tastecard is a
discount card A discount card is a card or document, often a plastic credit card or paper card, that entitles the holder to discounts on the prices of some products or services.
How it works
Cards may be issued as part of a loyalty program, offering discoun ...
accepted by many restaurants in the UK and Ireland offering typically a 50% discount or two meals for the price of one at participating restaurants;
details and restrictions vary from restaurant to restaurant and are listed on the website. It is implemented by a physical card the same size as a
credit card or a "digital card" on a
mobile phone
A mobile phone or cell phone is a portable telephone that allows users to make and receive calls over a radio frequency link while moving within a designated telephone service area, unlike fixed-location phones ( landline phones). This rad ...
. Both chain and independent restaurants, some with a
Michelin star
The ''Michelin Guides'' ( ; ) are a series of guide books that have been published by the French tyre company Michelin since 1900. The ''Guide'' awards up to three Michelin stars for excellence to a select few restaurants in certain geographic ...
, accept tastecard. Discounted pizza delivery and cinema tickets are also available. The price of annual membership was £34.99, often with a trial period available free or at nominal cost.
Restrictions may apply: some restaurants allow discounts to no more than two diners; cards may not be accepted at peak times such as Fridays or Saturdays, or December; it is usually necessary to book beforehand.
It was originally set up in 2006 as tastelondon by founders Matt Turner and Jamie Milner, and re-branded in 2010 to encompass the rest of the UK and Ireland. In June 2014 tastecard reported over 7,000 participating restaurants and over 800,000 members. It claims to be "the UK's biggest dining club", but no longer lists numbers of members and restaurants.
Restaurants in the scheme are required to offer a discount to members, but the restaurants do not receive a share of the membership fee. The tastecard website and
smartphone app allow users to search for participating restaurants near a specified location. Members can also use the smartphone app to access their digital card, write restaurant reviews and see their total savings. The app is available on
Apple
An apple is a round, edible fruit produced by an apple tree (''Malus'' spp.). Fruit trees of the orchard or domestic apple (''Malus domestica''), the most widely grown in the genus, are agriculture, cultivated worldwide. The tree originated ...
and
Android devices.
[ User reviews and are available via a Web search, and on the review sections of the app pages.
As of 2023 most memberships are digital and auto-renewing, requiring a mobile telephone and without a physical card. Reviews on the Play Store for the Android version report difficulties logging into the app, so that it cannot be used, or cancelled.][ App version of 1 February 2023.]
tastecard+
The company launched special offer platform tastecard+ in May 2013, which became available as a payable add-on to annual tastecard membership, offering discounts on fine dining, hotels, cinema, theatre, live music, comedy and family days out, and competitions and giveaways. In 2023 tastecard+ was not mentioned on the tastecard Web site, and many non-restaurant offers were available to all card holders.
Charity
In 2012 and 2013 the company supported Mary's Meals, an international charity that initiates school feeding projects in some of the poorest communities of the world. In that period tastecard donated £5 to Mary's Meals for every tastecard membership sold.[
]
See also
* Discount card A discount card is a card or document, often a plastic credit card or paper card, that entitles the holder to discounts on the prices of some products or services.
How it works
Cards may be issued as part of a loyalty program, offering discoun ...
* Dining club
A dining club (UK) or eating club (US) is a Social club, social group, usually requiring membership (which may, or may not be available only to certain people), which meets for dinners and discussion on a regular basis. They may also often have g ...
* Urbem Media
References
{{Reflist
External links
Official Website
Sales promotion
Gastronomical societies