There’s no doubt that ‘eating out’ was one of the things we really missed during lockdown. Now the world is slipping back to normality, we can’t wait to get out and socialise over some great food. Watching the pennies is now more important than ever, so the South Wales Life team have dug out some of the best deals.

Click on the current deals below to see what’s on offer now. And take a look at our TIP of the day to get a real bargain.

• PLACES TO EAT
• RESTAURANT LINKS
• OUT OF SOUTH WALES
• DISCOUNT CARDS

Bookmark this page and come back regularly. Our team are searching out more offers as we speak. We’ve also tried to add a few that you may not have visited before, either because of cost, or maybe you’ve not heard of them.

If you’re looking for a weekend/weekday treat with the family, or before work, it’s worth checking in with your local supermarket who have some great ‘Dine In’ deals.

Tesco Cafe is now fully open, with Barista made coffee and hot food.

Waitrose 50% OFF selected danishes at selected branches only. Offer only applicable with tea or coffee purchased in the café with your myWaitrose card. 

Take a look a these websites for more.

• MORRISONS
• TESCO
• SAINSBURY’S
• WAITROSE

M&S CAFES – Kids Eat Free

To celebrate the start of the school holidays, we are offering a ‘kids eat free’ offer for customers until Friday 6th August in all 350 cafes across the UK. Receive our £3.95 kids’ meal deal which includes a Main + Snack + Fruit + Drink for free with one qualifying adult spend of £3.50*.  Choose from a wide selection including ham sandwiches, toasties, pasta, fruit, juices, and a delicious gingerbread bee!  

For the grown-ups – why not try one of their upgraded toasties which the fabulous team of product developers have spent months perfecting the recipe – switching to a traditional sourdough bread and upping the filling ratio for a super indulgent treat.  

Look out for:  Ham & Cheese Toastie – with Wiltshire Cured ham.

This ham is a traditional recipe, brined with a Wiltshire cure, paired with mature Barbers Cheddar cheese for a tangy flavour and Emmental cheese for a nutty, oozy finish – all sandwiched in traditional recipe sourdough bread.  Also available is an Emmental & Mushroom Toastie and Chicken & Bacon Toastie – £4.95 each.  Yup, we’re drooling too… 😉

*T&C’s

1. Café kids eat free deal
2. A £3.50 or higher spend in a single transaction in the café qualifies 1 free kids meal deal
3. 1 free kids meal deal per transaction only
4. Kids meal deal includes 1 main + 1 side + 1 kids drink + 1 fruit with a total value of £3.95
5. Offer available in all M&S owned Cafes across England, Wales, Scotland and NI Cafes excluding Sears Solihull Café
6. Offer valid Monday 26th July – Friday 6th August Inclusive

Here in South Wales, we are all itching to get out and eat again, and enjoy a bit of social dining. We spoke to the Lawsons’ from Merthyr and the Shaw Family in Bridgend, and almost in unison they were excited to get back out there.

“We’ve had to watch our finances since lockdown, but we’re also aware that we need to get out and have some fun as a family. The kids have been desperate to get out and eat, and strangely enough not just a McDonalds.

We have spoken to so many establishments over the last few months and they just want people back through their doors. The money and business side of the operations is of course important, but serving customers, with some amazing food, is what these places do, with an extraordinary passion.

We don’t want to single out one establishment in particular, but thought we’d feature a few places each day. So bookmark this page and pop back regularly to see who we’ve added.

Also take a look at out title bar at the top of our homepage. Go to the USEFUL LINKS section, and under MY SOUTH WALES you’ll see lots of places to eat, right on your doorstep.

We also have lots of recipe ideas for you to enjoy at home – RECIPES

PLACES TO EAT

You’ll notice we’ve added a few Christmas ideas too, which may seem mad right now, but we have a feeling the festive period this year will be one of the busiest ever for our eating establishments.

