Gourmet Society

Forces families can pick up a free trial Gourmet Society membership through the deal on this page. That means 25% off food and drinks at thousands of UK restaurants — no upfront cost, no forces verification needed, just a new member account. No military-branded scheme here, but a free run at a dining card that trims a quarter off your restaurant bill is a deal worth grabbing.

What Is the Gourmet Society?

Gourmet Society is a dining membership that gives you access to discounts at a large network of UK restaurants. The standard offer at most venues is 25% off the whole bill — food and drinks — though a small number of places do 2-for-1 on mains instead. You use the app to find a participating restaurant, book your table, then show your digital membership card when it's time to pay.

The network spans more than 6,000 restaurants nationwide — high street brands, local spots and a sprinkling of upmarket addresses. Because the coverage is national rather than regional, it tends to work wherever you're stationed or settled. A GS+ add-on expands things further with cinema offers, days out and leisure savings beyond dining.

The Free Trial: The Deal for Forces Families

The offer linked from this page gives new members a full trial period with no charge to start. That's the angle forces families should be using — you get working access to the restaurant discounts immediately, spend a few weeks trying it out across real meals, and form your own view on whether it earns its keep before any money changes hands.

Key terms: this is for new members only, and it converts automatically to a paid subscription when the trial expires unless you cancel. Annual membership is normally priced at £34.99, with a monthly option at £5.99. The deal on this page shows the current trial length — worth checking before you sign up.

Who Gets the Most From It?

Forces life comes with plenty of occasions that end up at a restaurant table. Coming back off leave, family visits to the base, post-exercise dinners, celebrating a promotion — the meals happen anyway. What the membership changes is the bill at the end of the evening, especially when drinks are covered by the discount too.

Veterans with a regular local social life often get the clearest return from it. Once you have two or three participating restaurants you like in your area, it stops being something you remember to use and becomes the default before making a booking. The value recurs throughout the year — nothing to redeem, no codes to find.

The trial is open to anyone registering as a new member. It's on this page because it's a genuinely useful deal that a lot of military families haven't come across.

How to Claim the Free Trial

1. Click through the deal on this page and set up your new account.
2. Download the app and enable location services.
3. Browse nearby participating venues and check the specific offer at each one before booking.
4. Show your digital card at the end of the meal to claim the discount.
5. If you're not keeping the paid membership, set a phone reminder a few days before the trial closes.

Is It Worth It?

Work the numbers through. A meal for two at a mid-range restaurant — starters, mains, a couple of drinks each — tends to land somewhere north of £60. A 25% saving on that is roughly £15 to £20 per visit. Four or five meals like that in a year and the annual membership cost is covered by the savings, often in the first couple of months.

Member reviews are broadly positive on the discount applying reliably across both chains and independents. The one thing to confirm before each visit: whether the venue offers 25% off the whole bill or a 2-for-1 arrangement, and whether weekend restrictions apply. The app lists this for every restaurant so there are no surprises when the bill arrives.

For other dining deals, the Harvester page covers their current restaurant offers, and the Greene King page is worth a look for pub meals and family dining across their estate.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Gourmet Society offer a military discount?

There's no dedicated forces scheme or verified military rate. What's available through this page is a free trial membership — the full product, no charge to start, open to the armed forces community and any other new member. That's the deal to use.

How does the free trial work?

Register a new account through the deal link on this page. You get immediate access to the restaurant discounts for the duration of the trial at no charge. If you don't cancel before the trial period ends, the membership moves to a paid subscription automatically.

Which restaurants are in the network?

More than 6,000 UK venues — national chains including Café Rouge, Prezzo and Chef and Brewer, alongside a large spread of local independents. The app lets you search by location and shows the exact offer at each venue.

Can you use it at the same restaurant more than once?

Yes, there's no limit on repeat visits. Unlike a one-time voucher, the membership discount applies every time you visit a participating restaurant throughout your membership year.

Does the 25% cover drinks as well as food?

At most venues, the full bill is covered — food and drinks together. A smaller number of restaurants offer 2-for-1 on mains rather than a percentage off. Check the listing for each venue in the app before you book.

Can veterans and reservists use it?

The free trial requires no military verification — it's open to new members regardless of background. Veterans, reservists, military families and serving personnel can all access it in the same way.

What if I forget to cancel before the trial ends?

The membership renews automatically into a paid subscription. Online cancellation is available through Gourmet Society's website. The practical move is to set a reminder on your phone when you sign up, a few days ahead of the trial expiry.

Does the discount apply to the whole table or just the cardholder?

The saving comes off the total table bill, not just a single person's food. Whether you're out with a partner, the family, or a group, the discount applies to everything — up to the maximum party size set by that particular venue.

More Forces Deals You Might Like

Check the Food and Drink section for more restaurant and dining deals across the UK. For specific chain savings, the Greene King military discount page and the Harvester page are both worth a look.