How to Save Money When You Dine Out: 10 Practical Tips

Eating out regularly can quietly drain your budget. The average UK household spends around £1,400 a year on restaurants, cafes, and takeaways, according to the Office for National Statistics. The tips below let you keep enjoying meals out while cutting that figure significantly.

1. Check the menu in advance

Most restaurants publish their menus online. Spend two minutes looking at prices before you choose a venue. If a restaurant looks expensive, find an alternative before you arrive; it is much harder to back out once you are seated.

Many venues also offer a separate bar menu or early-evening menu at a lower price than the main menu. A quick look at the website will tell you whether these options exist.

2. Set a budget before you sit down

Decide on a per-head spending limit before you arrive and stick to it. A concrete number makes it easier to skip the expensive starter or decline a third glass of wine. If you are dining in a group, agreeing a budget in advance avoids the awkward moment at the end of the meal when the bill arrives and people have spent very different amounts.

3. Look for special offers and early-bird deals

Most restaurants run promotions on quieter nights or during early sittings. Visiting on a Tuesday rather than a Friday, or arriving at 6pm rather than 8pm, can halve your bill at the same restaurant. Phone ahead or check the website; many venues advertise these deals only locally.

Timing also matters for price. Lunch menus at many restaurants cost 20 to 40 per cent less than the same dishes at dinner.

4. Use discount codes and loyalty schemes

Several tools make it easy to find restaurant discounts:

Follow your favourite restaurants on social media and sign up to their mailing lists. Many offer exclusive discount codes to subscribers that are not available elsewhere.

5. Share starters and desserts

Sharing a starter or pudding between two people cuts the cost without compromising the experience. Many restaurants now offer sharing platters that work well for groups. Asking for a dessert to share is common and no waiter will object.

6. Always ask for tap water

UK restaurants are required by law to provide free tap water to customers who ask for it, if they serve alcohol on the premises (under the Licensing Act 2003). Sparkling mineral water at restaurant prices typically costs £3 to £5 per bottle. Asking for tap water for the table is the quickest single saving available.

If you prefer sparkling water, ask for soda water; many venues provide this free or at minimal cost.

7. Take leftovers home

Food waste costs you money twice: you pay for it at the restaurant and then again when you buy food to replace what you wasted. Ask for a takeaway box for any food you cannot finish. Cold pizza, pasta, or curry makes a perfectly good lunch the next day and costs nothing extra.

8. Choose carefully from the menu

Restaurants often offer the same dish in starter and main sizes at significantly different price points. A starter portion of soup or risotto is filling enough for a light appetite and costs considerably less than the main. Similarly, opting for a vegetarian or fish dish rather than steak can save £5 to £15 per person on a typical restaurant menu.

9. Pay for your own food, not someone else's

When dining in a group, splitting the bill equally is convenient but unfair if people have ordered very differently. Do not be afraid to pay separately. Most restaurants are happy to split a bill by person if you ask; card payments make this straightforward. Paying your share only is not mean; it is sensible.

10. Track your spending on food and drink on the go

Coffee, snacks, and takeaway lunches add up to a surprisingly large sum. According to research by Lloyds Bank, the average UK worker spends around £1,500 a year on bought lunches and coffees. Keep a note of every food-and-drink purchase for one week and add it up. Most people are surprised by the total. Even cutting out one bought coffee and one bought lunch per week saves roughly £600 per year.

FAQ

What is Tastecard and is it worth the money?

Tastecard is a membership scheme that offers 50 per cent off or 2-for-1 meals at thousands of UK restaurants. Annual membership costs around £34.99 (check the current price at tastecard.co.uk). If you eat out more than once a month, the membership will typically pay for itself within two or three uses. Most major chains and many independent restaurants participate.

Are restaurants legally required to provide free tap water?

In England and Wales, licensed premises (those that sell alcohol) are required by the Licensing Act 2003 to provide free potable tap water to customers. This means any pub or restaurant with a licence to sell alcohol must give you free tap water if you ask. Scotland has similar provisions under its licensing law. Unlicensed cafes and restaurants are not legally obliged to provide free water, though most will.

Is lunchtime cheaper than dinner at the same restaurant?

Usually yes. Many restaurants offer a set lunch menu at a fixed price, typically £10 to £20 per head, which is significantly cheaper than dining from the full evening menu at the same venue. This is a reliable way to try upmarket restaurants at a fraction of the usual cost.

What is the best way to find restaurant vouchers in the UK?

Check Vouchercloud (vouchercloud.com) and VoucherCodes (vouchercodes.co.uk) before you book. Search for the restaurant name plus "discount code" or "voucher." Sign up to the restaurant's own mailing list for exclusive member-only offers. Consider a Tastecard subscription if you eat out regularly.

How do I avoid spending more than I intend to when eating out?

Decide on your maximum spend per head before you arrive. Avoid the habit of ordering whatever sounds good and calculating the total at the end. Look at prices as you order, not after. Choosing a set menu rather than ordering a la carte gives you a fixed cost upfront and is often better value.