D&D London is to discontinue its policy of adding a 12.5 per cent discretionary service charge to bills at all 24 of its London restaurants to allow the customer to decide how much money they wish to leave as a tip.
The change will come into effect at all restaurants, which include Launceston Place and Le Pont de la Tour, from October 1 when new legislation comes into force making it illegal for restaurants to top up wages to National Minimum Wage rate with tips.
D&D London said it already paid staff 'significantly in excess of National Minimum Wage' but would check it was fully compliant with the new law. From Thursday, it said all tips left by customers would be pooled and distributed fairly to staff.
Des Gunewardena, chairman and chief executive of D&D London, said: "We believe, particularly in the current economic environment, that it is the right thing to do to allow our customers to vary the value of tips in line with how well they feel that they have been looked after in our restaurants. This is common practice, for example, in New York and I believe will result in improved service and more satisfied customers."