Pret a Manger loophole means you can get month of coffee and smoothies for free

PRET fans can get a month’s worth of free coffees and smoothies thanks to a loophole in its subscription service.

The cafe chain launched a new membership programme last year after it struggled to stay afloat during the coronavirus lockdowns.

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Under the YourPret Barista service, customers can get up to five drinks per day for a £20 monthly fee – as long as coffees are purchased half an hour apart.

But Pret is offering the first month for free meaning you can bag hot and cold drinks without spending a penny, according to MoneySavingExpert.

Just keep in mind you’ll automatically be charged the £20 fee each month after this unless you cancel before the first month is up.

The new offering came after the coffee chain announced it was slashing 2,800 roles as part of a restructure.

At the time, the company said trade across its shops was still around 60% down year-on-year.

This is the first subscription of its kind from a coffee chain, although most other rivals – including Costa Coffee and Starbucks – have their own loyalty schemes where you earn points and use these to redeem free drinks.

How does the subscription service work?

YourPret Barista can be used for all barista-made coffees, as well as teas, hot chocolates, smoothies and frappe drinks.

Pret only offers one size for its drinks.

The subscription only covers in-store purchases though, so you won’t be able to use it for delivery orders.

Pret says the subscription means customers can potentially get up to 150 drinks a month during a 30-day period. For a 31-day month, you could bag as many as 155 drinks.

You’re limited to five drinks a day though, and they can only be purchased one at a time so you’ll need to fork out extra if it’s your turn to get a round in.

The subscription is worthwhile if you’re a regular Pret customer – if you purchased just one flat white for £2.50 every weekday over a month, you’d usually be spending £50.

This means you’d save £30 over 20 weekdays – but as you can get up to five drinks a day, the savings could amount to more than this.

Of course, if you’re looking to save money by ditching takeout coffees, this subscription may not be one for you.

If you sign up for Pret’s new subscription you can cancel without charge at any time, including during the first month.

Customers can cancel by going into the “manage account” section of the YourPret Barista website.

If you decide to cancel your subscription, you’ll continue to have access to YourPret Barista until the end of your current monthly period.

You can see the terms and conditions on the Pret website, including any stores that aren’t participating.

Pano Christou, chief executive officer of Pret, said: “Our new subscription service is perfect for customers who have been craving one of our barista-prepared drinks.

“Whether you’re a coffee enthusiast or tea devotee, we hope this new service helps you start your day strong.

“This is just the first step in our plan to bring Pret to more people.”

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This post first appeared on thesun.co.uk