DEPOT CARDIFF – DEPOT is a much loved, and definitely a much missed venue during lockdown. In a ‘fully working’ world DEPOT is the ultimate warehouse space for Cardiff’s most creative pop up events. For the last 6 years they’ve been creating exciting new events from Ginstock and By Order Of to Hip Hop Karaoke, Pizza & Prosecco and our Friday night sell-out, BINGO LINGO. Incidentally, if you’ve never tried Bingo Lingo, make sure you get along – this will knock the socks off your ‘two little ducks’ regular bingo session.

DEPOT are now back with a Street Food Social thing, and if it’s like everything else they do, it’s going to be really popular. If you’d like to get tickets just go HERE.

THE CASTELL MYNACH – A lovely country pub in Pontyclun are ready to go and would encourage you to download their app to collect points to save money on future meals, they’re part of the Vintage Inns group. They are also taking bookings for their Christmas Menu, which should run till around the 30^th December (excluding Christmas Day and Boxing Day, when different extra-special menus are available instead).

There’s also following pubs in the group around South Wales.

• THE DRAGONFLY
• THE TRAVELLER’S REST
• THE PLYMOUTH ARMS

MILLER & CARTER KILLAY – The steakhouse on Gower Road in Swansea have taken things up from a bit of festive spirit to some festive indulgence. After the last few months, it’s time to treat yourself to some quality time with your loved ones at Miller and Carter Killay – enjoying decadent dishes and sipping away on their sparkling Prosecco

Here are links to other Miller & Carter restaurants around the region.

• CARDIFF BAY
• THE HAYES
• HEREFORD

ALL BAR ONE – Have got a variety of deals on their website. Check their site for details. They are also up and running on their festive menu with a free bottle of Prosecco when you go with a party of 6.

BROWNS – Offer classic homemade brasserie fayre alongside exciting seasonal creations, with fresh market fish delivered daily and steak from cows reared on their own sustainable farms. They always have a range of deals on offer. Cocktails start at a fiver, and they’ve been known to give a free bottle of Prosecco for a table of six or more.

BEEFEATER – Have a load of deals, particularly if you download their App. If you collect points you can get money off food too and they have just change the sign up page offer to a 50% off bonus. Our link takes you to their Reward Club page.

WALKABOUT – Have a Lunch Deal running till 4pm and you can upgrade your drink for £1. Also a really nice Burger & A Drink Deal, that can can be a selected alcoholic one too. Our link points you to their offers page. As for Christmas, they have a variety of deals, including one where you can buy a ‘drinks package’ HERE

SLUG & LETTUCE – Have a 6 Dishes for £6 Each Deal running Sunday to Friday, these include – Fish and Chips | Lasagne | Halloumi and Chips (V) | Veg Thai Curry (VG) | Chicken and Bacon Salad | Burger (Vegan Options Available) – Cheese and Bacon Burger | Moving Mountains® Burger (VG) | Louisiana™ Chick’n Plant-Based Burger (VG) Our link takes you to that page. They also have a variety of festive packages available too. HERE

CELTIC MANOR RESORT – Have a few really nice hotel deals right now. If you want a stay, combined with fabulous dining, check out their site.

They have been counting down the days to welcome you back inside their gorgeous restaurants to enjoy a meal in the warm. From lunches and dinners, to nibbles and afternoon tea, they have a menu for your every occasion.

Why wait until the weekend to treat yourselves or plan that long overdue get together, book a midweek lunch and choose from their mouthwatering menus.

Right across the Celtic Collection they’ve got fabulous food to tempt your tastebuds. Browse through the wide range of exciting and unique dining venues HERE.

Up to 6 guests are permitted to dine together for indoor and outdoor dining. Please ensure your dining reservation follows Welsh Government guidelines.

We dropped in on the Celtic Manor Resort recently and can tell you they have the whole dining experience off to a fine art. The food is great too.

Catch up over seasonal sandwiches, scrumptious summer time cakes and pastries and freshly baked fruit and vanilla scones with clotted cream and jam… perfect.

THE COCONUT TREE – In Cardiff are renowned for not only offering incredible food but some pretty good deals too. In fact we had an email into the office from the restaurant and thought we’d share these deals with you.

