Tantrums and turned-up noses aside, it is nice to be able to eat out with the family in summer. It can be the icing on the cake of a day out during the holidays. However, given the cost of living crisis, many of us will have to scale back our plans. You might already have considered packing picnics on day trips instead of visiting restaurants. But the good news is that there are a host of places where kids eat free or cheaply this summer.

We have collected the best lower-price or free children’s meals available during the holidays to allow you to feed the family without worrying about squashing the crab paste sarnies and bursting the Capri Sun in your bag.

Where kids eat free or cheaply

Asda Cafe

During the summer, between 25th July and 4th September, kids eat for £1 at Asda in England and Wales. The great thing is that you don’t even have to buy an adult meal to get the deal. Perfect for a little pick-me-up for your children whilst out and about.

The Kids Eat for £1 initiative provides a hot or cold meal for a child, which will also help parents struggling to get by in general and it has been rightly lauded by the public. It also includes baby food and is one of the best deals around.

Beefeater and Brewers Fayre

These pub chains are running a summer deal where two kids eat free at breakfast with every paying adult. Grown-ups pay £9.50, with up to two under sixteens enjoying free children’s meals.

Bella Italia

This Italian food chain is offering £1 meals for kids with every adult meal between 4pm and 6pm on Mondays to Thursdays. You can get the offer in England, Wales and Scotland, with children receiving a three course meal and fruit water. The firm says that the meals are suitable for those aged between two and 11.

Cafe Rouge

For every adult main course you buy, children can eat two or three courses for £1. You can take up the deal from midday on any day except Saturday during the school holidays.

Dobbies

If you live near a Dobbies garden centre, kids eat free after midday every day when you buy an adult main meal. They can choose from the regular kids’ lunch menu or have a pick ‘n’ mix meal, as well as getting a drink.

Dunelm

The Pausa cafes at the home furnishing company’s stores are offering free children’s meals, including a free mini main, two snacks and a drink, when an adult spends £4 or more.

Hungry Horse

Kids eat for free at breakfast at the pub chain when accompanied by a paying adult. The adult needs to spend a minimum of £3.49 in a Hungry Horse pub during the school holidays. They then get up to two kids’ meals for free, up to a combined value of £2.49.

The deal takes place in Scotland, England and Wales during each country’s official school holidays. You need to be there between 8am and noon to take advantage of the deal.

IKEA

The Swedish flatpack giant is offering a kid’s meal for 95p or £1.50 for a combination meal. The combination meal includes a hot meal, jelly, a piece of fruit and a drink.

Table Table

The pub chain is offering free children’s meals at breakfast time, up to 10:30am in the week and 11:00am at the weekend. Two kids under 16 eat for free when an adult buys a £9.50 unlimited breakfast.

YO! Sushi

If you fancy sushi, YO! Sushi has a kids eat free deal. From 3:00pm till 5.30pm, Monday to Thursday until 29th September, an under 10 eats for free from the Mini Ninja menu with every £10 an accompanying adult spends. You can feed up to three children for free on each table.

More Cheap or Free Children’s Meals?

Given the publicity these firms are getting from their deals, more companies will announce theirs soon. We will keep this list up to date and you can leave a Comment below to tell us about kids eat free or cheaply deals you find too. Share the love this summer!

***NOTE: Each company has their own terms and conditions and can revoke their offer at any time. All information is correct at time of publishing but Dadsnet bears no responsibility if the deals change or expire. Check before you visit to be sure of getting the stated deal.