Soft launches to late sittings: Six ways to get cheaper meals out
BBC News explores ways to dine out affordably while the cost of living remains high. According to YouGov’s Dining Out report, more than a third of Brits are cutting back on restaurant visits. Restaurateurs, grappling with rising food, energy, wage, and tax bills, are implementing strategies to entice diners.
1. Repeat business rewards
Many restaurants offer loyalty programs with points systems, freebies, discounts, and birthday treats to encourage repeat customers. Well-known examples include the Pizza Express Club and Nando’s Chilli System. Tastecard provides discounts at hundreds of venues for an annual fee.
2. Early or late dining discounts
Restaurants often want to fill seats outside peak hours. Booking early or late through apps like First Table or EatClub can result in significant savings, with the biggest discounts typically at off-peak times. Shokofeh Hejazi, from The Food People, notes that earlier meals are usually quieter, allowing for a calmer dining experience.
3. Kids eat free
During school holidays and sometimes year-round, many venues offer free or discounted meals for children when dining with paying adults. Chains like TGI Fridays, supermarket cafes (Morrisons, Asda), and garden centers (Dobbies) are among those providing these deals.
4. Soft launches
New restaurants often offer discounts during their soft launch periods to attract diners and generate buzz. Signing up for newsletters can help track upcoming openings in your area. Some restaurants may extend their soft launch pricing for quieter days.
5. Maximize supermarket points
Supermarket loyalty points accumulated from weekly shopping trips can be redeemed for meals, allowing you to make them work harder.
