This is a sponsored post
If you are a bit of a foodie or family who wants to make savings when out and about or simply on the ball when it comes to getting a good deal, then you may have already heard of tastecard, a discount card that has been going for 17yrs and offers deals like 2 for 1, 50% off and 25% off an array of local and chain restaurants and cafes.
As everyone is feeling the pinch from the cost of living crisis, many of us are not eating out as much and socialising less, tastecard could be a handy way to make those treats a little bit more affordable, especially as they have expanded beyond just restaurants and now offer more savings than ever.
So what savings can you expect?
*Dining Discounts - 2 for 1, 50% food & 25% off food and drink Sun-Thurs
* 50% off pizza delivery from places like Pizza Hut and Domino's 7 days a week
* 25% off Barista-made drinks 7 days a week from places like Caffe Nero
* Cinema discounts
* Days out and members' perks
For me, a big draw is the 25% off barista-made coffee, which can be used daily and quite a few coffee shops in and around Cardiff offer this deal, including Caffe Nero and independent coffee shops. If you are someone who buys takeaway coffee regularly then you will quickly see the savings add up.
How do you use the card?
The easiest way is to download their app which will have your digital card ready to use once you have signed up. The app also shows you all the local places that accept tastecard and what they offer in terms of discounts, as each establishment will be different. Some places will also require that you book in advance, although not all and some will have restrictions on when you can use the card.
What is my experience of using the tastecard?
So far I have used tastecard to purchase barista coffee, the process was easy and saved me around £1 per takeaway coffee and with tastecard costing less than £2.50 per month you can see how quickly it starts to save you money.
But having coffee didn't feel like enough and wanted to put some Cardiff restaurant deals to the test! Me and my boys visited one of our favourite places in Cardiff City Centre that happens to be a part of the tastecard offering and that is Geek Retreat in the arcades. They offer 25% off the whole bill with up to 6 people dining at one time.
While Geek Retreat isn't fine dining like some of the options, it's a great place for families to sit down, enjoy some board games and have a bite to eat, including burgers and hot dogs and in our case delicious halloumi fries, wedges and garlic roll.
The card was easy to use, as with all of my experiences so far and all I had to do was show them the digital card via my app while ordering.
How much does the tastecard cost?
Yearly membership is currently £29.99*, which equates to less than £2.50 a month and as you can see it's very easy to quickly make that back in savings. Membership gives you discounts to 1000's of UK restaurants, pizza delivery, cinema and coffee. You also have instant access with the app.
The good news is that you can trial the tastecard first for £1 for the first 30 days and can cancel at any time. The trial gives you exactly the same discounts as the full yearly card.
Overall I have been really impressed with the card so far and the app is easy and straightforward to use. I like the variety it offers and that it includes extra perks like additional savings on activities and days out. It's well worth giving it a go especially as they offer such a fantastic trial for £1.
*Pricing correct at time of posting, subject to change
