25th Oct 2024
Reading Time: 7 minutes
Updated Oct 2024
With the school summer holidays on the horizon, it is more important than ever to think about how family finances will be impacted. Many businesses have great offers where kids can eat for £1 or less during the school holidays.
The school holidays can be an exciting time for many. Children are excited at the prospect of time away from the confines of school, and families can spend some quality time together. Some may even have a nice holiday booked or finally have the time to visit family who live far away.
But holidays are not all sunshine and rainbows. For many, it induces a sense of anxiety. Financial worry clouds the minds of many, as household costs increase during this period.
Time off school means many parents are spending more time at home with their children. This leads to increased energy use due to more electronics being used, food being cooked and let’s not forget the seemingly endless piles of laundry! Similarly, more food is being eaten at home, with the break not only on education, but the provision of free school meals. Many people rely on these meals to feed their children one full, hot meal per day.
It can all add up. But, luckily, there are many restaurants and cafes which offer low-cost and sometimes free meals for children during school breaks. Whether it be a low-cost or free breakfast, lunch or dinner, you are bound to find somewhere your little ones will enjoy.
Beefeater and Brewers Fayre
Two children up to the age of 16 can eat a free breakfast with every adult breakfast purchased. This offer is available at any Beefeater or Brewers’ Fayre branch and includes their delicious unlimited all-you-can-eat breakfast. So, whether your little ones fancy a full English or a more continental option, there is bound to be something they enjoy.
This means if you plus a friend or a partner purchase a breakfast, four children can get a free breakfast. There is currently no end date to this scheme as of yet, but it is currently available for all customers to enjoy.
You can also take advantage of the Summer Holiday Special: a three-course kids meal for just £6.49, or the Feed the Family offer for two mains and two kids meals for just £20 on weekdays 12pm – 6pm.
Full T&Cs here.
Purezza
If you fancy a light lunch or a spot of dinner, why not visit vegan Italian favourite Purezza? Children under the age of 10 can get a delicious free mini pizza with a topping of their choice! These mouth-watering options include mushrooms, courgette and vegan sausage.
Only one child can get this offer per adult who is dining. Full T&Cs here.
Dobbies
Garden centres can provide a surprising amount of fun for kids. From the wonderful colours of blossoming flowers to water fountains, shrubs and the wildlife they bring, children can become immersed in the magical surroundings nature brings.
You can get one free kids meal or breakfast at Dobbies garden centres with the purchase of an adult traditional breakfast or main course lunch purchased. Children can choose from the children’s breakfast or lunch menu. There is a £1 supplement for kids’ Sunday roast meals. During school holidays, you can also get a free child’s hot meal or pick n mix lunch box with every adult meal purchased.
If you want to go out with the grandparents too, over 60s can choose a main course and cake for just £11.95 any weekday between 12pm – 3pm (£2 supplement for fish and chips). Just make sure to set up separate tabs for the over 60s meals, as it can’t be combined with the kids eat free offer.
Offer available at all Dobbies restaurants with the exception of Andover, Lelant, Marple, Reading, York and Anchorwood.
Full T&Cs here.
Bella Italia
Family favourite Bella Italia lets kids eat FREE all day every Thursday with the purchase of an adult meal, and for just £1 during the hours of 4-6pm Sunday to Wednesday. This is available for children aged 2-11 years and is available between 4pm and 6pm.
Plus, this offer includes three delicious courses and a drink. For just £1 maximum! You can’t go wrong. Full T&Cs here.
Morrisons
Why not roll your weekly shop and a meal out into one with Morrisons? They have a great deal where one child can eat a free lunch or dinner when you spend £5 on one adult meal from The Breakfasts, The Chippy, or The Classic menus. Children up to the age of 16 can redeem this offer and get a delicious free meal from the kids menu, including a drink and a piece of fruit.
One free kids’ meal can be redeemed per adult but excludes menu specials. Full info here.
Hungry Horse
Hungry Horse restaurants have a whopping summer holiday deal: Feed a Family for £15! From 1st July to 30th August 2024, you’ll get two adult mains and two children’s full meals (main, dessert, and drink) for just £15 AND a free plushie for the kids. What’s even better is you can upgrade to large kids meals for 50p each, and add two more kids meals for just £2.50 each.
