Families across the United Kingdom can enjoy significant savings on dining out during the festive school holidays, with more than twenty restaurant chains, pubs, and cafés offering children's meals for free or just £1. The round-up, compiled by VoucherCodes.co.uk, provides a lifeline for parents feeling the pinch of rising food costs, offering budget-friendly options for everything from a quick lunch to a full family meal.
Supermarket and Garden Centre Cafés Lead the Way
Some of the most accessible and affordable deals can be found in everyday locations like supermarket cafés and garden centres. These offers are often available all day, providing reliable savings throughout the holiday period.
ASDA Cafés are allowing kids to eat for £1, with a choice of a hot meal or a cold pick-and-mix option, and crucially, there is no minimum spend required for the accompanying adult.
At Dobbies Garden Centres, children can eat for £1 with the purchase of an adult breakfast or main meal. Selected sites also offer a kids' Sunday roast for a £1 supplement. This deal runs from breakfast until 11.30am, and then from 12pm to 3pm daily.
Dunelm Pausa Cafés have a 'kids eat free' promotion when an adult spends £4 or more, which covers a kids' main, a drink, and two snacks.
Morrisons Cafés are providing one free kids meal for any child under 16 with every adult meal costing £5 or more, available all day.
Meanwhile, Ikea is serving a kids' pasta meal, including a drink and fruit, for just 95p during the school holidays, though availability may vary by store.
High Street Chains and Pubs Join the Festive Feast
From Italian and steakhouse fare to pub classics, numerous well-known chains are participating in the holiday savings initiative. Most of these promotions require the purchase of an adult meal and have specific terms.
Highlights include Bella Italia, where one child aged 2-11 eats free or for £1 with each adult meal from Sunday to Thursday.
Franco Manca at selected sites offers a free kids' pizza for under-12s with every adult main from Monday to Thursday.
At Sizzling Pubs, kids' mains are just £1 with an adult main on weekdays from 3pm to 7pm, extending from noon during the school holidays.
For a festive treat, Bill's is running a special offer on Boxing Day (December 26) only, where up to two children aged 10 and under eat free with an adult main.
Other notable deals include:
- The Coconut Tree: One child aged 10 or under eats free per paying adult from December 19 to January 6.
- Gordon Ramsay Restaurants (selected locations): One child under 10 gets a free main when an adult orders two courses on selected days.
- YO! Sushi: Kids eat free with an adult spend of £10 all day during the school holidays.
Budget-Friendly Breakfasts for Festive Staycations
Several hotel and pub chains are also helping families start their day affordably, which is perfect for those on festive trips or staycations.
Beefeater, Brewers Fayre, Premier Inn, Table Table, and Whitbread Inns all offer deals where two children under 16 can eat breakfast for free with one paying adult breakfast, though specific serving times apply.
Travelodge (at Bar Café locations) provides breakfast for kids under 15 for just £1 with a paying adult.
While these offers present an excellent opportunity to save potentially hundreds of pounds over the holidays, parents are strongly advised to check the specific terms before visiting. Participation, age limits, exclusions, and valid dates can vary significantly by venue. Always confirm with your local restaurant to ensure the deal is available and to understand any conditions attached.
