A man who asked if he could bring his own cake to a birthday lunch was told by the restaurant he'd be charged £10 a head for the privilege. Upon ringing ahead of the booking to check, Ivor Baddiel was informed by staff that the extra cost was known as 'cakeage'.
The TV and radio writer, whose dad Colin came from Swansea and who is the brother of comic David Baddiel, expressed his disbelief on social media. He tweeted, "I asked the restaurant where I'm going to for a birthday lunch today if we could bring a cake with us to be brought out at the end of the meal.
"They said 'yes', but they'd charge us cakeage (yes, cakeage) at £10 a head. What is this world we live in?"
And the post, which has been liked over 5.5k times so far, certainly got people talking. Many were just as amazed, with others admitting that the practise was getting more and more common-place in eating establishments around the county.
"Charging for bringing in a cake is 100% understandable," posted Micheal McIvor. "You're bringing in a dessert item, which they sell - you wouldn't turn up to a pub with a 12 deck of cans... although £10 a head is reaching."
"You’re expecting them to use waiters' time to prepare the cake for you, and then use all of their plates and cutlery, which need to be washed," agreed @birds_book. "Not to mention this will probably deter diners from ordering a pudding. They’re well within their rights."
However, BAFTA nominated writer and performer Sian Harries added, "That’s mad. We go to a Chinese restaurant where, if you say it's your birthday, they give you a pudding with a sparkler in it and the whole restaurant sings at you. It’s wonderful.
And someone calling themselves @RAEELIZA1 concurred, saying: "One place we went to for Granddad's 92nd birthday let us hand over a cake a few hours before the meal and refrigerated it for us. No charge at all, provided plates, put some of their own candles on it and the manager bought it out and personally wished him a happy birthday."
The last word though came from Ivor's sibling David. The comedian posted, "I see this has gnawed away at you all night."
