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Metro
24-07-2025
- Business
- Metro
Best summer holiday money-saving deals, from kids meals to discount days out
Summer is well and truly underway, leaving many parents wondering how they'll keep the kids entertained on their already-stretched budgets. No matter how frugal you are, extra spending adds up quickly over the school holidays. From meals to activities, the break can put a serious dent in your wallet. But there's no need to panic. A number of UK businesses are offering discounts and deals to help families save money without cutting back on fun — and we've rounded up some of the best. So whether you're looking to plan a full weekend of adventure, or just trying to keep lunch costs down, this go-to guide has an array of options to ensure your summertime schedule doesn't break the bank. One of the simplest ways to save money this summer is to cut back on dining out. However, many places have promotions over the holidays, so you don't necessarily have to miss out. From July 21 to August 29 (excluding weekends), up to two children can eat free when one adult orders any main dish at Bill's. The offer runs all day, including the chain's breakfast, lunch and dinner menus, applying to all children under 10. You'll also be provided with story books, colouring in materials and stickers to keep the little ones entertained while you dine. Browse the Bill's menu and find your local branch here. With the purchase of an adults main meal, children up to 12 years old will receive a free three-course kids meal at Prezzo, every day from July 14 to September 5. All you need to do is sign up to receive a code via email, which you then show to the waiter at the end of your meal. Prezzo has 180 branches across the UK. Visit the website for more information. For a limited time, you can get a 30-day trial of the Kids Pass discount scheme for just £1, which gives you access to great discounts on activities, restaurants and events all across the UK. Take a look here for more information. Parents who sign up to Ask Italian's Perks rewards app can save this summer. All you need to do is claim a code, and you'll get your hands on two free kids meals with the purchase of an adult meal. Valid from Friday July 18 through to Sunday August 31, it makes for a budget-friendly holiday treat. For more information on the offer, or to find your nearest branch, check the Ask Italian website. Finding yourself in London or Edinburgh this summer? Head to Bread Street Kitchen, where children aged 10 and under eat free when accompanied by an adult ordering two courses from the a la carte menu. Kids can choose from mac and cheese, sausage and mash, meatball pasta and more, with no extra cost added to your bill. This deal is valid every day at its Liverpool, Stratford, Limehouse, Southwark, and St Paul's locations, or at the City, Heddon Street Kitchen, Battersea, Mayfair and Edinburgh branches on weekdays only. Visit the Bread Street Kitchen website for more information. If your little ones are pizza and pasta fans, you can get a free, three-course piccolo meal at Pizza Express this summer with every adult main. And given these dishes start at just £12.25, it's a major bargain. There are 339 Pizza Express restaurants across the UK. For more information on the offer or to find your local branch, take a look here. Travelling with the whole clan? During the school holidays, Heathrow Airport is running a Kids Eat Free promotion across a variety of its restaurants. With options in Terminals 2, 3, 4 and 5 – including Leon, Shan Shui, Giraffe and Co-Pilots Bar & Kitchen – it's a handy way avoid blowing too much holiday cash before you've even stepped on the plane. The promotion is valid from July 18 to September 2, with one free children's meal for each purchased from the adult's menu priced at £14.95 or more. Visit the Heathrow website for more information. This popular London spot is offering children aged 8 and under a complimentary kids meal with the purchase of any main menu dish, alongside an activity sheet and crayons to keep young diners occupied. Available everyday from 12pm to 5pm, across Angus Steakhouse's five London locations: Leicester Square, Piccadilly Circus, Mayfair, Paddington and Oxford Circus. You can find more information on the brand's website. Alongside restaurant deals, Metro money expert Rosie Murray-West has a few other tips to make eating out more economical. Buying a pack of ice creams from the supermarket rather than a van at the beach will save you more than you'd think, especially if you have more than one child. Or, if you need a caffeine hit while looking after the kids and happen to have a smart meter with Octopus Energy, you can get a code each week for a free tea or coffee at Caffe Nero