In London, one can EASILY pay as much as half the bill in service fees and tips and barely notice it, something which is disgusting in many of the "finer" establishment in whch it occurs. How? Let's look at a hypthetical 200 GBP bill. Cost of actual food and drinks 100 GBP. Couvert charge added "on top" 20 GBP (four people, 5 GBP pp - running total 120 GBP), VAT @ 17.5% including the "couvert" (running total: 141 GBP), service charge of 15% calculated on ENTIRE bill including couvert AND VAT : 163.15 GBP and then a tip line on the bill where many unsuspecting dners, especially Americans throw another 10-20% on top............180 - 197 GBP................Insane.........