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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think the 'kids eat out for less' offers don't actually help

84 replies

Ntsure · 09/07/2022 13:57

It seems like places started doing this when schools were giving out the food vouchers etc as a way to look like they were trying to help kids have adequate food in school holidays.
it only really benefits those who can afford to eat out in the first place.
its just a bunch of restaurants trying to give across the image that they care whilst not actually helping anyone that needs help.
(with the exception of Asda who are doing kids meals for £1 without requiring any other purchases)

OP posts:
hennybeans · 09/07/2022 14:04

Spot on. Anyone really struggling to feed their DC is not going to go to Cafe Rouge, as an example, and buy a meal for a family of 4 that will still probably cost £40 with 2 adult mains and 4 drinks.
It will be nice for those who could afford a £60 meal but would be a lot happier to get a bargain at £40.

livelyoasis · 09/07/2022 14:07

You are absolutely right. It's just trying to look good while only actually helping the middle classes get a slightly cheaper lunch out.

PurpleDaisies · 09/07/2022 14:08

They’re not supposed to help anyone. They’re to generate business for restaurants.

Heavymetaldetector · 09/07/2022 14:10

100% agree. You need to be able to afford to eat out in the first place.

FishcakesWithTooMuchCoriander · 09/07/2022 14:11

Restaurants have been running kids eat free/for a reduced price offers for many, many years. It’s just marketing - they want you to come to eat there as a family, an offer to feed your toddler for nothing, to help swing you to choosing them rather than the restaurant next door.

its nothing to do with alleviating poverty. Any more than free kids placed on package holidays are, or any other marketing tool.

AgentProvocateur · 09/07/2022 14:12

Their aim isn’t to help - it’s to get more people eating there and spending money. It’s a promotional tool by a private enterprise.

mogsrus · 09/07/2022 14:12

They are saying you don't have to use this restaurant but the offer is here,that is all.

LaughingPriest · 09/07/2022 14:12

I noticed that too. Asda really stands out as actually helping.

Obviously it's nice to eat out and save money on kids' food but it's hardly going to help many people on the breadline.

LaughingPriest · 09/07/2022 14:15

For reference this is the list I've seen

To think the 'kids eat out for less' offers don't actually help
Thesearmsofmine · 09/07/2022 14:15

Yes it’s marketing and they’ve always done these offers and are just dressing it up to appear as them helping.

The Asda offer is brilliant, I will definitely make use of it.

JaceLancs · 09/07/2022 14:17

As a struggling single parent the Asda offer would have been wonderful
With 2 DC the offers never helped - often family offers are based on 2+2 not 1+2 so sometimes eg swimming was much more expensive
when DC were young the best option was a happy meal each and I just had coffee
mainly we did picnics and then they would be allowed an ice cream or a cheap activity

Okeydoky · 09/07/2022 14:17

I'm not sure that even the Asda one is that helpful to people in real poverty. You can feed your child a meal at home for less than £1 e.g. sandwich made with value bread and a bit of fruit.

It is of course a really good option for a very cheap "treat" trip out, but there will still be many people who can't afford it.

Sirzy · 09/07/2022 14:19

It will generate them business as it will encourage families who wouldn’t normally eat out to do so.

the way Asda is doing it is great and could provide a fantastic chance for some children to get a meal

TheVolturi · 09/07/2022 14:19

Okeydoky · 09/07/2022 14:17

I'm not sure that even the Asda one is that helpful to people in real poverty. You can feed your child a meal at home for less than £1 e.g. sandwich made with value bread and a bit of fruit.

It is of course a really good option for a very cheap "treat" trip out, but there will still be many people who can't afford it.

Asda are offering a hot meal for £1

doadeer · 09/07/2022 14:21

Agree. Lots of kids meals are probably pence to make so they aren't really losing much. They still make a big profit on the adult meals

EmeraldShamrock1 · 09/07/2022 14:22

It's a marketing strategy.

They push the adult meal prices up.

It's handy if you go for dinner regularly however it is not a bargain for those who wouldn't usually eat in restaurants.

BritWifeInUSA · 09/07/2022 14:29

They are not doing it to be charitable. Nor do they owe anyone a deal.

As a childless (not by choice) couple, we avoid places that offer these sorts of gimmicks. No business gives you anything for free. They recoup the cost by raising the price of everything else they sell and so that makes it less of a bargain for people without children.

feedyourheed · 09/07/2022 14:50

I think they are good deals to be honest. Slightly more expensive than eating at home but a nice cheap way to eat out with the kids. I am a single parent so the Morrison's one is annoying but the Asda one is great and any that feed children free with just one adult. When we go on holiday I think the Premier Inn buffet breakfasts are amazing as we all eat our fill for about £9.

NellWilsonsWhiteHair · 09/07/2022 14:55

It's the weird positioning of them on lists of 'help during the holidays' that makes it jar. What asda are doing is different and good IMO but yes- Harvester etc is just a standard marketing thing which I benefit from but isn't in the same ball park as 'are you struggling to feed your kids this summer?'

girlfriend44 · 09/07/2022 15:13

If you have to use petrol to get there your not really saving anything anyway.

AnaïsM · 09/07/2022 15:19

Ntsure · 09/07/2022 13:57

It seems like places started doing this when schools were giving out the food vouchers etc as a way to look like they were trying to help kids have adequate food in school holidays.
it only really benefits those who can afford to eat out in the first place.
its just a bunch of restaurants trying to give across the image that they care whilst not actually helping anyone that needs help.
(with the exception of Asda who are doing kids meals for £1 without requiring any other purchases)

Reducing the price will definitely help some people, especially where meals are already cheap, such as in supermarket cafes.

Blueberryella · 09/07/2022 15:24

Yabu. It’s just marketing to get families to eat there and got nothing to do with helping out with poverty. They are businesses, it’s not their job.

FishcakesWithTooMuchCoriander · 09/07/2022 15:26

That kind of ‘help during the holidays’ list isn’t even anything to do with the companies running these kind of promotions. It’s ridiculous to complain that a company isn’t really being ‘charitable’ on the basis of their inclusion on a list compiled by someone else.

stayingpositiveifpossible · 09/07/2022 15:28

chain restaurants tend to do that anyway - they make money with extras - bottled water etc.

Much better off with an independent cafe/restaurant and point about nearby if you have it also good.

There are other deals on martin lewis site.

FishcakesWithTooMuchCoriander · 09/07/2022 15:28

Tbh, I find the assumption that a £1 mal in Asda might be any kind of answer to child poverty quite troubling.