate of food or I will kill you, you ungratefull boy".

I thought about his attitude all night when I got home, and really wanted to write a letter explaining that whilst i enjoy the food, I do not expect to have my body size and my appetite questioned when I am out dining.

I never did write that letter.

But I did get my own back; I saw the waiter taking his daughters to school a few days later in his car. I made a right old racket and held them up :smt038

Matt


Matt with all do respect I think you are overacting a bit here. I get similar comments and always laugh as I see the funny side of it. Especially if you are at an Italian restaurant and the people are Italian / Mediterranean they do such jokes and this is their sense of humor. Plus I'm sure Maria isn't really bothered about it..if she was she would have either fattened u up or left u :D

[Ceri JC]

I never leave a tip. Nobody ever gives me a tip so why should I give one to anyone else?

What about that client who gave you a bottle of champers last year?