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

The cost of dining out is getting increasingly hard to swallow while the cost of living remains high, with more than a third of Brits cutting back on going to restaurants.

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.

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.

EatClub is another, giving walk-ins up to 50% off the whole bill at thousands of venues when they redeem an offer within its app. The biggest discounts are at off-peak times.

Shokofeh Hejazi, director of foresight and innovation at global trends agency The Food People, says earlier dining appeals because it tends to be quieter and calmer, people drink less and it allows them to get home sooner.

Meeting up for breakfast also tends to be a bit more wallet-friendly as it's usually just one course and diners get the same catch-up time with friends and family, she adds.

In the school holidays, many places will entice families through their doors by offering free or £1 meals for kids eating with paying adults. These range from big chains such as TGI Fridays, cafes at supermarkets including Morrisons and Asda, and even garden centres like Dobbies.

While some tie-in with school holidays, other deals are all year round. Many new restaurants will offer discounts in a bid to encourage diners to try them out and spread the word that they've opened for business. These are known as