If you live in the UK and want to SPEND LESS money next time you go out to eat in a restaurant with VEGAN OPTIONS then keep reading for my 2020 HACKS on how to enjoy tasty vegan food on a budget!
These tips will help you save money even after the ‘eat out to help out’ scheme is over.
This post includes all the amazing discounts and deals available in restaurants in the UK, a list of student discounts, and some good loyalty schemes to join.
Remember to SAVE these pictures or pin them on PINTEREST for future reference, to help you remember these HACKS to save money next time you go out to eat. And share this post with your friends to help them save money too!
Using these tips will help you stay vegan on a budget and save money when eating out!
Current offers correct at the time of writing this post (Aug 2020).
Deals and Discounts by Restaurant:
PIZZA EXPRESS, ASK ITALIAN, ZIZZI & BELLA ITALIA
Always check the website before visits as there are always new offers popping up.
Pizza Express – 20% Off Bill on Takeaway and Click & Collect.
Bella Italia – BOTTOMLESS PIZZA for £10, 2 courses for £12.99 and NHS discount (See the end of the post for more info!)
Offers page on the websites – Pizza Express HERE, ASK HERE, Bella Italia HERE and Zizzi HERE!
YO! SUSHI
Lunch deal: Get a regular sushi box or a to-go katsu curry, a regular sushi set and a drink for £6.95.
Yo! is also part of the app ‘too good to go’ where you can find discounted food that may otherwise end up being thrown away. A great app to use to get cheaper food and reduce food wastage. However, it is worth noting that some participating restaurants and branches don’t always offer the chance to specify vegan-only options so you will need to check the Ts&Cs.
Green Wednesdays – vegetarian plates only £2.50 – currently unavailable. Follow my Instagram page for more updates on when this will be returning!
Offers page on website – HERE!
ITSU & WASABI
End of day deals: Half-price sushi half an hour before closing. Not only does this save you money but it also reduces food waste.
WETHERSPOONS
Not technically a ‘deal or discount’ but Spoons is always is a cheap option!
Quite a few vegan options including the ‘Beyond Burger’ at £7.15 with a soft drink (+£1 for an alcoholic drink), and till 11:30 am a ‘Vegan Full English’ (Two Quorn vegan sausages, baked beans, two hash browns, mushroom, tomato, a slice of toast, vegan spread) at just £3.85.
GIGGLING SQUID
Lunch offer ‘TWO DISH MEAL COMBI’ inc spring rolls and 1 main (from set choice) for £8.50.
Loyalty Cards
Many independent and chain cafes and restaurants offer a loyalty/stamp card.
If you often grab a coffee when you are out you might want to look at signing up to a coffee card to start building up rewards.
STARBUCKS
Read my post HOW TO ORDER VEGAN DRINKS AT STARBUCKS – HERE
Sign up and collect stamps each time you get a drink. When you get 50 stamps you’ll become a Gold member and get all your extras for free (inc syrups and dairy-free milk). You’ll also get a free drink every 15 orders!
COSTA COFFEE CLUB.
Collect 5 points per £1 to spend.
CAFFE NERO
Collect stamps on the app, when you collect 9 you can trade them in for a free drink. Use code ‘GIVEME5’ to get 5 stamps when you sign up to the app.
GBK
Download the GBK app to collect stamps each time you visit and earn rewards such as free sides and burgers.
Please note the ingredients in fries are vegan but they do share a fryer with food containing milk and eggs.
NANDOS
Use the app to earn a Chilli Point on every order of £7 or more. Collect 3 Chilli Points to bag your first reward.
PUB CARDS
Don’t forget to check if your local pub offers a loyalty scheme. Some to check out are:
Nicholson’s pubs – get a drink for £1 for signing up, a complimentary drink at visit 4, £5 off £15 at visit 6 and 20% off every purchase for three months.
Red Mist Card – Some Surrey/Hampshire pubs.
OTHER
Obviously I can’t list every loyalty scheme out there, but keep an eye out when you go for food to see if they offer any type of club discount or stamp system!
Some loyalty schemes you guys told me about over on Instagram include:
- Shakeaway Milkshakes, Nationwide – website here.
- Franco Manca Pizza, Loyalty app, Nationwide – website here.
- South London Club – website here.
- Humpit Hummus and Pitta Bar, Wakefield – website here.
- Mission Burrito, Bath, Bristol, Milton Park, Oxford, Reading – website here.
Discounts for Students, NHS Staff, Armed Forces etc:
STUDENT DISCOUNT
May be limited days & times, so check before you go.
Available with UNiDAYS or General ID:
- 20% off YO! Sushi.
- £15 off when you spend £45 Pizza Express.
- 35% off Domino’s.
- 25% off GBK (with app).
- 15% off Leon.
- 20% off Bills.
- 15% off Itsu.
- 10% off Wasabi.
List of up to date UNiDAYS discounts HERE!
Available with a TOTUM card:
- 30% off Zizzi.
- 40% off ASK Italian.
- 15% off Pho.
- 40% off Las Iguanas.
- 25% off Prezzo.
- 20% off Pizza Hut.
- 20% off Frankie and Benny’s.
- PLUS 2 month free trial for Tastecard (for 2 FOR 1 dining).
List of up to date TOTUM card (previously NUS) discounts HERE!
NHS, EMERGENCY SERVICES & ARMED FORCES DISCOUNT
Sign up for a Blue Light Card to get discounts in lots of food and drinks chains inc Starbucks and many mentioned under the Totum discount section.
You can sign up HERE if you are a member of the NHS, Police, St Johns Ambulances, British Army, emergency services and more (see link for full list) – Cost £4.99 for 2 years.
- 15% off Leon.
- 15% off Itsu.
- 20% off YO! Sushi.
- 25% off Bella Italia.
- 50% off food Las Iguanas.
More Rewards & Points Offers:
TASTECARD
Get 2 for 1 meals or 50% off food at 6,000+ partner restaurants. Get a 1 month free trial (or 2 months free with a student TOTUM card!). The cost is £4.99 a month or £34.99 a year. Full price plan here.
PHONE PROVIDERS
Check if your phone provider offers any rewards. O2 priority sometimes offers free coffee vouchers to use in Caffe Nero, on occasional weekdays. Vodaphone also offers Very Rewards, which varies every month but it’s worth checking for food offers.
TESCO CLUBCARD
Cash in your club cards with triple the value of your points in restaurant vouchers; including ASK Italian, Zizzi, Pizza Express, Prezzo and Bella Italia (full list here).
If you love saving money and making the most of your meals out, I guarantee you will LOVE this post too:
- WAGAMAMA HACKS! HOW TO MAKE THE MOST OF EATING OUT – READ HERE!