It has confirmed the extension of 50% off for all eat-in customers (Monday to Wednesday) until the end of January 2022.

Bookings for the Mill Lane restaurant are now open HERE.

The street food pioneers said that they were originally inspired to offer their own discount scheme after experiencing success with ‘Eat Out to Help Out’ last year; now, they want to use the reopening of outdoor dining as an opportunity to put Sri Lankan cuisine firmly on the map in Cardiff.

Brand Director Anna Garrod told us……..

As a result of the UK government’s ‘Eat Out to Help Out’ offer last year, we saw a real surge in bookings; it gave us a new audience who saw it as an opportunity to try new things. Now we want to introduce even more people to our unique dishes and laid back, island vibe, so will again offer 50% off Monday – Wednesday. 

Sri Lankan food hasn’t yet been taken to the heart of British culture in the same way Indian food has, and we really want to be the ones to change that, we want to hear people say – ‘let’s go for a Sri Lankan tonight!’ 

During lockdown, two delicious new dishes have been developed for The Coconut Tree’s menu in time for their reopening:

• Mango Curry – Fresh young mangos are sliced and marinated in a rub of deep, warm Sri Lankan spices with garlic, cinnamon, ginger, pandan leaves, and a splash of  coconut vinegar. This is then slow cooked in rich coconut milk, giving a delicious, sweet & sour island vibe.

• String Hoppers or ‘Idiyappam’ – a traditional Sri Lankan specialty. Rice flour pancakes are popped into a press to form noodles; a perfect partner for all  dishes, and eaten ‘back home’ from dawn ‘til dusk. An alternative to the original Egg Hoppers (see below). 

Based in the heart of the city, THE IVY CARDIFF offer a stylish setting to enjoy the delicious new dishes, which are all now available.

Cocktails will include the limited-edition Flower Power (£9.75), an electric blend of Grey Goose, Bombay Sapphire, Bacardi Carta Blanca, Patron Silver & Blue Curacao with lemon juice and Fever-Tree Lemonade, and the Swinging Spritz (£9.95), complete with Bombay Sapphire, Martini Rosato, pink grapefruit juice, Fever-Tree soda water and Prosecco, both a perfect aperitif on a long summer evening.

Other tantalising creations will include In The Groove (£10.95), featuring Grey Goose Vodka shaken with mint, lemon and sugar and topped with chilled Prosecco, and I’m Only Dreaming (£10.95), which is a Tequila based riff on a classic Manhattan. 

For those looking to indulge in The Ivy Cardiff’s delicious menu, there will be plenty of refreshing summer dishes available, including the Prawn Cocktail (£10.95), with baby gem, avocado, cherry tomatoes and Marie Rose sauce as a starter, the mouth-watering Garden Pea Risotto (£12.95) served with goat’s cheese, rocket and baby shoot salad as a main, and the Strawberry Ice Cream Sundae (£8.25) as dessert, featuring Vanilla Ice Cream with meringue, shortbread and a warm strawberry sauce.

Matt Glister is General Manager at The Ivy Cardiff, he told us……

“We are very excited to be opening again and welcoming back our regular diners and members of the community, who we have greatly missed over the last few months. Whether you’re looking for lunch and cocktails with friends or dinner with a loved one, there are plenty of delicious options to help you rediscover your love of dining this summer.”

The Ivy Cardiff looks forward to welcoming you back. Reservations can be made HERE. Whilst service will remain a priority, the restaurant will be continuing to implement the highest standards of health and safety, ensuring both guests and employees will be dining and working in confidence and in a safe environment.

FFWRNES PIZZA was Born in 2014 and was made from the love of pizza, specifically Neapolitan pizza, combining traditional Italian know how and the best produce Wales has to offer. The Pizza Boys began their journey with their trusty friend Smokey Pete, a three wheeled van with a fire in his belly and the gift of making amazing pizza.

You may also have seen the boys on the BBC series ‘Pizza Boys’. It’s the ultimate foodie road trip where Smokey Pete is taken across Europe to compete at the Pizza World Championships.

You can find the boys at Cardiff Market, Thursday to Saturday between 11am and 4pm.

