All the Places You Can Get Free Food and Drink as a Fresher in 2026

Freshers' week is one of the most exciting times of your student life — and it doesn't have to be expensive.

There are more places handing out free food and drink to students than most people realise, from fast food giants to high street coffee chains. Here's your complete guide to claiming them all.

Looking to stretch your food budget even further? Check our guide to the best supermarket meal deals in the UK and our tips for food shopping on a £20-a-week budget.

Free Food

Your Student Beans account is the single most useful tool for unlocking free food as a fresher. The following brands all offer free items when you verify your student status through us:

Greggs

Buy any cold sandwich deal — a selected cold sandwich plus a cold drink or regular hot drink — and Greggs will throw in a free sausage roll or vegan roll (pork-free). Redeem in-store by showing your Student Beans ID for the Greggs student discount at the till. The offer isn't available on click and collect or Just Eat orders.

KFC

Spend £5 or more at a participating KFC restaurant and you'll receive a free Popcorn Snack Box with a KFC student discount. To redeem, enter your Student Beans iD number into the KFC app and show the resulting QR code at the counter. KFC also runs a Rewards Arcade within the app — students can play for a chance to win free food up to twice a day.

McDonald's

New to the McDonald's rewards scheme? Link your Student Beans account and you'll receive 1,000 bonus points on your first order through the MyMcDonald's app. Points can be redeemed for free food items including fries, drinks, and menu items as you accumulate them.

Free Food via Loyalty Schemes

These freebies don't require Student Beans — just a loyalty account and a bit of patience.

Nando's

Nando's Card (now managed via the Nando's app) rewards you with a chilli stamp for every £7 you spend. Once you've collected enough stamps, you unlock free food: one leaf gets you a side or starter, three leaves get a quarter chicken, and a whole card unlocks a full platter. It's one of the best long-game loyalty schemes for students who eat out regularly.

TGI Fridays

Download the TGI Fridays app and you'll receive a free dessert just for signing up. The app's stripe-based rewards system then builds as you spend: 50 stripes unlocks mozzarella sticks, and 200 stripes earns you a steak or rack of ribs. Well worth downloading at the start of freshers' week.

Costa Coffee

The Costa Club loyalty scheme gives you one bean per item purchased. Collect enough and you can redeem them for free drinks. New joiners often receive a welcome drink on sign-up — check the app when you register.

Pret a Manger

Pret Club subscribers get up to five barista-made drinks per day. The subscription isn't free, but at £5/month it pays for itself quickly if you're a regular — and Pret frequently runs free trial offers for new subscribers.

Free Food and Drink on Your Birthday

Sign up to these mailing lists and loyalty programmes before your birthday for birthday freebies — most require you to be registered at least a couple of weeks in advance for the date to be recognised.

PizzaExpress — Free dough balls or a birthday treat with an email account
Krispy Kreme — Typically a free doughnut or mini box on your birthday when you're a rewards member
Frankie & Benny's — Free birthday dessert or meal for Rewards members
Barburrito — Free burrito on your birthday when signed up to their rewards
Las Iguanas — Free birthday cocktail or dessert for Viva Rewards members
All Bar One — Birthday treat via the Delicious Rewards loyalty programme
Hotel Chocolat — Free chocolate or gift for Velvetiser Club members on their birthday

Tips for Maximising Free Food as a Fresher

Set up your Student Beans account on day one. Verification takes a few minutes and unlocks dozens of discounts and freebies across food, fashion, and tech.
Download loyalty apps before you arrive. Most free-on-sign-up offers (TGI Fridays' free dessert, Costa's welcome drink) need to be claimed through the app, so get them installed before freshers' week kicks off.
Register for birthday rewards now. If your birthday falls during term time, register for loyalty programmes at least two weeks in advance so the date is recognised in their system.
Check expiry dates. Some birthday freebies are valid only on the day itself; others last a full month. Know which is which so you don't miss out.
Combine offers where possible. A loyalty scheme freebie from one brand doesn't stop you from also using a Student Beans discount at another — stack them on different visits across the week.

Once freshers' week is over, keep your spending tight with our guide to easy healthy lunch ideas for students and a full rundown of what to expect in freshers' week 2025 and beyond.

Unlock even more with Student Beans

All your favourite brands at your fingertips, from fashion and beauty to food and drink, available to college and uni students aged 16 and over. Dive into our blog to find tips and advice to help you navigate student life, from applying to uni to life after graduation.