Tastecard

tastecard is a discount card accepted by many restaurants in the UK and Ireland offering in some cases a 50% discount, in others two meals for the price of one at participating restaurants;[1] details and restrictions vary from restaurant to restaurant and are listed on the website. The card is the same size as a credit card; a "digital card" on a smartphone is available to cardholders for convenience.

tastecard
Founded2006
FounderMatt Turner
Headquarters
Huddersfield
,
UK
Area served
United Kingdom and Ireland
Products
  • Restaurant discount card
Websitetastecard.co.uk

The tastecard business model relies on customers forgetting to cancel their subscription (often after a free trial) with some customers reporting that even when they do cancel tastecard have still taken a payment and do not offer refunds. Tastecard actively try to remove bad reviews from their trustpilot page and have turned off Facebook reviews in order to limit their bad reputation from being exposed.

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 often necessary to book beforehand.

It was originally set up in 2006 as tastelondon by founders Matt Turner and Jamie Milner,[2] and re-branded in 2010 to encompass the rest of the UK and Ireland. As of May 2014 tastecard reported over 7,000 participating restaurants and over 800,000 members,[1] and claimed to be "the largest dining club cooperative of our kind, anywhere in the world".[3]

Both chain and independent restaurants, some with a Michelin star, accept tastecard. Annual membership costs £79.99 and is purchased through the website, with a gift option available; lower prices and shorter free trials are often available.

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 iOS[4] and Android.[5]

Participating restaurants

Participating restaurants include nationwide chains (although most are now closing down and have been affected by their participation in the tastecard scheme), thousands of independent restaurants and several AA Rosette venues. Details of the discount for each restaurant and applicable restrictions are on the website or mobile app but these are rarely updated leading to copious amounts of disinformation.

Chains
  • PizzaExpress
  • Prezzo
  • Strada
  • Zizzi
  • Ask (restaurant)
  • La Tasca
  • Marco Pierre White
  • Banana Tree
  • Azzurro
  • Hilton Hotel Restaurants
  • Ramada Restaurants
  • Radisson Hotels Restaurants
  • Mercure Hotels Restaurants
  • Tiger Tiger
  • Grand Union
  • Cabana
  • RBG
  • All Star Lanes
  • Barcelona Tapas
  • Chino Latino
  • Real China Buffet
  • Caffe Concerto
  • Frankie and Benny's
  • Ed's Diner
  • Brewers Fayre
  • Ship Hotel Weybridge
  • Bella Italia

tastecard+
tastecard+ Logo

The company launched special offer platform tastecard+ in May 2013, which became available as a payable add-on to annual tastecard membership. It provides discounts on fine dining, hotels, cinema, theatre, live music, comedy and family days out, and competitions and giveaways.[6] Members can access tastecard+ via the website or smart phone app.

Charity

The company supports Mary's Meals, an international charity that initiates school feeding projects in some of the poorest communities of the world. For their charity campaigns in 2012 and 2013 tastecard donated £5 to Mary's Meals for every tastecard membership sold during that time.[7] As of May 2016 tastecard said on 1 November 2013 that they had donated £230,148.00 to the charity over the preceding 18 months.[8]

See also

References
  1. "tastecard - 50% Off or 2 for 1 Discount at Restaurants - Diners Club". Tastecard.co.uk. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
  2. Zientek, Henryk (31 May 2010). "Business Profile: Matt Turner and Jamie Milner of Taste Marketing Ltd". Huddersfieldexaminer. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
  3. "About Us - tastecard The Company". Tastecard.co.uk. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
  4. "tastecard dining discounts". App Store. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
  5. "tastecard Restaurant Discounts – Apps on Google Play". Play.google.com. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
  6. "tastecard+ Dining, Hotels & Entertainment Offers - tastecard Plus". Tastecard.co.uk. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
  7. "Our Chosen Charity - Mary's Meals". Tastecard.co.uk. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
  8. "tastecard members have raised over £100,000 for Mary's Meals". Prweb.com. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
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