Restaurant Vouchers Explained…

With the number of different types of restaurant vouchers ever increasing, it can be hard to understand how they all work. Even though they all give some sort of discount on your food bill, they all work in different ways.

Hopefully the following will help you get the biggest saving when eating out;

2 for 1 – these are the most common type of discount voucher available at the moment. These often specify that 2 people can get a main course each, for the price of 1. There are often limitations to how many people can use per 2 for 1 restaurant voucher, so make sure that you check terms and conditions before use.

Nearly 2 for 1 – these are simialr to the above 2 for 1 on main courses, but with a slight difference. Recently some 2 for 1 restaurant vouchers have been stating that if you buy 1 main course at full price, you can get the second one for £1. The amount you pay for the second main can differ depending on the offer, but often it is a small amount.

Percentage off (eg. 50% off) – Simply put, these offers get a set percentage discount taken off your bill. The most common you will see is 50% off or 25% off. The discount is often only applied to food orders. 50% off is a slightly better offer than a 2 for 1, if you are planning on ordering more than 1 course, or you have odd numbers of people eating. Be aware, a number of these offers have a minimum spend, so be sure to ask when booking.

Fixed Discounts- These offers are when you will recieve a set amount off the total bill. For example you may have a £20 discount voucher, when you spend £40 on food. This would essentially be the same as a 50% off. Amounts of the discount vary by restaurant. Recently we have seen Pizza Hut offer £10 off a £25 spend. Despite this, there is not always a minimum spend, so you could find yourself getting a free (or very cheap meal)!

Special Menus- Increasingly restaurants are laying on special set menus for those with vouchers. For example, a restaurant may offer a voucher that allows the user to have 2 courses for £10, or any variation of this. These offers are used more commonly around special days such as Valentines, Mothers Day, and Christmas.

Kids Eat Free- As the title states, this discount is when children would be allowed to eat for free, when accompanied by a full paying adult. This can work out a great restaurant deal if there are more Children than Adults.

Free Course when buying main- This is when you may be offered a free course or extra when you buy any main course at a restaurant. For example you may be offered a free starter or dessert when purchasing any main.

As you can see with the above, calculating your meal cost before you go to a restaurant can bring you big savings, if there are a number of alternative restaurant offers available. Also, remember to read the terms and conditions of all vouchers before using, as many have blackout dates or restaurants where a voucher is not valid. If in doubt, give the restaurant a call.