Make money make sense
Make every penny count. Get the best deals, avoid scams and grow your savings, with expert guidance for only £49 a year.
Join Which? MoneyResults day 2026: free food and drink deals for GCSE students
Students can claim either free sides, snacks and desserts at Nando’s, Pizza Express, Bella Italia and more
With a background in financial journalism across national titles, Ruby loves helping people take control of their money and specialises in pensions, tax, banking and benefits.
Whether you’re a student picking up your GCSE results this week – or a proud parent or grandparent cheering them on – there are plenty of ways to celebrate without spending a fortune.
Restaurants and cafés across England, Wales and Northern Ireland are offering freebies and discounts on results day this year, which falls on Thursday 20 August.
A level results were released last week on 13 August and in Scotland, National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher results were released to students on Tuesday 4 August.
Here, Which? rounds up the results day deals available now, along with what students need to claim them.
How to claim your results day freebies
Here's a list of places where students can claim free food or drink on results day this year.
- Banana Tree Free starter and dessert when you buy any main. You'll need to sign up for the voucher online and show your results slip.
- Bella Italia Students can get a free starter of garlic king prawns and a dessert of chocolate brownies when you buy any main. You have to sign up for the voucher online beforehand and show your results slip.
- Bill’s Free dessert when you order any main and show your results. Offers available from 11:30am, and is not available in Scotland.
- Bird & Blend Tea Co Free iced superstar matcha. No minimum spend; just show the results slip at the till. Teachers can also show their ID and get a free drink too.
- Frankie & Benny’s Free starter and dessert when you buy a main meal. You'll need to sign up for a voucher and show your results slip.
- Giggling Squid Students can get one free portion of sticky chicken when dining in and buying a main dish. You'll need to show a results slip before ordering.
- Itsu You can get a free tray of steamed chicken or vegetable gyozas by showing your results and proof of your name.
- Las Iguanas Free starter and a dessert when you show your results slip. You'll need to sign up for a voucher beforehand.
- Nando’s Free quarter chicken or starter when you spend £7 or more and show your student ID and results slip. Available for both eat-in and walk-in collect.
- Pizza Express You get 90 minutes of bottomless pizza and dough balls for £12.50 when you show your results slip.
- Rosa's Thai Students can claim a free pad-thai if they purchase a bubble tea. You'll need to sign up on the Rosa’s Thai website ahead of results day to receive a unique code to claim.
- Showcase Cinemas in England and Wales will be offering a free small ICEE slushie for students. To claim, all you need to do is show your results slip.
- Wildwood Students can get a free starter or dessert alongside a free Coke Zero when you buy any main meal. To claim, you'll need to show your results slip or a valid student ID.
- Zizzi The first 30 students can claim a free classic with the purchase of a soft drink. Those who miss out can get 50% off that specific dish for the rest of the day. You'll need to mention it to your server when you arrive, and show your results slip.
We’ll keep an eye out and add more results day deals as we spot them.
- Find out more: best student bank account freebies and perks 2026
How do I claim results day freebies?
Here are a few tips for this results day, so you don’t miss out on a freebie.
Make sure you bring proof
Most places will want to see evidence that you've got your results, so be sure to have your results slip to hand, as well as a student ID if you have one and proof of age.
If you don’t, you may be denied the freebie, even if you have got results.
Book ahead
Places offering results day deals can get really busy, so it's probably best to book ahead if you can. Particularly if you want friends and family to cash in on the deal.
Check the T&Cs
Make sure to look at the T&Cs before you try to claim a freebie, as it may be limited to specific times or locations, or may include a minimum spend.
Alongside this, you may need to download an app or join a loyalty scheme beforehand to claim, so double-check the requirements.
Often, it’s helpful to follow your favourite restaurants on social media. This way, you can catch any last-minute offers or changes as they go live.
- Find out more: 6 money-saving tips for students going to university
Off to college? Here's how to get ready
If you're preparing for the next stage of your education – or helping someone who is – we've got expert advice to help you make confident choices.
Sign up for Unidays
Unidays is an app for students in college, sixth form or university that offers exclusive discounts across a variety of high street brands and retailers to help you save money. To join, you need to be over 16 years old and have a student email address or ID from your college.
Laptops for students
From note-taking to streaming, a good laptop is essential for student life. We've tested the top models to find the best for every budget and course type.
- Find out more: best laptops for students
