Food Deals UK

Whether you're dining out, ordering in, or cooking from scratch, there are loads of clever ways to save money on food.

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Written by My Side Gig team

Whether you're dining out, ordering in, or cooking from scratch, there are loads of clever ways to save money on food without sacrificing quality. Here's a breakdown of the best apps, rewards schemes, and hidden gems that can help you eat well for less:

Grocery Savings

  • Tesco Clubcard - Get exclusive Clubcard Prices and convert points into restaurant vouchers (e.g. Pizza Express, Zizzi).

  • Nectar Card (Sainsbury’s) - Collect points and spend them at Caffè Nero, Deliveroo, or on groceries.

  • Asda Rewards Build a “cash pot” with bonuses from shopping and missions. Redeem in-store or online.

  • Morrisons More - Get personalised weekly offers and earn rewards.

If you don’t have these reward cards, here’s some QR codes to scan for member prices.

Meal Kits

  • Gousto - New customers get 60% off first box + 25% off all boxes in the first 2 months. Easy meals, less waste.

  • Hello Fresh - New customers get 50% off first box + free dessert for life.

Takeaway & App Sign-Up Perks

  • McDonald’s App – 1,000 free points (enough for a drink or fries) on sign-up.

  • Krispy Kreme – Free doughnut on sign-up and on your birthday.

  • Greggs App – Free hot drink on registration and birthday reward.

There are lots of app sign up perks so double check if your favourite eating places have one to get some discounts and freebies.

Dining Out Deals & Restaurant Rewards

  • Neotaste App
    Discounts like 50% off meals, free starters, and BOGOF at partnered restaurants in UK cities.

  • Octopus Rewards (Octoplus)
    Octopus Energy customers can claim restaurant vouchers for: Harvester, Stonehouse Pizza, Toby Carvery, and Chef & Brewer. Here’s a guide on all the perks you can get with Octopus Rewards.

  • Meerkat Meals
    Become a customer of Compare the Market and get 2-for-1 meals all year at places like Prezzo, Ask Italian, and more. Available Sunday–Thursday. Here’s a guide on how to become a customer for free.

Student & NHS Discounts

There are lots of discount codes for different restaurants using sites like UNiDAYS and Blue Light cards. For example:

  • Toby Carvery - £6 Carvery Mon-Fri via UNiDAYS

  • Domino’s - 50% off full price pizza

  • Yo Sushi - 20% off with UNiDAYS and Blue Light cards.

  • Wagamama’s - 20% off with Blue Light

There are loads of discount codes - join our Facebook group to request a discount code here.

Kids Eat Free (or for £1)

Perfect for families on a budget – these deals usually run during school holidays or set days:

  • Asda Café – Kids eat for £1 every day, no adult spend required

  • Morrisons Café – One free kid’s meal per adult meal over £4.49

  • Beefeater & Brewers Fayre – 2 kids eat free breakfast with every adult

  • Bella Italia – Kids eat for £1 (check for day restrictions)

Earn UberEats Credit with Stride

Earn credit just by completing surveys with Stride – redeem them for Uber Eats or Uber vouchers. Unlike most survey sites, most of Stride’s surveys are high-paying and you can earn an extra £2 in credit per person you refer!

This is an easy way to get a takeaway without having to spend loads.

Final Tips

  • Stack deals: e.g. use a student discount and earn loyalty points

  • Use cashback sites or cards when booking meals or groceries

  • Check apps like Too Good To Go and Olio for food nearing expiry – often £3 or less!

  • Save a dedicated “deals” email address to manage all your rewards

FAQ’s

  • It depends on your habits! For takeaways, apps like McDonald’s, Greggs, and Burger King offer freebies on sign-up. If you eat out, Neotaste gives you premium restaurant discounts, and Too Good To Go is great for end-of-day food at low prices.

  • Most chain offers (e.g., Tesco Clubcard, LEON, McDonald’s) are available across the UK, but some regional or app-based offers may be location-dependent. Always check the app or brand website for local availability.

  • Yes, most places require a valid student ID, UNiDAYS, Student Beans, or NHS ID. Some also accept Blue Light Cards for key workers.

  • Often, yes – for example, you might be able to stack a student discount with a loyalty app reward or credit card cashback. However, some offers may say "not valid with other promotions", so check the T&Cs.

  • You don’t have to spend a penny to get Meerkat meals, simply getting a quote is enough. Here’s our full guide on how to get access.

  • Yes! With sign-up deals like 60% off your first box, Gousto can be a great way to try meal kits affordably. You can pause or cancel at any time, so it’s a low-risk way to get fresh meals delivered.