Woman sparks debate after questioning 'cakeage' charge added to restaurant bill

A debate has sparked online after one woman was left outraged by the 'cakeage' charge she was almost slapped with at a restaurant.

TikToker Sophie Milner (@itssophiemilner) said she wasn't impressed after a waiter warned of the charge at her mate's birthday brunch, claiming an extra £25 would be added.

The charge was apparently applied whenever someone cut a cake from elsewhere in their restaurant.

The waiter clarified that whilst they were allowed to present the cake in the brunch was, cutting and eating it would incur the charge.

Birthday cake charges are pretty common these days (Credit: Getty)

"I did not know this was a thing until today. I was out for my friend's birthday," she said in a video.

"At a really nice place, we just went for brunch and we bought, well, she bought herself a birthday cake and we lit it and sang happy birthday - and the guy came over and was like 'by the way, I just wanna let you know it's fine that you've lit the candles and sang happy birthday, but it's actually, if you cut the cake and serve the cake, it's £25 charge.'

"And like, you guys can call me stupid, but I had no idea this was a thing, and I kind of like laughed because I thought he was joking with us.

"I thought it was like, you know, when someone just comes over and they're like, 'oh yeah, like it's 10 pounds for that, like'.

"And I was waiting for him to joke and then like laugh and he didn't laugh and I was shook."

Sophie said that the group had ordered a large amount, with added extras on their brunch plates.

"We had nice expensive drinks and then we bring out the cake and they're like 'yeah you it's fine that you've listened so happy birthday but you if you cut it and eat it here we're gonna charge you 25 pounds'.

"So we were like oh 'no you're okay like it's fine we'll just go take our cake and eat it outside.'"

Rather than literally eat the cake outside, they apparently ended up going to a nearby sports bar instead.

The video started doing the rounds online, and it's only then it became clear the issue was rather more divisive.

"Who brings their own food to a restaurant?" said one person in the comments.

Whilst another wrote: "Um just like a corkage fee. Common practice."

"To be honest with you I totally understand the extra charge. I’m working as a waitress. Some evenings we are serving birthday cakes brought by the customer," someone else chimed in. "I give to the guests plate, cutleries, napkin, many times using the candles bought by the restaurant (sic)."

Would you pay more to cut a birthday cake? (Credit: Getty)

"Cakeage fee. It’s because if you have the cake you’re not paying to have their deserts . This has been standard in most places for years now," a fourth explained.

But others weren't so fond of the concept.

"I’ve never heard of such a charge, what the hell?!?!" said one.

"Have we all forgotten the times it was absolutely normal to bring a birthday cake to any restaurant! and actually they'd put candles on AND BE HAPPY !!!," another penned.

It looks like the jury is still out on this one - what do you think?

Featured image: Getty