Lucky Cat Restaurant Increases Service Charges for New Year's Eve

Apr 27, 2026, 10:58

Introduction

The Lucky Cat restaurant in London has introduced a 20 per cent optional service charge for its New Year's Eve menu. This move reflects a wider trend in the UK hospitality industry, which is starting to adopt tipping practices similar to those used in the United States.

Main Body

The charge at the 22 Bishopsgate location is higher than the 15 per cent usually found at other Gordon Ramsay restaurants. It also exceeds the rates set by other famous chefs, such as Marco Pierre White and Rick Stein, who charge 10 per cent and 12.5 per cent. This increase accompanies a high-priced menu, which includes items such as Japanese A5 sirloin for £138 and sushi for £140. Industry opinions on this strategy are mixed. Niaz Caan, who runs Paro in London, criticized the 20 per cent charge as too expensive, although he admitted that New Year's Eve might be a special case. He emphasized that while automatic charges are becoming more common in London's West End, the UK is unlikely to fully adopt the American system because of cultural differences. Furthermore, he argued that mandatory charges might reduce the motivation for staff to provide high-quality service. At the same time, the hospitality sector is facing serious financial challenges. Kate Nicholls, chairman of UKHospitality, pointed out that rising energy costs, business rates, and food prices are creating a heavy burden. These issues, along with higher minimum wages, have caused instability; a recent survey showed that 20 per cent of hospitality businesses fear they may close within a year. The organization asserted that all optional service charges are given entirely to the staff. However, some critics on social media claimed that these charges are not a fair replacement for a guaranteed living wage and suggested that restaurants should simply increase their base prices instead.

Conclusion

The 20 per cent service charge at Lucky Cat illustrates the conflict between the rising costs of running a business in the UK and the changing views on how restaurant staff should be paid.

Vocabulary Learning

automatic (adj.)

happening without human intervention / automatic自動的

Example:Automatic charges are now common in many restaurants.

exceeds (v.)

goes beyond / is greater than超過

Example:The new charge exceeds the usual rate by five percent.

instability (n.)

lack of stability / uncertainty不穩定

Example:The sector faces instability due to rising costs.

mandatory (adj.)

required / compulsory必須的

Example:The new policy makes the service charge mandatory for all guests.

optional (adj.)

not required / not mandatory選擇性的

Example:The service charge is optional, so customers can decide whether to add it.

Sentence Learning

It also exceeds the rates set by other famous chefs, such as Marco Pierre White and Rick Stein, who charge 10 per cent and 12.5 per cent.

Relative Clause: The clause "who charge 10 per cent and 12.5 per cent" gives extra information about the chefs mentioned earlier. It is a defining relative clause that specifies the chefs' charging rates.關係子句: 此關係子句「who charge 10 per cent and 12.5 per cent」為前面提到的名廚提供額外資訊，說明他們的收費比例。

The organization asserted that all optional service charges are given entirely to the staff.

Passive Voice: The passive construction "are given" shifts focus from the doer (the organization) to the action and the recipient (the staff). It is used to emphasize the outcome rather than who performed the action.被動語態: 被動式「are given」將焦點從執行者（組織）轉移到動作本身及其受益者（員工），強調結果而非執行者。

Niaz Caan, who runs Paro in London, criticized the 20 per cent charge as too expensive, although he admitted that New Year''s Eve might be a special case.

Contrast (although): The conjunction "although" introduces a clause that contrasts with the main clause, showing that despite criticism, the speaker admits an exception.對比連接詞（although）: 連接詞「although」引入與主句對照的子句，顯示儘管受到批評，說話者仍承認特殊情況。

The UK is unlikely to fully adopt the American system because of cultural differences.

Cause (because): The word "because" introduces a reason clause explaining why the UK is unlikely to adopt the American system.原因連接詞（because）: 「because」引入原因子句，說明為何英國不太可能採用美式系統。

The 20 per cent service charge at Lucky Cat illustrates the conflict between the rising costs of running a business in the UK and the changing views on how restaurant staff should be paid.

Modal Verb (should): The modal verb "should" expresses a recommendation or expectation about how restaurant staff ought to be paid.情態動詞（should）: 情態動詞「should」表達對餐廳員工應得酬勞的建議或期望。