or Greggs. Days out can add up fast, but summer adventures don't mean you have to spend a fortune. Take a look at our shortlist of the some of the best deals over the summer break. If you're a live entertainment lover but aren't keen on ticket prices, SRO Audiences has got you covered. This service offers free tickets to a plethora of different TV shows — all you have to do is be an audience member. With tickets to the likes of Loose Women, Would I Lie to You?, The Voice UK, the Graham Norton Show and 8 out of 10 Cats does Countdown, there's bound to be something you fancy. It's completely free to sign up, and once you have an account you can apply for tickets to all of these popular shows, and more. Visit the SRO website to see the full list and apply for your seat. Begging your kids to take a break from the screen? Head to Pets at Home, which is hosting free My Pet Pals workshops across its UK stores between July 19 and August 21. These events – recommended for ages four and above – are designed to teach children about how to take care of a range of animals, with activities, a chance to meet store pets, a pocketbook with collectable stickers, and a My Pet Pals certificate. Check out the Pets at Home website for more information and to book your spot. Visitors to the stunning Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew, Richmond, can claim two-for-one tickets with National Rail this summer. As well as being London's largest Unesco World heritage site and home to the largest collection of living plants on earth, Kew features a range of family-friendly activities, from a treetop walkway to a dedicated children's garden. Better still, kids under four go free. Check out full details and claim the offer here. As well as a range of online tutorials LEGO is hosting in-person Creativity Workshops this summer to keep kids' imaginations flowing. Its 'Summer Fun with Music' workshops – available at stores across the country – give children aged six to 12 the chance to design, build and decorate their own unique LEGO microphone for only £5. Affordable, enjoyable and educational is a rare combination for holiday activities, so you might want to reserve a place ASAP. Check out your nearest location and book your spot here. Open daily to the public, the Virgin Media Gamepad is your go-to destination for gaming fun that's totally free. Whether your child is a casual couch gamer or aspiring professional, they can choose from 16 Xbox Series X pods to raid, race and battle, every day at the Gamepad from 2pm to 7pm. More Trending Find out more information on the Virgin Media website. Head down to the steps of Granary Square, Kings Cross from June 30 to August 17 and catch free screenings of your favorite flicks — no ticket needed, just grab a spot on the canal. From recent releases and family favorites to niche cult classics, there's something for everyone's tastes. Plus, you can either bring your own picnic or discover the canal-side bar which sells snacks, cocktails, ice creams, coffee and more. Visit the Everyman website to take a look at the full film programme and menus. Do you have a story to share? Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@ View More » MORE: I ditched loo roll to cut costs and pay off our mortgage in just 7 years MORE: Uncle 'threw infant niece down three-storey rubbish chute' MORE: Little-known way to get half-price food from Sainsbury's, Asda, Morrisons and more Your free newsletter guide to the best London has on offer, from drinks deals to restaurant reviews.
Belfast Telegraph
10-06-2025
- Business
- Belfast Telegraph
Burrito chain Boojum eyeing new locations amid expansion
The chain, which opened its first location on Botanic Avenue in Belfast back in 2007, has opened a few new spots in England over the last year. That includes at the Merrion Centre in Leeds, as well as in Liverpool, Birmingham and Nottingham. But it's also searching for new restaurants in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Manchester, and Sheffield. Speaking about the new Leeds location, the firm said: It's due to open its doors in April, the firm said, creating around 40 new jobs: 'The new store opening in Leeds Merrion Centre will create 40 new jobs including both full time and part time positions.' The chain was sold to the UK company which runs the Zizzi and Ask Italian restaurant chains. The business was bought by David and Andrew Maxwell in 2015 as part of a management buy-in, which was backed by investment firm Renatus. Azzurri Group said it had acquired a controlling interest in Boojum from Renatus Capital Partners. Speaking around the time of the Leeds opening, David Maxwell, the firm's managing director, posting on LinkedIn, said: 'See you soon Leeds… hopefully the first of many stores in mainland UK'.
