We made the decision in lockdown to include the optional service charge within our menu prices.

We are proud that during the Pandemic our staff went through furlough at the full 80% of their wages unlike 50% at the vast majority of restaurants that use the TRONC scheme to distribute service.

However, in the current climate with a government that continues to not support our Industry this initiative is not sustainable in the long term.

We have made the move to adding an optional service charge to our bills.

This is purely so that we take maximum advantage of the one tax break the government gives our Industry.

• the optional nature of the charge means that it does not incur VAT or National Insurance - and make sure that our staff get rewarded for the work that they do without any excess money going to the government.