Eating out remains a strain for many households while the cost of living stays high, and more than a third of Britons have cut back on restaurant visits, according to YouGov’s latest Dining Out report.
Restaurants say they are facing higher food, energy, wage and tax bills, and many have passed some of those costs on to customers. Some chefs and restaurateurs have also argued publicly for government support. But many venues are trying to keep tables full by offering deals, rewards and lower-priced dining windows.
For diners, that can mean cheaper meals without giving up the experience of going out. From loyalty points to supermarket vouchers, there are several practical ways to bring the bill down.
Loyalty schemes can turn repeat visits into rewards
One of the simplest ways to reduce the cost of future meals is to join a restaurant loyalty scheme. Many chains offer points, free items, discounts or birthday treats to encourage customers to return.
Pizza Express Club is one of the best-known examples. Regular diners can move through bronze, silver and gold tiers, unlocking benefits that include free dough balls and complimentary hot and soft drinks. Nando’s runs a chilli-based loyalty system, while Tastecard offers discounts at hundreds of dine-in and takeaway venues for an annual fee.
The general idea is straightforward: the more often customers visit, the more they can save over time. For households that eat out regularly, those perks can add up quickly.
Booking outside peak hours can bring the biggest savings
Choosing an early breakfast, an early dinner or a late sitting can also reduce the cost of a meal. Restaurants often want to fill seats outside their busiest lunch and evening periods, so they offer lower prices to attract diners.
First Table, which operates across 21 UK cities as well as in Ireland, New Zealand and Australia, gives diners 50% off food when they book a restaurant’s first or last available slot. Customers pay a small booking fee, but the food discount can still make the outing significantly cheaper.
EatClub is another option, offering walk-ins up to 50% off the whole bill at thousands of venues when diners redeem an offer through its app. The biggest discounts are generally available at off-peak times.
Shokofeh Hejazi, director of foresight and innovation at The Food People, says earlier dining can also mean a quieter room, less alcohol and a quicker journey home.
Family deals, soft launches and vouchers can stretch a budget further
Families can also find savings during school holidays, when many places offer children’s meals for free or for £1 if an adult meal is bought. The offers appear at big chains such as TGI Fridays, supermarket cafes including Morrisons and Asda, and even garden centres such as Dobbies.
Some of these deals are tied to holiday periods, while others run all year. That makes them useful for parents looking for cheaper outings without planning around a single promotion.
New restaurants can also be worth watching. Soft launches are temporary opening periods in which eateries offer discounts to attract diners and word of mouth. They can last for weeks and may give people access to higher-end food at a lower price. Hejazi says some venues are now extending the soft-launch phase to build more buzz, and others are keeping the lower pricing on quieter days such as Mondays.
Supermarket points and surplus food apps offer extra ways to save
Everyday shopping habits can also help fund a meal out. Supermarket loyalty points collected from weekly shops can be converted into vouchers for restaurants, stretching money that would otherwise sit unused on a card or app.
Tesco Clubcard is one example: every 50p in Clubcard points can be exchanged for £1.50 in vouchers to spend at participating Prezzo restaurants, among other partners. For regular shoppers, that can make a noticeable difference when paying for an occasional meal.
There are also apps that help people buy food cheaply or rescue surplus items that would otherwise go to waste. Too Good To Go and Olio are among the best known. The contents can be a surprise, but the savings can free up cash for meals out later.
The latest UK news and stories from Bailey Universe.
