Soft launches and late sittings - six ways to get cheaper meals out

The price of eating out can be hard to swallow while the cost of living remains high, with more than a third of Brits cutting back on going to restaurants, according to YouGov's latest Dining Out report. , external

Restaurateurs say the rising cost of food, energy, wage and tax bills mean they've had to put up prices, with some top chefs campaigning for government help.

Many eateries are offering incentives to get diners through the doors. Here are some ways to save money on meals out.

Many restaurants offer points, freebies, discounts and birthday treats to keep customers coming back.

One of the most well-known is the Pizza Express Club. Regular diners can progress through a bronze, silver and gold system unlocking perks from free dough balls to hot and soft drinks on the house.

Nando's uses a chilli system for its loyalty programme, while other schemes such as Tastecard offer discounts at hundreds of eat-in and takeaway venues in exchange for an annual fee.

Restaurants often want to fill seats outside of peak lunch and dinner hours so opting for earlier or later sittings can be rewarded by a cheaper bill.

Apps such as First Table, which operates across 21 UK cities, as well as Ireland, New Zealand and Australia, give diners 50% off food when they book a participating restaurant's first or last dining slot. In exchange, diners pay a small booking fee.