Families across the UK can save up to £15 per child during the May half-term break as Britain’s top dining chains launch aggressive promotions to ease the cost-of-living squeeze. From Saturday, 24 May to Sunday, 31 May 2026, children can eat for free or just £1 at 34 major venues, including high-street giants and supermarket cafés.
Prezzo Italian has taken the most elaborate approach, unveiling a Pudsey-themed promotion to coincide with Children in Need fundraising. For £1, families can add a donation to “Pasta for Pudsey,” while children receive two free courses with every adult main meal. The chain is also pushing its Club Prezzo membership at £1.99 per month, which grants up to three free kids meals year-round with a paying adult. Interactive 3D menus and activity sheets promise to keep young diners entertained, but the real draw is the two-for-one value.
Key Offers
- ✅ Prezzo Italian: Two free courses per adult main meal
- ⚡ Frankie & Benny’s: One free kids meal with adult purchase from 25–31 May
- 💡 Morrisons Café: Free kids meal with adult meal over £5
Frankie & Benny’s, the New York-Italian diner chain, is responding with a simpler but equally enticing offer: one child’s meal free from the kids’ menu when an adult buys a main course. The promotion runs from 25 May to 31 May and includes burgers, sourdough pizzas, and classic diner-style dishes. A spokesperson confirmed the chain aims to “help families make the most of the break without worrying about the cost.”
| Chain | Offer | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Prezzo Italian | Two free courses per adult main | 24–31 May |
| Frankie & Benny’s | One free kids meal with adult main | 25–31 May |
| Las Iguanas | Kids eat free all day | 24–31 May |
| Morrisons Café | Free kids meal with £5+ adult meal | Year-round |
Las Iguanas is betting on its vibrant “Family Fiesta” theme to stand out. From 24 May to 31 May, children can eat free all day with every adult main meal purchased. The Niños menu features quesadillas, burgers, and mild Bahian curry, though selected sites—including Wembley, The O2, and some Center Parcs locations—are excluded. The promotion underscores the chain’s focus on Latin American flavors as a family-friendly draw.
💡 Pro Tip
Book ahead. While most offers don’t require reservations, high-demand venues like Las Iguanas and Prezzo are likely to face queues during peak hours. Check for exclusions and download apps like ASK Perks or Club Prezzo in advance to streamline ordering.
Supermarket cafés are also joining the fray. Morrisons’ free Kellogg’s Breakfast Clubs continue during the holidays, offering free cereal, milk, and fruit to both adults and children. Its café deal—one free kids meal with every adult meal over £5—provides a fallback for families seeking no-frills affordability. ASDA Cafés are matching the effort with kids meals for £1 and no adult minimum spend, while Dobbies Garden Centres and Dunelm Pausa Cafés offer kids eat free with a £4 or £4-plus adult spend respectively.
📋 By The Numbers
- £15 — Estimated savings per child at participating venues
- 95p — Kids meal price at IKEA
- 2 — Max free kids meals per adult at Farmhouse Inns
IKEA’s UK outlets are offering kids meals for 95p, a price point that aligns with its reputation for budget-friendly dining. Marco Pierre White’s restaurants are targeting younger kids specifically, with free mains for children under 12 when accompanied by a paying adult. Meanwhile, Gordon Ramsay Restaurants are quietly running a promotion: one free kids main with qualifying adult meals, though details remain sparse.
- 📊 Savings vary: Chains like Frankie & Benny’s and Las Iguanas cap savings at one free meal per adult, while ASK Italian allows up to two free kids meals via its app.
- 🔍 Exclusions apply: High-profile Las Iguanas locations and premium sites like The O2 are notably absent from the kids eat free promotions.
- ⚠️ Age limits: Most offers target children under 12 or 16, but always verify terms to avoid disappointment.
The surge in half-term promotions reflects broader industry efforts to lure families back to dining out amid persistent cost-of-living pressures. With inflation on food and beverages still running above 5% year-on-year, chains are using kids eat free deals as both a marketing tool and a community gesture. Parents planning ahead can mix and match offers—breakfast at Morrisons, lunch at ASK Italian, and dinner at Las Iguanas—to maximize savings without sacrificing variety.
- Pre-plan your route: Map venues by location to minimize travel time and avoid last-minute scrambles for parking.
- Check app exclusions: Some promotions, like ASK Perks, are app-exclusive and may not be valid at all sites.
- Pack backup snacks: While deals are generous, not all locations offer portion sizes suitable for teens or larger appetites.
The promotions end on 31 May, but the underlying trend toward family-friendly pricing shows no sign of fading. Chains are quietly testing year-round versions of these offers, hinting that the kids eat free model could become a permanent fixture in Britain’s dining landscape.
