Summer holidays can be expensive, especially when you are trying to keep children entertained while managing everyday household costs. The good news is that many organisations, restaurants and local councils are offering support to families this summer. 

Here we outline  some of the best opportunities available across Kent, Surrey, and East  and West Sussex, including free meals for children at restaurants and cafés, as well as free holiday clubs and activities through local council programmes. 

Free holiday activities and meals through local councils 

Many councils offer free Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programmes for children who receive benefits-related Free School Meals. 

These programmes provide free activities, healthy meals and opportunities for children to stay active, learn new skills and make friends during the school holidays. 

Kent County Council 

The Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme is available for children aged 4–16 who receive benefits-related Free School Meals. Children can take part in a wide range of activities, including sports, arts, crafts and outdoor activities. Free meals are provided during sessions. 

Kent Holiday Activities and Food Programme (HAF) – Kent County Council 

East Sussex County Council 

East Sussex runs the Holiday Food and Fun programme for eligible children aged 4–16. 

Children can access up to 16 free sessions during the summer holidays, with activities including sports, creative workshops, music and outdoor learning. A meal is included with each session. Summer 2026 bookings opened in June, and activities begin from 23 July 2026.  

East Sussex https://www.eastsussex.gov.uk/children-families/childcare/welcome-to-holiday-food-and-fun  

West Sussex County Council 

West Sussex offers free HAF holiday clubs for eligible children aged 4–16. Bookings for Summer 2026 opened on 8 June 2026. Each eligible child can book up to 16 sessions and every session includes a free meal.  

West Sussex Holiday Activities and Food programme – West Sussex County Council  

Surrey County Council 

Surrey’s programme, known as Club4, offers free holiday activities and meals for eligible children aged 4–16. 

Activities include sports, arts, outdoor adventures and wellbeing sessions. Most providers offer up to 16 funded sessions during the summer holidays. 

Surrey https://www.activesurrey.com/community/club4  

Kids eat free (or for less) this summer 

Many restaurants and cafés run special offers during the school holidays, helping families enjoy a meal out without stretching the budget.  

Supermarkets are also a reliable option if you’re looking for cheap or free meals for children this summer. Many in-store cafés run national offers during the holidays — for example, kids can eat for just £1 at Asda cafés with no minimum spend, while Tesco and Morrisons often offer free kids’ meals with a qualifying adult purchase. Sainsbury’s also runs £1 children’s meal deals, making supermarket cafés one of the easiest ways to keep costs down during a day out. 

Some popular offers include: 

🛒 Supermarkets / cafes 

Asda 

Children will get a £1 meal from noon every day in Asda cafes. Baby food is also available as part of the initiative, with little ones enjoying a free pouch of Ella’s Kitchen baby food (70g pouch). You can order one £1 kids’ meal per child per day.  

In addition, children will receive a free piece of fruit, such as an apple, pear, or banana, when they purchase the hot kids’ £1 meal deal. Asda’s popular £1 kids café meal deal 

Morrisons Cafe 

Families visiting their local Morrisons Café can enjoy a free ‘Kellogg’s Breakfast’, which includes a bowl of cereal and a portion of fruit. 

In addition to the free breakfast, for every adult meal purchased over £5, customers can also get a kids’ meal free. (The Offer excludes all Café specials.) The deal is redeemable seven days a week at every Morrisons café and has no end date. Morrisons Cafe Menu & Latest Deals | Morrisons 

Sainsbury’s Cafe 

One child’s hot main meal or lunch bag for £1 with the purchase of an adult hot main meal from £5.20 in the Sainsbury’s Café. Available every day from 11:30 until Café closure. 

