Leeds Beckett University - City Campus,
Woodhouse Lane,
LS1 3HE
Saving on Your Cravings
Hi, my name is Will, I am a first year student studying Politics at Leeds Beckett – I have wrote this blog to shed some of my wisdom on saving money at university when wanting to eat out.
Leeds has a fruitful variety of food options and for me, is one of the great attractions of living in the city. Going for a meal is a great way to make friends, new connections and create lasting memories. This of course can be a little more difficult at university while we’re managing our money, but there are plenty of ways to still enjoy all the food which the city has to offer. These are my favourite deals and tips to finding the best value for your money in Leeds.
Lunchtime Delights
The first tip I’ll give you, is finding a good deal is much easier at lunchtime than dinner. There are lots of places that do lunch time discounts, especially for students.
- Leeds has a huge selection of Thai restaurants – from 12 to 5 everyday, Thai A Roy Dee does a set menu for £9.95. This includes all the Thai staples, Chicken Satay, Green or Red curry and Pad Thai as well as Veggie options too.
- There is a similar deal at Mommy Thai, a three-course set menu for under ten pounds.
- If you are seeking something simpler but equally as delicious, Pieminister offer their express lunch – a side, a pie and gravy for £7.50. Pieminister also offers a reward scheme if you download their app, so make the most out of your visit and get rewarded for the habit!
- I Am Doner offers a five-pound kebab at lunch time – they are not your ordinary night out kebabs but really high quality & non-greasy which you don’t feel bad about eating. Like Pieminister, they are no nonsense easy and quick choice which I would highly recommend.
There are similar deals all around Leeds, I would suggest having a walk around and finding somewhere you like the look of. This really helps getting acclimatised to the city and finding your own little spot. This is what I did for my first month living in Leeds - I accidentally spent all of my summer savings finding affordable food with new friends. Food is a personal choice, so just go for a walk and see where you end up.
Midweek Wonders
A common scheme restaurants run is themed days. For Wing Wednesday, you really have a great choice –
- The Dry Dock offers 40p a wing. I’m no maths expert but that’s 10 wings for £4!
- The same company owns Hyde Park Club and runs the same deal; there’s also a cauliflower option which is arguably better.
- Cult Wing do half price wings on Wednesday, their wings are top tier, and the décor is pretty cool too – they also do 50% off on Taco Tuesday…. and Thursday!
All three places are in walking distance of Leeds Beckett City campus which is your Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday sorted.
App Savvy
Whatever your restaurant of choice - I recommend that you look into whether they have a loyalty app – if they do, definitely use it! Scanning your app with each order & receiving notifications about special offers & deals you will get the most value for your money.
Download all the delivery apps and wait for them to offer you deals. Uber Eats regularly offers 40% and 50% percent off with a minimum spend so if you are with a group having a movie night it becomes very worth it. I would also always order from independent places when ordering online as you cannot scan your reward cards from the big dogs through the delivery apps.
Bargains at Beckett
Beckett also provides fantastic deals that I highly recommend taking advantage of, given their convenience. The £2 meal option is a real steal, allowing you to get the most out of your money. I once indulged in sausage, mash, and gravy at 10 o'clock in the morning, which felt unconventional but turned out to be surprisingly satisfying. They also offer a reward scheme with various benefits, including a free slice of cake on your birthday, making your special day even sweeter. Additionally, Beckett is committed to sustainability and waste reduction, which not only benefits your wallet but also the environment.
Explore & Enjoy!
Leeds offers a dynamic food scene that's always evolving, making it an exciting place to explore - it is the foodie capital of the north in my opinion. Do your research, always google discount codes, go on TikTok and Instagram for where to eat well for cheap, speak to people about where they like. Food is fun, social and allows you to explore Leeds to find where you fancy which is a fulfilling opportunity.
