2 for 1 on Meals as Well as Cinema with Compare the Meerkat

From July 16th Compare the Market customers will get Meerkat Meals as well as Meerkat Movies. Like Tastecard and Gourmet Society, Meerkat Meals will save you money at participating restaurants. The deal here is buy-one-get-one-free on starters, mains and desserts from Sunday to Thursday for up to six people. You’ll get the cheapest meals free. Your membership is valid for 12 months.

To get the offer you need to show the participating restaurant your membership, which is via an app on your smartphone. You also need to book in advance, though if you forget and the restaurant has space there’s no reason you can’t call up moments before you arrive.

There are a few alternatives out there. Most people know Tastecard, and there’s also Gourmet Society and Hi-Life Diners Club. All three are owned by the same company, which is running Meerkat Movies too. So the offering is pretty similar. But there are differences between them all.

The discounts change from scheme to scheme. So whereas Meerkat Movies is just two for one, Tastecard sometimes offers 50% off, which is better if there’s an odd number eating. Meanwhile Gourmet Society sometimes gives you 25% off at restaurants, but it’s the whole bill, including drinks. Meerkat also doesn’t include side orders, so those chips and salads are going on the bill at full price, whereas they’re usually included on Tastecard.

Obviously the restaurants won’t all the same, so you might find your favourite local is only listed with one scheme. Compare the Market haven’t released a full list of restaurants yet, but have said Ask, Giraffe, Handmade Burger Company, Pizza Hut and Prezzo have signed on with more to come. You can find all of these (and more) on Tastecard, but not Gourmet Society.