TOBY CARVERY – Offer 25% off if you download their app. They also have Covid safe plans in place. And once again, we know it seems early, but they do have plans in place for Christmas, with various menus, including Breakfast With Santa. HERE

HARVESTER – They too are offering 25% off if you download the app. We hear they also have a Kids Eat For £1 deal too. They too also have menus in place over the festive period. HERE. We have checked the Harvester site and all you do is choose your venue, book an outside table, and the date and time, and away you go.

They tell us they are now fully open and read to welcome you back into their restaurants.

BILL’S – Will no doubt offer some amazing deals. They also have a gift card scheme running, which is a lovely way to gift someone special a nice meal, especially after so much lockdown.

Whether they go for the famous brunch, an intimate dinner for two, or an indulgent bottle of something delicious, you’ll be giving them a wonderful dining experience they’ll never forget.

Gift cards are valid for 12 months after purchase.

For details on the gift card go HERE.

Bill’s Cardiff Central will also be celebrating the summer with an exciting and delicious summer menu of cocktail specials and twists on some of the restaurant’s most loved dishes.

The restaurant’s new Twist & Shout cocktail menu captures the excitement of summer and is sure to give diners something to shout about. The new menu includes four tipples to choose from, including the Bill’s Pink Gin Twist (Beefeater Pink Gin, Fever-Tree Aromatic Tonic & Prosecco), which is available for just £1.99 until 30^thMay. Another favourite from the cocktail menu is sure to be the Twistin’ The Night Away (Beefeater Blood Orange Gin & Fever-Tree Mediterranean Tonic), destined to be the perfect accompaniment to a summer’s evening. 

To book a table or for further information on Bill’s, please visit HERE

TGI FRIDAYS – Are now open and as always have some great deals running. You can go for chicken wings, potato skins and ribs – we’re sure you know the TGI score by now.

We would direct you to the TGI FRIDAYS REWARDS APP which always delivers plenty of freebies, including the occasional free appetiser with your main.

PIZZA HUT – Will also offer discounts including the £5 favourite menus option.

CHIQUITO – Have a special offers page, you do though need to sign up to see them. Our link takes you there.

PREZZO – Will be offering bolognese for everyone; meat-eaters, vegans and veggies, kids and pizza lovers! They’ve also got some fantastic offers to see you through.

GOURMET BURGER KITCHEN – Running various discounts and a new look menu.

BREWERS FAYRE – Have a bonus club offering bonuses and treats. The Christmas menu is also up and running, ready to book HERE

LITTLE CHEF – If you’re travelling and need food, Little Chef are offering 20% off for students, on production of NUS card. They also have offers on pastries and bacon sandwiches.

HUNGRY HORSE – Have daily deals which are updated regularly. Things like, two meals for £10.49 Monday to Friday. Happy Monday, Curry Wednesday and kids eat for £1.00, worth a look.

SHAKEAWAY – Everyone loves a luxury shake. They have a special Royalty Card which is worth using and saving with.

GREGGS – This isn’t strictly a restaurant, but we all love a Greggs. Here in the SOUTH WALES LIFE office we tell everyone to download and register for their free app. You will get free stuff regularly, sent straight to your app – we’ve had cakes, coffees, Diet Coke and more. They also send you a free treat fro your birthday. Best thing is, there is no minimum or maximum spend.

GIRAFFE – If you’re travelling over the bridge Giraffe have some deals on offer including the Giraffe Brunch, Avocado Smash, Eggs Benedict and more.

