Exact date Tesco is bringing back its ‘Kids Eat Free’ offer to ALL stores revealed – but only if they have a cafe

SUPERMARKET giant Tesco is bringing back its amazing Kids Eat Free initiative this summer.

The mega offer is open to all stores across the UK if they have a cafe attached to them and shoppers have a Clubcard to hand – here’s the exact date the scheme begins.

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Kids Eat Free is a great idea set up by Tesco in which a child is gifted a free hot meal, breakfast or pick ‘n’ mix deal when an adult buys any item from a Tesco cafe.

Around the UK the scheme begins at different times with it starting in Scotland and Northern Ireland on Monday.

For Scots it will run until August 16 whereas Northern Ireland get access to it until August 30.

Over in England and Wales it opens up slightly later on July 22 and goes on until August 30.

The deal only applies Monday to Friday with weekends being excluded with it being subject to availability at each store.

Shoppers can only get the deal if they can show a valid Clubcard either physically or through the Tesco mobile app at the till.

The offer has been lauded ever since Tesco started to offer the incentive.

An adult needs to buy any item from the cafes to make their child eligible for the free meal – meaning they can unlock it for as little as 60p.

Any type of drink, breakfast or lunch option counts meaning it couldn’t be easier to get the free meal and keep all the little ones happy.

Kids Eat Free food options

THERE are 10 available meals kids can get as part of the great deal including a bumper pick 'n' mix option.

BREAKFAST

• Little Beans on Toast
• Little Eggs on Toast
• Little Avocado on Toast
• Little Blueberry Pancakes
• Little Crumpets

LUNCH

• Little Tomato Pasta Shells
• Sausages meal deal
• Chicken Goujons meal deal
• Fish Fingers meal deal

PICK ‘N’ MIX LUNCH DEAL

• Any kids sandwich
• Plus any single piece of fruit
• And two kids snacks
• With a kids drink

One happy shopper posted the news on social media as hundreds of customers flocked to the comments to tag their fellow parents looking to save a few quid with the kids off school.

A mum was left saying: “I was just thinking of this last night.”

As another simply labelled it “amazing”.

Claire De Silva, Tesco head of communities, has previously said: “We know that some parents worry about the extra expense that school holidays can bring.

“Offering free meals is one of the ways we can support families during this time and help give children a stronger start.”

In 2023, Tesco provided more than 440,000 free meals to children and families during school holidays.

To help with the cost of summer holidays, customers can also exchange their Clubcard vouchers.

Swap them for Tesco Reward Partners and families could grab some family favourite food spots and days outs such as Pizza Express and Cineworld at a slashed price.

Last year, Tesco also launched Stronger Starts: a £5million grant programme, in partnership with Groundwork UK, to give children across the UK a stronger start in life.

The grants help schools and children’s groups provide nutritious food and healthy activities that support young people’s physical health and mental wellbeing, such as breakfast clubs or snacks, and equipment for healthy activities.

Money saving tips for parents

WE'VE put together six top tips to cut costs, nab freebies and to make sure you're not fined.

• Free prescriptions and dental care – Prescriptions cost £9.15 a pop in England, while NHS dental costs vary by location. You can get both for free while you’re pregnant and for 12 months after your baby’s due date. Ask your doctor or midwife for a maternity exemption certificate (MATEX) to claim the free care.
• Free milk, infant formula, vitamins or fruit and veg – Under the Healthy Start programme, you may be entitled to the freebies if you’re at least 10 weeks pregnant or you have a child under four and you’re on certain benefits, such as Universal Credit.
• £500 free grant – In England, Northern Ireland and Wales you may be entitled to a Sure Start grant of £500 if you’re on certain benefits and expecting your first child or expecting more than one baby – such as twins.To claim, you need to fill out the following form on Gov.uk and get your doctor or midwife to sign it.
• Register the birth in time or face a £200 fine – You need to register the birth within 42 days of your baby being born with your local registry office. This costs £11 in England and Wales.
• Update a will or update it – If you don’t have a will, in England, Northern Ireland and Scotland, where one parent dies, children will only inherit cash if the estate is worth more than £250,000 – otherwise all the money will go to the surviving spouse. If you don’t want that to happen, you need to get a will stating your wishes.
• Consider getting life insurance – No-one likes to think about death but if something happened to you, could the family survive without your salary? If not, you many want to consider life insurance. Use a comparison service to find not only the cheapest, but the most suitable cover for your needs.