If you are like me and like to eat out with friends and family, you may be interested to know there’s a great way to save money on your meals out. We also know what effect more expensive bills, groceries, mortgage rates and everything else is having on our disposable income, but that doesn’t mean you have to cut out your leisure and dining activities. This is where tastecard comes in. You may have heard of tastecard, and you may have thought about getting one, but the big question on your lips is probably – is tastecard worth it? Let’s get into what a tastecard covers and work out whether you can save money.
Is tastecard worth it?
This is a collaborative post
There are a few things to think about when thinking about whether a tastecard is worth it, but generally speaking, yes you will save money if you buy a tastecard. But let’s look at all the details of a tastecard.
What is a tastecard?
A tastecard is a dining membership program that offers its members significant discounts at thousands of chain and independent restaurants across the UK. Launched with the vision of making dining out more affordable, tastecard partners with a huge number of restaurants, ranging from local gems to popular chains. The idea is simple – present your tastecard at a participating restaurant, and enjoy either 2 for 1 meals or 25% off your food bill.
Owning a tastecard doesn’t only give you access to restaurant deals, you can also enjoy delicious takeaway pizza at home, with 50% off pizza at Domino’s, Pizza Hut & Papa Johns, an average of 25% off cinema tickets at over 350 cinemas nationwide, plus discounted days out at some of the UK’s top attractions.
Is tastecard Worth It? The Pros
Money Saving
One of the most compelling reasons people buy a tastecard is the potential for significant cost savings when eating out in restaurants. With the promise of 2 for 1 meals or a 25% discount on your food bills, the membership can pay for itself after just a few uses, making dining out a more budget-friendly affair. The smart folk at tastecard looked into this and worked out that people save, on average, £23 per meal when using their tastecard. So, the savings pretty quickly rack up and if, like me, you eat out regularly, your tastecard will pay for itself very quickly.
Variety of Participating Restaurants
The scheme boasts an extensive network of partner restaurants, ranging from cosy independent eateries to well-known chains. This variety ensures that members have plenty of options when it comes to choosing where to dine, making it suitable for those who have strong preferences or those who like to eat out regularly, but like to mix up their restaurant choices.
Convenience
The convenience of your card is definitely an advantage. Most of the restaurants want you to book in advance, but that’s advantageous as you will probably want to book in advance to secure a table at your chosen time. Once you are there, all you need to do is present your card to the restaurant and you’ll get the discount. There’s no need for complex calculations or haggling over the bill; the process is straightforward, which will make your overall dining experience even nicer.
Additional Discounts
Beyond the core 2 for 1 or 25% off benefit, tastecard often includes additional promotions and discounts. These include discounts on takeaway pizza, cinema tickets and other attractions like iFLY Indoor Skydiving, SEA LIFE, Alton Towers and Virgin Experience Days, providing extra value to members beyond the dining benefits.
In the quest to answer whether tastecard is worth it, the decision ultimately depends on how much eating out you do, when you eat out and also where in the UK you live. You can easily answer this question by having a look at the restaurants on offer on the tastecard website. Why not ask for a tastecard for Christmas? It would make for a great Christmas gift. I personally feel that even if you only eat out on occasion, you would probably save money using a tastecard, but this would depend on how many restaurants offer discounts in the area I live.
For those who dine out infrequently or perhaps only ever dine out on Friday or Saturday night in the same (non-participating) restaurants, the annual membership fee may outweigh the potential benefits.
So if you are a semi-regular restaurant diner, tastecard can be a delightful addition to your arsenal of money-saving tactics, making eating out more affordable and enjoyable.
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