Cafemenulightbiteskids.pdf 

Tesco Café 

One free Kids Hot Meal Deal, Kids Breakfast or Kids Pick ‘N’ Mix deal per any adult item purchased in The Café for dine-in only, a child must be present. Clubcard/app required. Kids Eat Free scheme returns to Tesco Cafés for summer holidays 

IKEA Restaurants 

IKEA Family members can often access discounted children’s meals during school holidays. Store locator – IKEA UK

🍝 Restaurants / chains with deals 

• ASK Italian ✅ (seasonal kids eat free) 

When at least one adult main meal is ordered, up to two children can eat for free from the kids’ menu. The offer is valid in the restaurant only, across all ASK Italian locations. https://www.askitalian.co.uk/offers/kids-eat-free

• Bella Italia ✅ (kids eat free / £1) 

Kids aged 2 to 11 eat for £1 with every adult main course, between 4 and 6 pm, Sunday through Wednesday, and kids eat free all day every Thursday with the purchase of an adult meal. One adult main course must be purchased per kid to receive the offer. https://www.bellaitalia.co.uk/kids  

• Befeater ✅ (free kids breakfast) 

Kids Eat Free breakfast when an adult purchases a full breakfast. Up to 2 children aged 15 and under can eat breakfast for free with a full-paying adult. https://www.beefeater.co.uk/en-gb/offers  

• Brewers Fayre ✅ (same Whitbread breakfast deal) 

When you book a table and an adult orders a main meal, one child can eat for free at participating BrewDog bars and pubs.  https://brewdog.com/pages/kids-menu  

• Bill’s ✅ (seasonal offers) 

Up to two kids can eat free all day, when one adult order any main dish. This offer is valid for kids aged 10 and under. This offer is valid on food only; drinks are not included. Offer valid for the lowest-priced children’s food. https://bills-website.co.uk

• BrewDog ✅ (kids eat free promos) 
  BrewDog Bars | Kids Eat Free This May Half | 23 May – 31 May

• Chiquito ✅ (seasonal deals) 

Kids can get a completely free Mini Amigos meal when an adult purchases a main.  https://www.chiquito.co.uk/ 

• Coconut Tree ✅ (kids deals occasionally) 

One child (aged 10 and under) eats free with each paying adult. https://www.thecoconut-tree.com/ 

• Cookhouse & Pub ✅ (free kids breakfast) 

Kids Eat Free breakfast when an adult purchases a full breakfast. Up to 2 children aged 15 and under can eat breakfast for free with a full-paying adult. https://www.cookhouseandpub.co.uk/en-gb/offers  

• Café Rouge ✅ (kids eat free hours) 

Kids eat free every day from 12 to 4 p.m. with the purchase of any adult main. https://www.caferouge.com/ 

• Dobbies Garden Centres ✅ (£1 / free deals) 

Dobbies offers a children’s breakfast with any adult traditional or full breakfast, or a child’s hot meal or pick ‘n’ mix lunch box with any adult main course for £1, which also includes a drink.  £1 supplement applies to kids’ Sunday roast. ttps://www.dobbies.com/ 

• Farmhouse Inns ✅ 

Kids eat free every Friday after 3pm until 3rd July 2026, and you can get two free kids’ meals with each adult meal purchased. The offer is available across breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Each kid’s meal includes a main and a free scoop of ice cream. There’s also the option to upgrade to a Beechdean ice cream from the ice cream parlour for £1. You can claim up to eight free kids’ meals per transaction when dining with four paying adults, making it suitable for larger family groups. https://www.farmhouseinns.co.uk/ 

• Flaming Grill ✅ 
  Flaming Grill Pubs

• Frankie & Benny’s ✅ (holiday deals) 

From Monday 25 to Sunday 31 May 2026, when you buy one adult main meal, one child can enjoy a full kids’ meal completely free.  https://www.frankieandbennys.com/ 

• Gordon Ramsay Restaurants ✅ (selected offers) 

Kids eat free when ordering a main from the Ramsay kids’ menu and can add a dessert for £3.50. Only available for children under 8 years old. Free kids’ main meal(s) from the set children’s menu only, per adult dining from the à la carte menu.  https://www.gordonramsayrestaurants.com/ 

• Heathrow Airport Restaurants 

Kids can eat for free at participating restaurants when an adult orders an item priced at £14.95 or more from the main menu. The offer does not apply to drinks, starters, or desserts. The offer applies only to children under 12. Travelling with children | Heathrow

• Hungry Horse ✅ (£1 deals / holidays) 
  https://www.hungryhorse.co.uk/ 

• Las Iguanas ✅ (kids eat free with app) 

children aged 12 and under can eat for free if you have the My Iguanas app and purchase a full-price adult main course. Children can choose a main course, two sides, and a dessert, which normally costs around £7.50. Childrener is available to both new and existing app members. To use it, select ‘Kids Eat Free’ in the ‘Perks’ tab, click ‘Activate Now,’ and present the code to your server when placing your order. https://www.iguanas.co.uk

