This post may contain affiliate links – if you buy or book through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you, which helps support the site. All opinions are entirely my own. Written by Molly, mum of two. Last updated: July 2026.

Six weeks of summer holidays means six weeks of “I’m hungry” at the most inconvenient possible moments – usually ten minutes after you’ve left the house with no snacks and a very optimistic idea of how the day would go. Between that and the fact that holiday childcare alone is costing families an average of £1,145 per child this summer, eating out can start to feel like an unnecessary luxury.

Except it doesn’t have to be. Every summer, dozens of restaurant chains run “kids eat free” or “kids eat for £1” deals to get families through the door in the quiet daytime hours – and most parents have no idea how many of them are running at once, or that they can be stacked with a day out that’s already free. I’ve pulled together the full list for summer 2026, sorted by type, with the dates and conditions so you’re not caught out at the till, plus a rough idea of what it could actually save you over the six weeks.

A quick note before you dive in: these offers move fast, branches opt in and out, and terms can change with almost no notice. Treat this as your starting shortlist, then double-check the specific branch’s website or app on the day you’re planning to go.

How Much Could This Actually Save You?

Say you’ve got two children and you eat out twice a week during the holidays – a fairly normal amount once you’re filling six weeks of days out. A kids’ meal at most of these chains would otherwise run you somewhere between £6 and £9. At two kids, twice a week, for six weeks, that’s roughly £150–£215 you’re simply not spending, just by choosing a venue that happens to be running one of these deals instead of one that isn’t.

It won’t cover the whole £1,145 average childcare bill families are facing this summer, but it’s a genuinely painless way to claw back a chunk of the food spend without anyone in the family noticing you’ve changed anything – the kids still get chicken nuggets, you just don’t pay for them.

The Quick List

Restaurant	Deal	When	Do you need to spend?
Asda Café	Kids eat for £1	All year round	No adult spend required
Morrisons Café	Free kids’ meal + drink	All year round	Adult spend over £5
Toby Carvery	Kids’ carvery for 88p	25 June – 1 Sept	1 adult main required
Harvester	Kids eat for £1	Until 4 Sept	1 adult main required
Hungry Horse	Kids eat for 88p	20 July – 28 Aug	1 adult main required
Bella Italia	£1 (Sun–Wed, 4–6pm) / free all day Thursdays	Ongoing	1 adult main required
ASK Italian	Up to 2 kids’ meals free	17 July – 6 Sept	1 adult main per free kids’ meal
Zizzi	Free 3-course Bambini meal	17 July – 6 Sept	1 adult main + free app required
TGI Fridays	Kids eat free (12 and under)	26 June – 6 Sept	1 full-price adult main required
Burger & Lobster	Up to 2 kids free (under 12)	25 June – 1 Sept	1 adult main required

Supermarket Cafés: The No-Fuss, No-Spend Option

If you’re out doing the weekly shop anyway, this is the deal that costs you nothing extra to unlock.

Asda Café lets any child under 16 eat for £1, every day, all year, with no adult purchase required at all – genuinely useful if you’re just popping in and need somewhere to sit down for twenty minutes.

Morrisons Café gives kids under 16 a free meal and drink when an adult spends over £5, which is easy to hit if you’re grabbing lunch or a coffee anyway.

Pub & Carvery Chains: Best for a Proper Sit-Down Meal

Toby Carvery is offering a full carvery meal for kids for just 88p with any adult main, running from 25 June right through to 1 September – handy if you want everyone actually full rather than picking at a kids’ menu.

Harvester is running £1 kids’ meals every single day of the school holidays until 4 September, no strings beyond the one adult main.

Hungry Horse pubs have kids eating for 88p from 20 July to 28 August – timed almost exactly to the school holidays.

Italian & Casual Dining: Best If You’ve Got a Free App

ASK Italian lets you claim up to two free kids’ meals per adult main ordered, running 17 July to 6 September.

Zizzi gives kids a free three-course “Bambini” meal with an adult main, but you’ll need to join their free Zillionaires’ Club app first to unlock it – worth doing the day before you go so you’re not fiddling with sign-up in the queue.

Bella Italia does £1 kids’ meals Sunday to Wednesday between 4–6pm, and free all day on Thursdays, both with an adult main purchased.

Other Notable Deals

TGI Fridays lets children 12 and under eat free with a full-price adult main, running 26 June to 6 September.

Burger & Lobster offers up to two under-12s free per adult main from 25 June to 1 September – a nice one for a birthday or special occasion treat that doesn’t blow the budget.

5 Tips for Making Kids Eat Free Deals Actually Work For You

1. Download the app the night before. Zizzi and several others require you to sign up through an app to claim the deal – do this at home, not while three children are asking for breadsticks.
2. Go outside peak times. Most chains restrict these deals to quieter periods (weekday lunchtimes, before 6pm) precisely because that’s when they want the footfall. It also means shorter waits for you.
3. Ring ahead if you’re travelling to a specific branch. National offers don’t always apply at every franchise location – a two-minute call saves a wasted trip.
4. Stack it with a day out. Several of these chains cluster near retail parks and leisure centres, so it’s easy to pair a free-entry activity with a cheap lunch. Our free days out list is a good place to plan around.
5. Keep one eye on the small print. “Free” almost always means free with a purchased adult main – so this works out cheapest when there are more kids than adults at the table, not the other way round.

FAQs

Do all branches of these restaurants take part?

Not always. National chains set the offer centrally, but individual franchise-run branches can opt out. It’s always worth a quick check on the restaurant’s own website or a phone call before you set off, especially for smaller or independent-feeling locations.

Is there anywhere kids eat free with no adult spend at all?

Asda Café is the standout here – £1 kids’ meals with no minimum adult spend, every day of the year. Most other deals do require at least one adult main to be purchased.

What age counts as a “kid” for these deals?

It varies by restaurant. Some cap it at 12, others go up to 16 (like the supermarket cafés). Always check the age limit for the specific chain, as high chairs and toddler portions aren’t always covered by the same terms as the “kids eat free” offer.

Do these deals run outside the school holidays too?

Some do, some don’t. Asda and Morrisons run theirs all year, but most of the others are timed specifically to the six-week summer holidays and may not repeat at October half term, so it’s worth using them while they’re on.

Can I combine a kids eat free deal with a discount voucher or loyalty card?

Sometimes, but not always – it depends on the chain’s terms, and offers can’t usually be combined with other promotions. Check the small print on the day, as this is the detail that changes most often.

Are there local, independent cafés doing this too?

Often, yes – lots of local cafés and garden centres run their own version of this over summer, it’s just not nationally advertised. It’s worth asking next time you’re in your usual local spot, or checking their social media pages.

What’s the best age range for these deals?

Most are aimed squarely at children aged 2–12, which covers the vast majority of family meals out. Under-2s eating from an adult plate or a free baby menu are almost always fine too, but it’s worth mentioning your child’s age when you book or order, since high chair availability and portion sizes vary by branch.

Do I need to book in advance?

For most of these chains, no – you can usually just turn up and mention the offer when you order. The exception is anywhere requiring an app (like Zizzi’s Bambini deal), where it’s worth having the app open and ready before you’re seated, and larger groups over the summer holidays, where a table booking is sensible regardless of the deal.

For more ways to stretch the budget across the six weeks, have a look at our realistic summer holidays budget plan and our roundup of Great British Summer Savings for cheaper family days out. And if the weather turns, our rainy day activities list has you covered too.