Big chains such as Beefeater, McDonald’s and Zizzi are offering deals, discounts and even FREE food to welcome customers back in.
Covid rules will ease further from Monday under Boris Johnson’s roadmap out of lockdown, with Brits able to grab a pint or a meal outdoors.
Whitbread is opening 65 of its restaurants on April 12 and offering 25% off food
Some of the nation’s favourite boozers and restaurants are offering deals of up to 25% off orders – or even free food and drink – to reel punters back in.
Businesses are expected to come out fighting for survival on April 12, as experts estimate more than 200,000 jobs could be lost because of restricted trading rules.
Pubs, bars and restaurants can’t serve punters inside – which means that those without outdoor dining space or beer gardens won’t be able to open.
Brits will therefore have to brave the elements and grab a drink or bite to eat outside.
You’ll also have to stick to a number of rules – including wearing a mask when you’re not at your table, keep to social distancing rules, and keep to the Rule of Six.
We round up the best deals you can bag from Monday:
25% off at Beefeater and Brewers Fayre
You can get 25% off food at Beefeater
Whitbread – who owns household favourite chains including Beefeater and Brewers Fayre – is reopening 65 of its restaurants across the UK for al fresco dining.
Of its 65 restaurants reopening, 27 are Beefeaters and 26 are Brewers Fayre branches.
To mark the reopenings, it is offering 25% off food to hungry diners.
The discount will be available to Blue Light Card and Defence Privilege Card holders, as well as customers who sign up to the restaurant newsletters.
If you sign up to the newsletter, then you’ll receive an email detailing the discount which you’ll need to show to a member of staff when you arrive at your local branch.
You can sign up to the Beefeater newsletter here, and the Brewers Fayre one here.
Two for one meals via Tastecard and Meerkat Meals
Tastecard members and Meerkat Meals customers can get two for one mains, starters and desserts at big chains including Prezzo, Bella Italia, and Zizzi.
Tastecard can help with discounts on pizza, restaurant bills and more, and a membership costs £4.99.
Members can get the the two for one deal at Prezzo’s 70 restaurants reopening for outside dining every Sunday through to Friday.
At Bella Italia, ASK Italian and Zizzi and Cafe Rouge, tastecard members can get the deal on Sundays through to Thursdays.
To get the deal, you should mention you have a Tastecard membership when booking a table at one of the scheme’s participating chains.
Show your card when you arrive at the restaurant to get the money off – you can find which restaurants offer tastecard deals here.
If you’re a Compare the Market customer, you can use the Meerkat Meals app to get the two for one deal at Prezzo too, as well as other chains.
If you’ve taken out an insurance deal or credit card with the price comparison site, you get a year pass for Meerkat Meals – which offers two for one deals on meals at chains including Pizza Hut and Prezzo.
You can find which restaurants accept Meerkat Meals deals at on Compare the Market’s website.
Download the Meerkat Meals app which is free to download on Google Play or the App Store, to get the offer.
Search the app to find which restaurants accept the offer, and make sure to show the deal on the app when you go to dine.
Hot drinks for 50p at Costa Coffee
If you overdo it a bit on Monday evening at your local when it reopens, you can grab a coffee kick for just 50p from Costa Coffee on Tuesday morning.
The chain is launching a deal where thirsty shoppers can get any hot drink for 50p between Tuesday and Thursday next week.
However, you’ll have to download the Costa Coffee app to get the deal – it’s free to download from Google Play or the App Store.
You’ll have to include some personal details to sign up though, including your name and email address.
Then take your app to the till to get it scanned to get your bevvie for less.
You can also get the offer if you want to pick up your drink from a Costa Coffee drive-thru or use the chain’s click and collect service.
Free booze with main meal at Pizza Express
If you’re looking for something a little stiffer, then PizzaExpress is offering free booze to customers on Monday up until Sunday (April 16).
You’ll have to sign up to the chain’s mailing list to get a code that let’s you get a free 330ml bottle of Peroni when you buy a main course.
You can swap your beer for a 175ml glass of wine or you can choose a soft drink instead.
It’s only available if you’re eating at a PizzaExpress branch, but you won’t be able to get a drink on the house if you’re dining in Scotland or Jersey due to local licencing restrictions.
£5 off £20 orders at McDonald’s
McDonald’s is offering a deal on Monday where customers can get a fiver off their order if they spend £20 or more.
You’ll have to be a My McDonald’s app user to get the deal though.
The app is free to download on Android and Apple devices, but you’ll need to register an account before you can order anything.
Then, head to the deals section of the app to get the offer.
Free food at Byron
Meanwhile, Byron is offering FREE food.
The chain is offering free Mac and Cheese balls throughout April to raise awareness for Testicular Cancer Awareness Month.
All you need to do is ask for “Mac and Squeeze balls, please” and the waiter will bring a portion to you for free.
You can get the freebie if you’re ordering your order for click and collection.
All you need to do is add a portion of Mac and Squeeze balls to your order and the money will be knocked off.
We explain all you need to know about when pubs can reopen in the UK.
We also explain when non-essential shops will reopen.
After months of being told to stay at home, we explain when those keen for a weekend escape will be allowed domestic overnight stays with their household.
