Perhaps there’ s no such thing as a free lunch, but there’s certainly such a thing as a generously discounted lunch at the moment.
It’s voucher mania this January. Restaurant chains are coaxing in the cash-strapped masses with discount offers to help ease the recessionary reticence to splurge on eating out.
Originally popularised by Threshers in 2006, such vouchers have gone from being a niche phenomenon to commonplace.
More than 41 million visits to discount voucher websites were made during October by 8.8 million people, according to figures from Nielsen Online. Websites that host discount coupons have reportedly seen growth of 122 per cent.
Offers like these must work to bring the punters in. Do they make the restaurants more money overall though?
It’s worked on me. I’ve had several meals out on the sole justification that they were at a discount. And the fiddly terms and conditions that can often sour an attempt to take advantage of such offers seem a thing of the past: Pizza Express’ latest two-for-one coupon explicitly states that the most expensive item will be free, that the offer will also work at weekends, and that there is no limit to the number of vouchers used per table. That’s what I call going the extra mile.
This apparent benevolence won’t last for long though – come February eateries will naturally start filling up with love-struck couples for Valentines day, so get lunching on coupon credit while you can.
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