Where kids can eat for free or £1 over half term
School's almost out for the May half term, which means many of us will be thinking of ways to keep the children entertained, well-fed and active.
In 2023, May half term is running from Monday 29th May to Friday 2 June in many schools.
With money feeling tighter than ever, we've rounded up entertaining things to do with the kids for free or a small cost during the school holidays. We've also created a handy guide to places that let kids eat for free or just £1 over the Easter school holidays to make eating out as a family easier and more affordable.
Eating out is one of the best ways to spend some quality time as a family. Thankfully it doesn’t have to be costly as a number of restaurants around the UK offer kids eat free deals, allowing you to dine out with your children without breaking the bank.
Whether you're a family of pizza fans, love a pub meal or want a menu for more adventurous eaters, we're rounded up family-friendly restaurants and cafes around the UK that have great school holiday offers. Be sure to check the Ts&Cs and be aware that often you can't get this type of deal in conjunction with other offers.
Looking for more school holiday ideas? Keep them busy with these art and craft ideas for kids or games to keep them occupied in the garden or in the park.
ASDA
Keep hunger at bay during your weekly shop at ASDA, as the supermarket chain is offering kids meals for just £1 at any time of day in Asda Cafés. Children can access a hot or cold meal for just £1 and the retailer will now include a free piece of fruit such as and apple, pear or banana when purchasing the hot kids £1 meal deal.
Alternatively, kids can have a £1 cold pick and mix selection that includes a sandwich, drink and piece of fruit, with new treats such as a jelly pot with whole fruit pieces or a jelly squeeze pouch also available as an alternative to a packet of crisps.
Beefeater
For any other parents used to getting up at the crack of dawn, having a reason to get out can be a bonus.
And if you're feeling the need to fuel up for the day ahead, Beefeater lets two kids eat free breakfast with any adult breakfast purchased for £9.99.
Available 6:30am until 10:30am midweek and 7am until 11am at the weekend
Bella Italia
Want to treat to your family to an Italian feast? Book a table at Bella Italia and kids can get three courses and a drink for just £1 with every purchase of an adult meal. From create your own pizza and pastas that are perfect for fussy eaters to classics like fish and chips, there's a good choice which kids will love. Among the dessert choices is a trip to the gelato cart.
Kids eat for £1 with the purchase of every adult main from 4-6pm on Monday-Thursday.
Bill's
Bill's is loved for offering a menu that suits all the family. From Monday 29 May until Friday 2 June, up to two kids can eat free all day if one adult orders any main dish. Highlights on the children’s menu includes breakfast options like buttermilk pancakes, mac and cheese and fish fingers and chips.
Bistro Pierre
At French restaurant chain Bistro Pierre, kids can eat for £1 from the children's menu when any adult main is bought from the a la carte menu or signature three-course Menu Pierre. Kids get two courses with the deal.
Available from 12pm each day during May half term.
Bluegrass BBQ Smokehouses
If you fancy an American BBQ style meal out, the Bluegrass BBQ Smokehouses in Reading, Windsor and High Wycombe have a kids eat free deal this half term, running 29th May to 4th June. Children get a free main and dessert with every adult main ordered with the kids’ menu including options such as BBQ pulled pork wrap with fries and smoked mac and cheese. Children can choose between ice cream or watermelon for dessert and there are more elaborate options available for an extra fee.
Brewers Fayre
Fancy a free breakfast for your child at Brewers Fayre? If you order an adults' all-you-can-eat breakfast, you can scoff as much as you like from the pub restaurant’s cooked and continental selections, like crispy back bacon, hearty sausages, eggs, hash browns, cereal, chilled juices, tea, unlimited Costa Coffee and drinks – AND your kids eat free, too! Two children under 16 eat for free when one adult orders the £9.99 unlimited breakfast. See you in the queue.
Bucket & Spade Café, Devon
If you’re planning to visit the Jurassic coastline in Devon, for half-term, this award-winning café in Shaldon is running a kids eat free offer from Friday 26 May to Sunday 4 June until 6pm each day. Children under 12 may eat one free meal from the breakfast, lunch and dinner menu with every full paying adult meal from the full menu.
Dobbie's Garden Centres
If you're stocking up on essentials for the garden, don't miss this great offer. Children can eat free when an adult purchases a main meal. Choose from the kids' lunch menu or the pick ‘n’ mix lunch box meal, served with a sandwich, three snacks and a drink. Available daily from 12pm.
