Best for lunch deals
Brewers Fayre
When it comes to meal deals, it’s hard to beat Brewers Fayre’s value-for-money menus. Offers change with the seasons, but the Daytime Value deal — two mains for under £9 if you visit during the week — is terrific at lunchtime. Restaurants can be found up and down the country, with some establishments having fun play zones for the kids. Join the Brewers Fayre Bonus Club for all the latest news on upcoming deals.
For locations, menus and reservations: www.brewersfayre.co.uk
Best for pizza lovers
Rossopomodoro
An Italian pizza chain, with restaurants all around the world, you’ll now find Rossopomodoro in eight locations across London, including Covent Garden and Oxford Street. The lunch menu of a main — pizzette, pasta or salad — with a hot drink and chocolate treat for under £10 is excellent value. Also worth checking out is the restaurant chain’s Pizza Masterclass, where secrets about how to make the perfect pizza dough are revealed.
For locations, menus and reservations: rossopomodoro.co.uk
Best for special diets
Carluccio’s
Diners with food allergies or dietary restrictions can sometimes feel short-changed when they’re handed a menu in restaurants, as the meal choice is so limited. However, at Carluccio’s chain of restaurants, this is thankfully not the case. An impressive selection of gluten-free pasta and bread is available, and dairy-free diets are well catered for too. And as both diets have their own menus, there’s no need to decipher complicated codes beside any of the dishes.
For locations, menus and reservations: www.carluccios.com
Best for a liquid lunch
Five Guys
Be warned, the milkshakes served at Five Guys, the American fast-casual restaurant chain, are very moreish. Creamy with a delicious vanilla base, you get to customise your shake with a selection of mix ins, including peanut butter, chocolate, malted milk, banana, salted caramel and Oreo cookie pieces. With restaurants in over 80 locations across the UK, hungry lunchtime diners may also want to tuck into a tasty burger and fries.
For locations, menus and reservations: www.fiveguys.co.uk
Best for a pub lunch
Greene King
There are around 800 Greene King pubs in the UK, so there’s sure to be a local near you. And while every one of them is unique, they all serve great food, and perfect pints, in friendly, welcoming surroundings. Classic traditional dishes are always on the lunch menu, with the Salt Quay in Rotherhithe, an old warehouse on the River Thames in south London, being famous for its fantastic Sunday roasts.
For locations, menus and reservations: www.greeneking.co.uk
Best for a late lunch
Gaucho
You get to experience a little bit of Argentine life at Gaucho, the restaurant chain found in London, Birmingham, Leeds, Manchester and Edinburgh. Empanadas, ceviche and steak are all on the menu, and if you choose the three-course set option, you’ll be able to enjoy a mouth-watering lunch for under £25. Available from noon to 7pm, it’s also a great choice if you’re arranging a late lunch.
For locations, menus and reservations: www.gauchorestaurants.com
Best for a stylish lunch
Côte Brasserie
French-inspired dishes are a delight at Côte Brasserie, the restaurant chain that recreates the sophisticated yet relaxed atmosphere of a Parisian bistro. Visit a local brasserie at lunchtime during the week and, regardless of the location, you’ll be able to enjoy a three-course set menu for an extremely good-value £13.50. The deal is available for early evening dining too, so perfect if you’re catching up with friends after work.
For locations, menus and reservations: www.cote.co.uk/menus
Best for healthy eating
Wahaca
Black beans, green rice, organic spelt, mixed leaves and slaw — the healthy salads and bowls on the menu at Wahaca restaurants are ideal for anyone after a nutritious lunch. What’s more, the Mexican street food chain are big on sustainability and do all they can to reduce their environmental impact. So much so, they were the first restaurant group in the UK to be certified as a carbon neutral company.
For locations, menus and reservations: www.wahaca.co.uk
Best for seafood
Loch Fyne
Dine with wine — what’s not to like about Loch Fyne’s lunchtime special, which offers a three-course meal, complimentary side dish and glass of wine for under £16.50. With mussels, king prawns and smoked cod roe, among other fish favourites, on the menu, seafood lovers are in for a treat. Originating near Loch Fyne on Scotland’s west coast, the chain restaurant is now found in 25 locations across the whole of the UK.
For locations, menus and reservations: www.lochfyneseafoodandgrill.co.uk
Best for brunch
The Breakfast Club
Had a bit of a lie-in and now it’s too late for breakfast? Then head to The Breakfast Club and enjoy brunch — the lunch menu applies from 12noon and offers plenty of options. Whether you want the full monty of bacon, sausage, black pudding, tomato, eggs and toast, or prefer avocado on rye, the Breakfast Club Classics are a tasty way to start your day. Their OAP Specials are worth looking out for too.
For locations, menus and reservations: thebreakfastclubcafes.com
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