The Sun
07-05-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Adored Italian restaurant with 66 branches across the UK closes in city centre after serving customers for over 10 years
A BELOVED Italian high street icon with nearly 70 sites across the UK has shut its doors in a major city centre after 10 years of service. The popular chain on Birmingham 's busy New Street closed down after a decade of serving up pizzas, pastas and salads. 2 A sign in the window of Ask Italian - on the corner unit where New Street meets Bennetts Hill - told customers that it would be closing for good. The same sign also advised customers that their nearest branch is at Merry Hill - and that movers were already clearing the space. The message to its loyal customers read: "Thank you. Your Ask Italian Birmingham is closing on May 5." They added that it had been a "pleasure to be part of your community". "We hope you've enjoyed it as much as we have," the chain said. "Your local Ask Italian is now Merry Hill Shopping Centre." It is unclear what the plans are for the unit's new space. Ask Italian is part of the Azzurri Group. The group also operates chains Boojum, Zizzi, Coco di Mama and Dave's Hot Chicken. Viral chicken chain Dave's Hot Chicken announced it would be expanding into the UK market last year. Beloved steakhouse chain to shut ALL its restaurants after collapsing into administration with no explanation According to reports, the growing chain could potentially fill up the empty space Ask Italian has left behind. A Boojum location opened on New Street last year. If Dave's Hot Chicken opens, it will become one of five chicken shops on the stretch of New Street now referred to by some locals as the "Chicken Quarter". It comes after another beloved restaurant closed down after 10 years of service in Sheffield. Koko had what locals labelled the city's best sushi, but announced its closure from April 14 last month. Also in late April, a popular steakhouse closed all its branches after going bust. The chain went into administration without any explanation according to reports. 2
Scottish Sun
07-05-2025
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Adored Italian restaurant with 66 branches across the UK closes in city centre after serving customers for over 10 years
The closing of the Azzurri Group chain may make way for a viral chicken shop CLOSING TIME Adored Italian restaurant with 66 branches across the UK closes in city centre after serving customers for over 10 years A BELOVED Italian high street icon with nearly 70 sites across the UK has shut its doors in a major city centre after 10 years of service. The popular chain on Birmingham's busy New Street closed down after a decade of serving up pizzas, pastas and salads. Advertisement 2 An adored Italian restaurant with 66 branches across the UK has closed in Birmingham city centre Credit: Google Maps A sign in the window of Ask Italian - on the corner unit where New Street meets Bennetts Hill - told customers that it would be closing for good. The same sign also advised customers that their nearest branch is at Merry Hill - and that movers were already clearing the space. The message to its loyal customers read: "Thank you. Your Ask Italian Birmingham is closing on May 5." They added that it had been a "pleasure to be part of your community". Advertisement "We hope you've enjoyed it as much as we have," the chain said. "Your local Ask Italian is now Merry Hill Shopping Centre." It is unclear what the plans are for the unit's new space. Ask Italian is part of the Azzurri Group. Advertisement The group also operates chains Boojum, Zizzi, Coco di Mama and Dave's Hot Chicken. Viral chicken chain Dave's Hot Chicken announced it would be expanding into the UK market last year. Beloved steakhouse chain to shut ALL its restaurants after collapsing into administration with no explanation According to reports, the growing chain could potentially fill up the empty space Ask Italian has left behind. A Boojum location opened on New Street last year. Advertisement If Dave's Hot Chicken opens, it will become one of five chicken shops on the stretch of New Street now referred to by some locals as the "Chicken Quarter". It comes after another beloved restaurant closed down after 10 years of service in Sheffield. Koko had what locals labelled the city's best sushi, but announced its closure from April 14 last month. Also in late April, a popular steakhouse closed all its branches after going bust. Advertisement The chain went into administration without any explanation according to reports.
