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CASH-strapped households can take their kids to eat at M&S cafes for free over the October half-term.
The supermarket is bringing back the popular offer across 340 of its cafes in England and Scotland between Monday, October 17 to Friday 28.
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Households in Wales and Northern Ireland will be able to access the deal between Monday, October 31 to November 4.
The deal coincides with the week-long October half term school holiday and will help customers struggling with a cost of living crisis.
A kids meal includes a main meal, snack and drink, and would usually set you back £3.95.
Hot meals to choose from includes jacket potato with baked beans and a sausage, a ham and cheese toastie, cheese and tomato pasta and pizza.
Cold mains include a ham roll or cheese sandwich.
Under the deal, you’ll also get a free piece of fruit.
If you want to claim the offer, be warned – there’s a catch.
Adults have to spend £5 on food or drink in order to qualify for the free kids meal.
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M&S marketing and hospitality director Sharry Cramond said: “We know customers are feeling the pinch at the moment so we’ve worked really hard to make sure we’re not only offering families a great value and welcoming meal in our Cafes over the half term holidays, but a completely delicious one too, even for the fussiest of little eaters!”
To find your nearest store with an M&S cafe in it, use the retailer’s shop locator tool online.
M&S ran the deal earlier this year over the entire six-week summer holiday, and over 200,000 free meals were dished out.
It has run the offer in previous years – although the qualifying spend for adults has crept up.
In 2020, parents only needed to spend £3 to get a free kids meal deal, for example.
It comes as the posh shop will close 67 stores over the next five years as part of a big business shake-up.
But it also announced that it will be opening 104 new “bigger and fresher” food stores.
Which other supermarkets have cafe meal deals?
M&S is not the only supermarket running cafe meal deals to help struggling shoppers.
We round up the list of offers on currently elsewhere.
Asda
Kids can eat for just £1 at all Asda Cafes across England and Wales.
The offer, which is available all day, every day, was first introduced over the summer but is set to continue until early January.
Pensioners over 60 can eat for £1 at Asda too.
The meal deal – dubbed the “winter warmer” initiative – will provide those over 60 with a portion of soup, a roll and unlimited tea and coffee, all for £1.
Morrisons
A child under 16 can eat for free at Morrisons cafés when you buy an adult meal worth at least £4.99.
A kids meal comes with a piece of fruit and Tropicana kids orange juice, apple drink, or bottle of water.
Tesco
Tesco is renewing its Kids Eat Free offer this October half-term.
Kids will be able to eat free in all 311 Tesco cafes between October 17 and 28 in England and Scotland.
The same offer runs between October 31 and November 4 in Wales.
But parents will still have to spend 60p or more to claim one free kids meal worth up to £3.25.
And there’s another catch – you’ll only be able to take part in the scheme if you’re a Clubcard holder.
Marks and Spencer has also revealed its menu line up for Christmas – and you can start ordering food now.
Meanwhile, we reveal five ways to bag a bargain at M&S.
