Here's a Tip - Don't back NO.6 in the 3:30 at Ascot

Yes, I know. And there's at least a dozen more along the lines of 'Don't drink don't smoke' but you get the drift?

There is little more contentious in the world of hospitality than tipping, gratuities,service charge etc. etc.

Personally, I abhor the practice of a 'Service Charge' being automatically added to a bill and I was fairly astounded to be presented with one recently in England and asked for it to be removed (though I did leave a decent tip.)

In this case, it wasn't even referred to on the menu, so I was doubly outraged to be asked to pay this ultimate stealth tax.

However, it is legal make this charge (though it probably should be referred to beforehand,) so the British Hospitality Association has written to the UK Government, asking them to legislate to make it a requirement to state openly how any excesses are distributed.

I think that this transparency is an excellent idea and therefore, am about to add our policy onto our website.

Following a recommendation to the UK Government by the British Hospitality Association, we would like to make the following statement:

There are no service charges added to any bills/invoices at the Welbeck Hotel & Restaurant.

All gratuities are given to the staff, including credit/debit card payments from which we do not deduct an amount to cover any commissions etc. to the banks/credit card companies.

Tips are pooled and handed to Irene (Proprietor.)

The total amount of tips received for the week are added up and divided between the staff and it is distributed according to how many hours they worked in that given week.

There is no 'points' system and all members of the workforce are considered equal.

The owners of the business are not shareholders in this system.