7 Free Food Deals and Savings Programmes in the UK

Beyond the McDonald’s gift card draws, there are several other ways to save on dining out and everyday food expenses in the United Kingdom. From free giveaway apps to restaurant loyalty programmes and coupon platforms, these resources can help reduce what you spend each month without sacrificing the meals you enjoy.

Weekly Gift Card Draws (BestDeals)

BestDeals is a free app that runs weekly gift card giveaways from popular retailers and restaurant chains. Users enter the draw each week at no cost — no purchase required, no subscription fee, and no credit card needed to participate.

The app also features a curated deals section highlighting current discounts, limited-time offers, and seasonal promotions from well-known brands. For users already looking to save money on food and shopping, it consolidates several useful features in one place.

Free Food Deals and Savings Programmes

1. McDonald’s App Rewards (MyMcDonald’s Rewards)

The official McDonald’s UK app runs a loyalty programme called MyMcDonald’s Rewards. Every purchase earns points that can be redeemed for free menu items — from cheeseburgers and McFlurries to Big Mac meals. The app also features daily deals, exclusive bundles, and limited-time offers that are not available in-store or on the website.

Recent promotions have included free medium fries with any purchase over £1.99, buy-one-get-one-free on selected drinks, and discounted meal bundles during weekday lunch hours. The app is free to download and requires no minimum spend to start earning points.

2. Too Good To Go — Surprise Bags

Too Good To Go is a food waste reduction app that lets you purchase “surprise bags” of unsold food from restaurants, cafes, bakeries, and supermarkets at a fraction of the original price — typically 60–70% off. In the UK, participating chains include Greggs, Costa Coffee, YO! Sushi, Morrisons, and many independent restaurants.

Bags typically cost between £2 and £4 and contain food worth £8 to £15 at retail prices. The app is free to download, and new bags are posted daily. For budget-conscious diners, this is one of the most reliable ways to eat well for less.

3. Nando’s Rewards

Nando’s operates a digital loyalty card where every three qualifying visits earn you a free item — progressing from a quarter chicken to a whole chicken as you accumulate more visits. The programme tracks visits automatically through the Nando’s app. There is no expiry on earned rewards, and the app also features exclusive offers and early access to new menu items.

4. Student Discount Programmes

Multiple restaurant chains across the UK offer student discounts through platforms like Student Beans, TOTUM, and UNiDAYS. Typical savings range from 10% to 25% off your order. Chains currently offering student discounts include McDonald’s, Pizza Hut, Domino’s, Subway, and ASK Italian, among others. A valid student ID or registered app account is required.

5. Greggs Rewards

Greggs runs a free loyalty app where every nine purchases in a specific category — hot drinks, bakes, or sweet treats — earn you a free item from that category. The app also features surprise rewards, birthday treats, and exclusive offers. With Greggs being the largest bakery chain in the UK, this programme is accessible in nearly every town and city.

6. Supermarket Loyalty Programmes

For everyday grocery savings, UK supermarket loyalty programmes remain among the most valuable free tools available:

• Tesco Clubcard — Clubcard prices are often 20–50% lower than standard shelf prices. Points can also be converted into reward partner vouchers for dining, entertainment, and travel at up to three times their face value.
• Sainsbury’s Nectar — the Nectar app provides personalised offers based on your shopping habits, plus the ability to earn and redeem points across partner brands including eBay, Argos, and British Airways.
• Lidl Plus — a digital loyalty app that offers weekly coupons, scratch cards with discounts, and receipt-based rewards. No points to track — discounts apply directly at checkout.

Coupon and Discount Tools

Several free platforms aggregate current deals, voucher codes, and cashback offers for the UK market:

• RetailMeNot — aggregates promotional codes and cashback offers from thousands of retailers. Frequently features BOGO deals and discounted meal bundles from restaurant chains.
• Picodi — provides region-specific discount codes verified by their editorial team. Users report savings of up to 50% on selected items during promotional periods.
• CouponBirds — a community-driven platform where users share and rate voucher codes daily. Active codes are typically verified within hours of posting.
• VoucherCodes — one of the UK’s largest coupon platforms, featuring exclusive deals from restaurants, takeaway services, and food delivery apps including Deliveroo, Just Eat, and Uber Eats.

Tip: stacking loyalty programme points with coupon codes and cashback apps can reduce your food spending by 20–30% per month. For example, ordering McDonald’s through the app during a promotional period, paying with a cashback-linked card, and applying a valid voucher code can yield savings from three separate sources on a single transaction.

Enter the McDonald’s Gift Card Draw

If you have not yet entered this week’s free draw for McDonald’s gift cards, it takes less than two minutes and costs nothing. Winners are selected randomly every week and notified by email with a digital gift card code ready to use at participating restaurants across the UK.

This page is for informational purposes only. Programme details, eligibility requirements, and availability are subject to change. Verify current terms directly with each provider. This page contains links to partner sites.