We headed to Chester on Sunday to try out tastecard as part of a family day out. It was our first experience with tastecard. By signing up to tastecard you can make considerable savings (up to 50% off) at 1000s of different restaurants across the country.

I kind of regret not having used tastecard sooner. I am already looking at cardiff restaurant deals ready for a holiday I want to book there. Thanks to COVID my son never had his primary school trip to Cardiff that his older brother so enjoyed. Fortunately, with tastecard we can eat in lovely restaurants without breaking the bank!

Roman Soldier Tour

Our first stop was the Roman Soldier Tour. Whenever we visit we usually walk the Chester Walls  but this time I thought we would try a guided walk instead. For the family of four of us it cost £27.  It’s a great way to get children out in the first air. Mine usually grumble about walking but Atticus our Roman Soldier guide had us all captivated. So, the boys didn’t seem to mind walking to the different locations. 

We learnt so much about the 400 years that the UK spent ruled by the Roman Empire during the 90 minute tour. Here are a few of the most interesting highlights:

For a long time, Roman soldiers prided themselves in being hairless. Believe it or not, they actually had a squealer in the Roman Baths, whose job was to squeal loudly so that the soldiers wouldn’t be embarrassed if they squealed during hair removal!

Wealthy women used to buy vials of gladiator sweat and use it as a beauty product.

The sponge on a stick was actually much more hygienic than the leaves used by the Celts. It was kept in a solution of vinegar to eliminate the bacteria. This helped reduce the mortality rate.

They would use honey and urine in their medicine. Urine contains ammonia so it has antibacterial properties. Honey is also antibacterial, so it actually made a big difference.

I did think it was great value for how much we learnt. Atticus was dressed authentically and really made history come alive. But that was still £27 for 90 minutes entertainment, whereas a tastecard is £34.99 a year and can unlock big savings when you dine out! That did kind of put into perspective just how much of an asset a tastecard is.

Carluccio’s

Filled with lots of newfound knowledge and having built up our appetite we headed for a late lunch. It had been easy to book a restaurant after searching Chester eating out deals. The tastecard app or website let you know what exactly you need to do. 

We booked Carluccio’s in Chester where you then save 25% on your bill regardless of how many are dining. Just make sure you check all the details. Some of the restaurants limit the number of diners (for example Zizzi limit the deal to two diners). 

I was impressed with how much we saved as a family, £20.85 just in one restaurant. We would have saved even more if we had managed to squeeze in desserts too. So, if you eat out regularly (or even now and then as a treat) then the yearly membership of £34.99 is such a small price to pay! That’s only £3 a month, a complete bargain!

If you do head to Carluccio’s I enjoyed the spaghetti carbonara and the focaccia with mozzarella was delicious!

tastecard Ideal for Families

If you are planning what to do over the Easter holidays, I would recommend getting a tastecard. Eating out is one of our favourite things to do. However, it’s become much more expensive over the last few years since my boys have grown and started having adult meals too! Yikes, you really feel the pinch then. So, I was excited to find an easy way to make eating out much more affordable. 

My eldest teen has expensive taste when eating out. He would love to have steak every time! I might be willing to indulge him more often now that I can make considerable savings on the meals we buy thanks to tastecard.

Dining Out Savings

I love that the app has a Dining Out Savings section where you can track how much you save with each meal. You will quickly realise just how useful a tastecard is!

Cinema Ticket Discounts

You can make other savings too with tastecard. We had looked at heading to Vue cinema in Cheshire Oaks after our meal as we love to watch a film as a family. But unfortunately, that particular day the films weren’t suitable. However, over the Easter holidays I can sure we will extend our day and have even more fun thanks to tastecard!

You can try a tastecard 60 day trial for just £1. If you haven’t experienced tastecard yet I think it’s the perfect time to give it a try ready for the Easter holidays.