HERE ARE LINKS TO LOTS OF OUR FAVOURITE PLACES TO EAT

• HANG FIRE SOUTHERN KITCHEN – BARRY
• THE ROYAL GEORGE – TINTERN
• RHIWDERIN INN – NEWPORT
• JULIE’S DELI & DESSERTS – MERTHYR TYDFIL
• NEWBRIDGE ON USK – USK
• NATIONAL TRUST
• BEACONS VIEW TEA ROOMS – BRECON BEACONS
• CELTIC MANOR RESORT
• HARVESTER – NEWPORT
• BEAN & BREAD – ABERGAVENNY
• MILLER AND CARTER – CARDIFF
• ABERAVON BEACH HOTEL – PORT TALBOT
• TOBY CARVERY – DYFED
• THE IVY – CARDIFF
• BRYN MEADOWS GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB – YSTRAD MYNACH
• THE GAFF – ABERGAVENNY
• BUBBLETON FARM SHOP & KITCHEN – TENBY
• FRIENDLY FOX – NEWPORT
• ABBEY MILL WYE VALLEY CENTRE – TINTERN
• THE MARQUIS INN – ABERDARE
• GRAHAM’S KITCHEN at RHONDDA GOLF CLUB
• IL PANINO – BRIDGEND
• PETERSTONE COURT – BRECON
• THE NEW CROWN – MERTHYR TYDFIL
• LAMB & FLAG – WICK
• QUEENS HOTEL – SWANSEA MARINA
• NICHOLLS COFFEE SHOP – ABERGAVENNY
• MARCO PIERRE WHITE – SWANSEA
• THE ROLLS OF MONMOUTH GOLF CLUB – MONMOUTH
• CHEPSTOW GARDEN CENTRE
• JUMP ADVENTURE – NEWPORT
• GLEN-YR-AFON HOTEL – USK
• THE LLWYNCELYN – ABERDARE
• PARC GOLF CLUB – COEDKERNEW
• C37 – CARDIFF & YSTRAD MYNACH
• WINGFIELD HOTEL & SPORTS BAR – CAERPHILLY
• D. FECCI & SONS – TENBY
• THREE HORSEHOES – MOULTON
• BAR 44 – PENARTH
• BUTTERFLIES BAR & KITCHEN – BLAENAVON
• TOWN & COUNTRY COLLECTIVE – VARIOUS
• THE BOAT INN – CHEPSTOW
• CASTLE OF BRECON HOTEL
• PLAYHEM – WEST GLAMORGAN
• CEFN TEA ROOMS – MERTHYR TYDFIL
• THE MEASURE INN – CALDICOT
• THE CROWN – PANTYGELLI
• THE CWTCH CAFE – NEATH
• THE WALNUT TREE INN – LLANDDEWI SKIRRID
• THE LION HOTEL – BLAENAVON
• THE NATIONAL BOTANIC GARDEN OF WALES – LLANARTHNE
• THE RED KITE INN – AMMANFORD
• THREE SALMONS HOTEL – USK
• PILGRIMS TEA ROOMS – BRECON CATHEDRAL
• AUNTY ANN’S CAFE – SWANSEA
• NANTYFFIN CIDER MILL – CRICKHOWELL
• THE GWESTY – BRYNMAWR
• CASTLE BINGO – NEATH
• COACH AND HORSES – LLANGYNDI
• NEWPORT GOLF CLUB
• THE RAILWAY TAVERN – TREDEGAR
• HARVESTER – CARDIFF BAY
• DWBI’S CROSSHANDS – LLANELLI
• CARREG CENNEN CASTLE – LLANDELIO

This is a comprehensive list of places outside of South Wales too. There are lots of favourites on the list, places to keep every member of the family satisfied.

A

• A.F. BLAKEMORE
• Accor UK
• Apple Green
• Ask Italian
• Atalian Servest
• Atlas Hotels

B

• Bakers + Baristas
• Bannatyne Health Club
• Bar + Grills
• BaxterStorey
• BaxterStorey Scotland
• Benugo
• Bermondsey Pub
• Bill’s
• Black Sheep Coffee
• Blue Diamond
• Boparan Restaurant Group
• Brains
• Brewdog
• Brunning and Price
• Burger King
• Buzz Bingo
• Byron

C

• CH&CO
• Caffè Nero
• Center Parcs
• Coffee#1
• Company of Cooks
• Compass Group
• Costa Coffee
• Crussh
• Côte Brasserie

D

• D&D London
• David Lloyd Clubs
• Deep Blue Fish & Chips
• Dobbies Garden Centres
• Dunelm

