Surcharges on restaurant bills are becoming increasingly common in British restaurants - similar to eateries in the US that often add a 15% gratuity fee as standard for the benefit of their waiting staff.

One diner, however, was left baffled this week after spotting a bizarre 2% charge on a bill - an additional fee of £2.56 on top of a £140.45 spend. The bill made it clear though that the small amount wasn't heading the way of waiters and waitresses.

Explaining the extra cost, the bill stated at the bottom: "A surcharge of 2% will be added to your bill to help cover rising costs. This is not a tip or gratuity." Confused by the fee, the diner took to Reddit to ask others: "Is this normal at restaurants now?"

One user on the platform was equally as perplexed, responding: "WTF!? What’s this for specifically? Why not just raise the prices of your menu items?" A second said: "How could it be legal to charge higher prices after the contract is completed? I order off the menu, you bring the bill and it’s higher?"

Another explained the answer may be in the small print, adding: "I think they get around it by having a small sign somewhere or small text on the menu saying there’s this fee." In a similar vein, a fourth said: "Unless it's advertised before ordering, it's likely an illegal surcharge. In my hospitality days we had weekend charges, but if no one changed the mid week menu to weekend menus that had the surcharge, we couldn't legally charge it."

One Reddit user was on hand to explain why the restaurant might not just increase menu prices. They said: "They are keeping menu prices down to encourage you to spend more but then add an undisclosed surcharge to your final bill to recoup the cost. They don’t add it to menu prices because then you will spend less whether or not you can afford it. It’s manipulative and deceitful."

Another said: "It’s a way they can pocket more money and attempt to blame it on some unknown entity, and pretend they are just padding their profit margins. In other words it’s bulls**t intended you put your money in their pocket without offering you anything in return."

A food blogger on Quora also attempted to clear things up: "Many restaurants add a service charge in the UK usually add 10 to 12.5% - rarely more. The service charge can be removed if the customer complains about the service or the waiter/waitress. Many restaurants will confirm that all the service charge is paid to the staff."