Throughout the year, Hungry Horse also run a special offer where children can eat for just £1 every Monday. Up to two children can eat per full paying adult. Larger meals are just £1.50.
You can also take advantage of their Just The Two of Us meal deal, which gives you an adult main and a kids meal for just £10.
Choose from a range of mouth-watering delights, from beef burgers to veggie nuggets. It’s also a good idea to ensure your nearest restaurant qualifies for this deal.
Full T&Cs here.
Sizzling Pubs
Sizzling Pubs is the parent company of many pubs across the UK. Your local may be a Sizzling Pub without you knowing it! You can find your nearest pub here.
During the summer holidays, kids can eat for just £1 from Monday to Friday after 12pm with the purchase of one adult meal. This excludes breakfast, other offers and the set menu. This offer also runs after 3pm Monday to Friday outside of school holidays.
Full T&Cs here.
Angus Steakhouse
Kids under the age of 8 can eat for free with the purchase of one adult main course every day of the school holidays until 1st September. If you are heading to the big smoke for any reason, it may well be worth keeping this deal in mind! Ensure to request the offer in advance on your booking.
Read more here.
IKEA
If you are browsing for new furniture or want to spruce up your home, IKEA is often the first place people think of to visit. Now, the furniture giant are offering children’s meals from 95p. This offer is valid all day, everyday from 11am.
An item from the children’s menu is just 95p – and if you opt for mac and cheese that includes a drink and piece of fruit. For just £1.50 you can get a combo meal from any of the kids choices. This includes a hot meal, jelly, a drink and a piece of fruit.
Plus, Ikea is a double-whammy during the school holidays, with many stores offering free crafting activities. Always double check your local store is participating first! For younger children, Smaland is Ikea’s in-store creche – you can leave your children for 60 minutes in the supervised play area while you shop.
The Real Greek
Every Sunday, children can eat for free at The Real Greek restaurants, when £10 is spent by an adult. Whether your child is in the mood for a mouthwatering souvlaki wrap with halloumi or would rather a mezze selection, something is bound to tickle their fancy.
One free kids meal per adult (each adult must spend £10) can be redeemed and is available to all children under the age of 12.
Key workers with a Blue Light Card can also nab a 25% discount (cannot be combined with other offers).
Full T&Cs here.
TGI Fridays
Kids eat free at TGI Fridays when you order an adult’s main meal, all day, every day. The offer is available for Stripes Rewards members – you’ll just need to join via their app, which is free to download through app stores.
You’ll get a complimentary Little League or Major League kids’ meal. The menu includes classic burgers, fish fingers and vegan choices. There is also free Heinz baby food for the smallest guests at TGI Fridays. Find out more here.
OK Diners
One child under 10 can eat free when an adult purchases a main meal. This offer is available every day at the diners in Derby, Cannock, Leominster, Northop and Oswestry. Read all about it here.
Gordon Ramsay Restaurants
At selected Gordon Ramsay Restaurants, kids can eat for free from the Ramsay kids menu when ordering a main. It’s only available for children under the age of eight and you will need to purchase an adult main for every free children’s meal. It’s available at Heddon Street Kitchen, all Bread Street Kitchen and Bars, Bread Street Café, Gordon Ramsay Bar and Grill and York and Albany.
This offer is available all year around, except on select dates like Christmas and New Year’s Eve. It’s advised to book ahead to make sure this offer is available on the date you want to go.
Dunelm
Many of the furnishing retailer’s branches have an in-store eatery, the Pausa cafe. Kids can get a ‘mini main’, two snacks and a drink for free, as long as an accompanying adult spends £4 or more. The offer is available Monday to Friday after 3pm.
YO! Sushi
From 1st July to 30th August 2024, you’ll get one free child’s bento box with any adult meal, up to three children (minimum spend £10 per child on the adult meal – so if you want two free bento boxes, the adult must spend £20). Applicable for children under the age of 12 and for dine-in only – some restaurants are excluded, so check the details before you go.
