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Slash restaurant bills by paying half price with a discount dining club card

Gareth Rubin
Feb 9th 2010 at 12:00PM

Filed under: Freebies and Bargains, Food and Drink

You could eat out at a swish restaurant every day for half price if you sign up to one of Britain's dining clubs. For an annual fee in the £40-£60 bracket these clubs get you half price meals at establishments of all shapes and sizes, including some of the finest in the country. All you have to do is flash your membership card and you get two meals for the price of one, or a straight discount of up to 50%.

Some chains, such as Gourmet Burger Kitchen, Café Rouge and Pizza Hut, are signed up to the clubs. There are restrictions, however. Many restaurants will not accept the cards at the peak times of Friday or Saturday night, for instance.

And since many restaurants (especially chains, such as Pizza Express or Carluccio's) give away vouchers for similar deals on their websites, is it worth paying for the privilege?
If you do want to take out membership, here are a few options:

Taste London
Having signed up 100,000 members in less than four years, Taste London is on a roll. If you live in the metropolis, it will give you access to more than 1,300 restaurants and bistros – enough to keep you going for a very long time. Virtually all exclude Friday and Saturday nights, but at other times you will get half off your bill, including drinks.
The club will soon change its name to Taste UK (which might be a hint about future plans). You can try the card for free for 30 days.
Annual cost: £70

The Gourmet Society
Probably the largest in the country with more than 3,000 restaurants and 100,000 members.
Two thirds of the restaurants do two meals for the price of one. Most of the others knock 25% of the bill (including drinks!) for club members and their guests.
Most of its restaurants are in central England, with a good number in London and Scotland.
You can even go for a nosh at Michelin-starred joints such as Elephant in Torquay.
Annual cost: £44. It also offers corporate membership.

Hi-Life Diners Club
With more than 2,000 restaurants and 100,000 members, it's a big player nationally, but strongest in the North West, where it began. The standard deal is two meals for the price of one, not including drinks.
Annual cost: £40-£50, depending on whether you want a regional or national membership

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