Tip jars & bill trays

Start by choosing between a jar and a tray. A tip jar is closed on top with a slot in it and works at the till, where coins and notes disappear without anyone having to look at them. An open tip tray of 16 by 11 centimetres goes on the bar, where it needs to be visible to do its job. The bill dish of 13.5 by 21.5 centimetres is sized for a standard receipt roll with a little room around it. If the bill fits exactly, it slides off every time you pick it up. Stainless steel is the choice for venues that wash a lot, black for interiors where shine gets in the way. The bill spike and the service bell sit somewhere between tool and habit: the spike keeps settled receipts in order, the bell announces that something is ready in the pass.

Bring the bill face down, so the guest decides when to look at it. Add a pen if something still has to be signed, and leave it off if they are simply paying cash. Put the dish down and walk away, because standing there puts pressure on the guest while they work out the tip. At the bar it is the other way round: a tip tray within the guest's reach earns more than a jar tucked behind the taps. Spike settled receipts straight away instead of stacking them, so the order of the evening stays intact if something needs checking later.

Stainless steel handles a daily wipe with a damp cloth, but it does spot if you let water dry on it. Dry it off and polish along the grain, otherwise the streaks stay visible. The black versions are powder-coated. Never use a scouring pad on those, because a scratch in the coating cannot be removed. Empty a tip jar before you rinse it out.

If more than the bill belongs on the table, take a look at the napkin holders and the sugar bowls and shakers. For serving itself there are serving trays, and the rest sits under bar accessories. If you are fitting out a venue completely, hospitality glassware is the place for the glasses. Anyone setting up the bar itself will find the tool side on the page about bar tools and the recipes with the cocktails.