TOT: is this reasonable?

I've never heard of it before, but I see no reason why they shouldn't charge. The containers probably cost them less than 40p each in bulk. See, for example,

In message snipped-for-privacy@4ax.com, at 16:55:45 on Tue, 14 Jul 2026, Scott snipped-for-privacy@gefion.myzen.co.uk> remarked:

I've never been charged for a doggy-bag container. If warned this might happen I'd probably go to my car and find a different container free of charge. And then leave a blisteringly negative review on Tripadvisor etc.

In message <1135n4e$glop$ snipped-for-privacy@dont-email.me, at 17:11:58 on Tue, 14 Jul

regardless of the quality of the food or the service ?

In message <1135t45$j38s$ snipped-for-privacy@dont-email.me, at 18:54:18 on Tue, 14 Jul

Yes, the refusal to provide a free of charge doggy bag would trump those considerations. (And Some might say that refusal was very very poor service).

A useful review should provide an accurate account of the service so that the reader may judge for themselves. Your prejudices may not be my prejudices and so forth...

Personally it wouldn't bother me. I find the common huge markup on a bottle of wine more offensive.

I had a posh Afternoon Tea in The White Swan in Alnwick, Northumberland. I asked for a box to take home the uneaten fancies, as everybody does (I thought). I was made to sign a disclaimer that that there would be no comback if anyone took ill. They then proceeded to wrap the uneaten creamcakes in foil, so you could imagine how they eventually looked. Have I been back?

This is why I tend to distrust review ratings. Something which seems of prime importance to you would be trivial to me (and no doubt vice versa).

same here, mainly because it bears no relation to the actual cost of providing the service - meaning that claims relating to markup percentages are blatant lies

My dad used to say the mark-up on a glass of water should be the same as for a glass of beer since the costs are the same - labour, electricity, rent, rates etc.

The cost of making a sandwich is not the same as the cost of roasting a lamb leg, but in general the markup across food cost that is applied, is standard irrespective of the cost of providing the service.

True prices would have a sausage only marginally cheaper than a steak.

I ran across a similar issue when building the house: A cheap cardboard interior door was $£50, A nice rustic one in 'rustic oak' was about £100. The amount of labour to out in a door frame and hang the door was nearer £250.

In effect the 'nice' door was only 16% more expensive

So.. from 8p to £1. Roughly the mark-up on the wine list then.

Nick

exactly - so .. a £5-6 bottle of wine appears on a menu at around £20, and a £15 bottle of wine might appear on the same menu at around £60 :-\

what IS an emerging practice .. is the business of adding a "service charge" to the final total on the bill, which sort of raises the question of what a restaurnt is

I suspect it is to 'assist' those who do not carry any cash. Nowhere near as bad as Canada, where 22% - or even 28% - is suggested.

Why are they 'doggy' bags and not catty bags ?. Often wondered.

Oddly enough its socialism that forces the price up From the rich take more.....

Dogs can eat vegetables. Cats can (but probably won't) each vegetables but they can't digest them.

Having owned both creatures, at least some dogs will eat most anything, our Lab Retriever cross will eat most anything thats dropped on the floor appart from garlic or onion...

.. on the other hand the cats would eat one variety of cat food one day, but turn their nose up at it the next.

Dave