While half term is always looked forward to by the little ones, it can be a stressful time for parents amid the rising cost of living as they struggle to find places to take them that won't break the bank.
Fortunately, several big chains are currently running promotions to save money on family meals out. Martin Lewis' MoneySavingExpert site team have compiled a list of restaurants, pubs and cafés offering deals where kids eat either for free or £1, with the majority available throughout the year as well as during half-term.
Here are the 12 with branches in Newcastle or the North East, including supermarkets Asda, Morrisons and Tesco, as well as the popular Beefeater restaurant and Hungry Horse pub chains. The likes of Dobbies, Dunelm and Ikea are also running special offers for kids in their cafes, which is sure to families some cash on their next day out shopping.
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Asda
Kids aged under 16 can eat for £1 in any Asda café, with no minimum spend or purchase required. The deal is valid all day, seven days a week until the end of the year - limited to one meal per child per day - and the kids' menu includes the likes of fish fingers, all-day breakfast and chicken nuggets which would normally cost £3.20.
Bella Italia
Children can eat for £1 in Bella Italia when an adult main is purchases from the restaurant's A La Carte Menu, in a deal available Monday to Thursday between 4pm and 6pm which will be automatically applied to your bill. With the deal kids will be able to get a starter, main, pudding and drink, which usually costs between £6.49 and £8.49 - find your nearest Bella Italia here.
Beefeater
Up to two children aged under 16 can get a 'free' breakfast at any Beefeater restaurant when accompanied by an adult buying an unlimited cooked breakfast. This offer is valid during Beefeater breakfast hours every day of the week and will be automatically applied to the bill - find your nearest branch here.
Brewers Fayre
The same Beefeater deal is also available at the company's other restaurant brand Brewers Fayre, which has branches in Newcastle, Sunderland and Durham. The deal allows up to two under-16s to get a 'free' breakfast when accompanied by an adult buying an unlimited cooked breakfast on any day of the week - find your nearest restaurant here.
Dobbies
Kids can eat for free at Dobbies Garden Centre restaurants when an adult main meal is purchased, with the discount automatically applied to your bill. Kids can choose rom the children's breakfast and lunch menu, and the deal is available daily from restaurant opening time - although this may vary depending on location, MSE advised.
Dunelm
Kids can eat for 'free' in Dunelm's in-store Pausa Cafe when an adult spends £4, with the promotion automatically applied to your bill. The deal is available across all Pausa Cafes in the UK, Monday to Friday, from 3pm until cafes close - or all day every day during half term.
Hungry Horse
On Mondays, including bank holidays, up to two kids can eat from £1 at their local Hungry Horse pub when one adult purchases a main meal. Children can choose from either a small chicken burger or kids' lasagne for £1, or spend 50p more to get a bigger dish with the discount applied automatically - find your nearest Hungry Horse pub here.
Ikea
Kids can eat a main meal from 95p in Ikea restaurants from 11am any day of the week, with no minimum spend required. Kids will be able to get either cheese and tomato pasta with a drink for 95p (usually £2.20 with a drink included) or a meal for £1.50 which includes fruit and a soft drink (usually £2.50) - find your nearest Ikea store here.
Morrisons
Free kids' meals are available at Morrisons Cafes all day, every day when an adult main meal is purchased for £4.49 or more. The kids' meal includes a hot dish or chilled snack pack, juice or water and a piece of fruit, and usually costs between £2.99 and £3.49.
Sizzling Pubs
All Sizzling Pubs restaurants are offering kids' meals for £1 when an adult buys a main meal at the same time, with the discount applied automatically. The offer is valid from Monday to Friday between 3pm and 7pm, with kids' meals usually costing from £2.49 - you can find your nearest Sizzling Pub here.
Tesco
From Monday, May 29, kids can eat for free at any Tesco Café when an adult makes a purchase in the café and scans their Clubcard. This deal runs all day, every day during May half term until Friday, June 2, and there is no fixed minimum spend for the adult purchase - kids can choose from a breakfast, hot meal deal, or cold pick and mix deal, usually costing up to £3.50.
The Real Greek
The Real Greek, which has a restaurant in Newcastle city centre, is offering a free kids' meal for children under 12 alongside each adult spending £10 or more all day on Sundays. The £10 spend is valid on all menu items, including drinks, with the promotion automatically applied to the bill - the kids' meal includes a main, a drink and an ice cream or sorbet dessert, usually costing £7.
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