Dunelm – Pausa Cafe
Make homeware shopping a day out with the kids as the retailer's Pausa Cafe is offering a free kids menu for every £4 spent in their in-store cafes. Plus, kids eat free after 3pm from Monday - Friday.
Heathrow Airport
Families flying from London Heathrow for their school holiday getaways can save a little extra during certain weeks. Tying in with school holidays throughout the year, free children’s meals are on offer at airport restaurants during eligible school holiday dates, including 26 May until 4 June. Qualifying restaurants include Giraffe, Leon, Wondertree and The Prince of Wales, and kids eat free when an adult buys a main course. Gordon Ramsay Plane Food has the kids eat free offer available all year round. Happy flying (and eating)!
Hungry Horse pubs
Every Monday, children can eat for £1 at Hungry Horse pubs. There are two meals on offer – a vegetable lasagne with garlic bread fingers and side salad or battered chicken strips in a bun with iceberg lettuce and a choice of two veggies. There are also a range of larger children meals available for the slightly higher price of £1.50.
IKEA
The Swedish furniture brand may be famous for its meatballs, but it also offers affordable deals on meals for kids. So if you need a pit spot during your spotting trip, you can get the kids pasta with tomato sauce and a soft drink for 95p from 11am. Other kids meals are also available for the higher price of £1.50.
Morrisons
Get a bargain family meal out while you do your weekly shop. Children under 16 eat free at Morrisons cafe all day, every day when an adult spends £4.49 or more on a meal.
OK Diners
If you’re looking for a roadside stop off, at OK Diners children under 10 can eat free from the kids menu when an adult purchases a main from the a la carte menu. Available all day, every day at all diners other than those on the A1, the kids menu includes classics like spaghetti Bolognese, scampi and fries or filled jacket potatoes.
Penelope’s Restaurant, Kent
If your kids love pizza head to Penelope’s Restaurant in Sidcup, Kent, where children get a free pizza with the purchase of any full-sized meal. The offer is available Monday to Friday 3-6pm and guests are advised to book ahead on the website to take up the offer.
Sainsbury's
Combine the weekly shop with lunch or dinner out at the Sainsbury's cafe, with the supermarket is offering a free kids hot meal or kids lunch bag with the purchase of any adult hot main meal from £5.20 in all of its cafes, during the May half-term school holidays. The offer is valid from 29th May – 2nd June and will be automatically applied.
During term time, kids can eat for £1 with the purchase of an adult meal from £5.20.
Sizzling Pub and Grill
Save money on a tea out at the Sizzling Pub and Grill where kids can eat for just £1 with a purchase of every adult meal Monday to Fridays between 3pm and 7pm.
From fish fingers, to pasta, chicken wraps to pizza, there's plenty on offer.
The Real Greek
Visit The Real Greek on Sundays and you’ll get a free kids' meal when an adult spends a minimum of £10 on their food. The offer includes a children’s meal from the kids' menu (mezze or souvlaki wrap), plus a drink and ice cream or sorbet for dessert. Available to all children under 12.
Westfield London
If you're planning a shopping trip to a Westfield London shopping centre in White City, there are plenty of kids eat free offers running from 29 May to 2 June, meaning children aged 12 years and under can eat free when accompanied by one paying adult. Individual restaurant terms and conditions on the offer will apply.
The Westfield restaurants taking part include Balans, Bill’s, Westwood, Sixes, Spaghetti House, Master Bao, Cabana, The Real Greek, Boost Juice Bars, Bindas Eatery, Byron and Copper Chimney.
YO! Sushi
If your kids like something a little different (think prawn katsu or chicken gyoza with veggie rice, maki and edamame), head to Yo Sushi! and dine in for a great half-term deal. For every adult that spends £10, one child can eat free. If you spend £20, two kids can eat free and so on, with a maximum of three kids per booking able to eat free. The offer includes a 'kiddo bento box' and a drink. A dorayaki pancake can be added for dessert for £1.50.The offer is valid all day from Monday 29th May to Friday 2nd June 2023. Offer is not available at YO! Bath, Heathrow T2, Heathrow T3, Manchester Piccadilly, St Pancras Station, York Outlet or London Luton Airport.
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