E

• EAT
• Elior
• Euro Garages
• Everyman

F

• Five Guys
• Franco Manca
• Freedom Leisure
• Fridays
• Fullers

G

• G1
• GAIL’s Bakeries
• Giggling Squid
• Gourmet Burger Kitchen
• Greene King
• Grosvenor Casinos

H

• Hall & Woodhouse
• Haven
• Hollywood Bowl
• Honest Burgers
• Hydes

I

• ISS Mediclean Ltd

J

• JW Lees
• Joe & The Juice
• Joseph Holt
• Jurys Inn

K

• KFC
• Kew Green Hotels

L

• Laine
• Leon Restaurants
• Loungers

M

• M&S Cafe
• MacDonald Hotels
• Marston’s
• McDonalds
• McMullen
• Mecca
• Mitchells & Butlers
• Morrisons – Cafe and Barista Bar
• Moto

N

• Nando’s
• New World Trading Company

O

• Olive

P

• Park Holidays
• Parkdean Resorts
• Patisserie Valerie
• Pho
• Pizza Express
• Pizza Hut
• Powerleague
• Pret A Manger
• Prezzo
• Punch

R

• Raj Douth
• Raj Gate
• Revolution Bars Group
• Roadchef

S

• SSP Group
• Selfridges & Co
• Shepherd Neame Ltd
• Spice Garden
• St Austell Brewery
• Starbucks
• Stonegate Pub Company

T

• Team Sport
• Tenpin
• The City Pub Group
• The Cornish Bakery
• The Ivy Collection
• The National Trust
• The Restaurant Group
• Tony Macaroni
• Tortilla
• Turtle Bay

V

• Vacherin
• Village Hotels
• Viva Italia

W

• Wadworth
• Wagamama
• Wasabi
• Welcome Break
• Wetherspoon
• Whitbread
• Wildwood

Y

• YO Sushi
• Youngs

Z

• Zizzi

Here’s a few other food related items you may care to look at…..

• GIN TO MY TONIC SHOW
• OUR FAVOURITE COFFEE RECIPES

There are of course savings to be made with some of the discount cards.

TASTECARD began life as tastelondon with 2 main aims; to help restaurants by encouraging people to eat out more often, and to help members by making eating out more affordable. Starting with just 150 restaurants in Central London they quickly grew and re-branded to tastecard in early 2010 as they reached 2,500 nationwide restaurants.

Today, with over 2,450,000 members and thousands of restaurants, they say members currently spend in excess of £600m annually in restaurants; ensuring that their dining co-operative proposition remains strong.

You do pay an annual fee for the card but if you like the idea of savings, they have a 30 day free deal at the moment. They also offer discounts on cinema and other attractions. For more details, go here. TASTECARD.

THE GOURMET SOCIETY offer a similar set up. You pay an annual fee and get discounts on food and entertainment. They have 6,000 restaurants with the society, including Michelin-starred, fine-dining establishments, independent eateries and popular chain restaurants. You can enjoy either 25% off the total bill, including drinks, 50% off food or 2 for 1 meals.

They have an introductory offer of try it for 60 days for £1 at the moment. For details go here. GOURMET.

MEERKAT MEALS/MOVIES offer 2 for 1 tickets at cinemas on a Tuesday and Wednesday and say you can tuck into 2 for 1 on starters, mains and desserts in some of your favourite restaurants Sunday – Thursday.

This discount card is given when you buy insurance and claim the reward via their App. Full details here. COMPARE.

GROUPON – Have a bunch of food deals which we’ve pulled together in one place. From Aberdare, Cardiff, Swansea sand more, you may find a few bargain right HERE.

TIP OF THE DAY

If you’d like a little insider tip, maybe you just want to book yourself ONE DAY – UK TRAVEL INSURANCE, for one person. Nothing fancy, something which will be appropriate. This too would qualify you for 12 months of discounts. Maybe you’d like to take a look and see what that would cost you, think you’ll be pleasantly surprised.

Bring on those savings.

Bookmark this page and come back regularly, we will update as soon as we hear of any more establishments offering deals.