Restaurant chain Côte under fire for pocketing staff tips

French restaurant chain Côte has denied misleading customers with its tips policy following accusations that it pockets service charges instead of sharing them with staff.

Côte came under fire after it was claimed that it pockets the entire 12.5% service charge added to bills and paid by customers, rather than giving it to the staff as tips.

According to an Evening Standard reporter, when he posed as a customer he was told the service charge was distributed amongst staff. Yet, employees at the restaurant say otherwise.

An employee at the restaurant said: “One night I was waiting a large group and had to split the bill for each guest. At the end they left a £100 cash tip, but I was forced to hand it over to my manager and never saw that money again.”