• Marco Pierre White Restaurants 

The deal is valid for children under 12 and includes a free kids’ main meal when a full-paying adult orders a main course from the à la carte menu. The offer is not available on Saturdays after 6 pm.  
https://www.mpwrestaurants.co.uk/ 

• McDonald’s 

McDonald’s £5 Meal Deal: Burger, side, bonus side and a drink for £5. This isn’t easy to find on the app, but if you head to the Sharers & Bundles section, you’ll find it there, plus it should also be available at the till, if ordering inside the restaurant, but you may have to ask for it, as it may not be advertised on the menu boards. Terms: Served from 11 a.m. Not available for delivery. Participating restaurants only. https://www.mcdonalds.com/gb/en-gb/deals.html

• Pausa (Dunelm café) ✅ (kids eat free) 
  https://www.dunelm.com/info/brands/pausa 

• Pizza Hut ✅ (kids deals) 

You’ll need the online ordering system and the code KEF to take advantage of the deals.  Before 3pm, you’ll need to spend £9.99 on food to unlock one free Kids Buffet. You can upgrade this for £2 to include a bottomless soft drink and access to the ice cream factory, which is decent value if your child wants both anyway. After 3pm, the offer changes slightly. You can still use code KEF, but instead of the buffet, you’ll get a free Kids Meal Deal.  https://www.pizzahut.co.uk

• Preto 

One free kids’ meal with the purchase of an adult meal. Valid every weekday from 4 pm, and available all weekend, This offer is open to children up to 10 years old (proof of age may be requested).  https://www.preto.co.uk/ 

• Prezzo ✅ (kids eat free via subscription) 

The restaurant might offer a Kids eat for £1 deal, and you may need to download a voucher via the Prezzo app. 
https://www.prezzo.co.uk/about/kids-club/  

• Purezza ✅ (kids eat free pizza) 

Children can eat for free at Purezza, but the offer is limited to younger children and requires a paying adult. Children under 10 can get a free mini pizza when dining with a full-paying adult. If the adult requirement isn’t met, the kids’ pizza is charged as a standard 8” pizza.  https://purezza.co.uk/kids-eat-free/  

• Sizzling Pub & Grill ✅ 

Monday through Friday, between 3 and 7 pm, you can enjoy a kids’ main meal for £1 with the purchase of every adult main meal in the same transaction. During the school holidays, the kids’ £1 offer starts at midday.  https://www.sizzlingpubs.co.uk/ 

• Subway ✅ (holiday deals) 

Normally, a free Kids’ Meal is available with the purchase of any full-price Footlong Sub. https://www.subway.com/en-GB 

• Table Table ✅ (free kids breakfast) 

Kids Eat Free breakfast when an adult purchases a full breakfast. Up to 2 children aged under 16 can eat breakfast for free with a full-paying adult.  https://www.tabletable.co.uk/ 

• The Real Greek ✅ (kids eat free Sundays) 

Free Kids Meal for every £10.00 spent by an adult at The Real Greek on Sundays. Available to all children under 12. Valid for dine-in only.  https://www.therealgreek.com/kids-eat-free/  

• TGI Fridays ✅ (free with rewards) 

Free kids’ meal when you order an adult’s main, giving away a FREE kids’ meal when you order an adult’s main.  https://www.tgifridays.co.uk

• Turtle Bay ✅ (kids eat free with spend) 

One free kids’ meal is available with an adult purchase of £15 or more. The offer is valid for one child per adult transaction. The kids’ menu is intended for children aged 10 and under. https://www.turtlebay.co.uk/ 

• Whitbread Inns ✅ (free kids breakfast) 

Kids Eat Free breakfast when an adult purchases a full breakfast. Up to 2 children under 16 can eat breakfast for free with a full-paying adult.  https://www.whitbreadinns.co.uk/ 

• Zizzi ✅ (kids eat free holidays/app) 

Buy any adult main and get a free 3-course Bambini menu. https://www.zizzi.co.uk/offers/kids-eat-free