You could be eating breakfast, lunch and dinner for free on your birthday week.
A Guardian reporter collected over £10 worth of sweet treats in a single afternoon, plus £44 in additional gifts. That’s just scratching the surface.
Play your cards right and you can easily rack up £50-100+ worth of freebies across restaurants, coffee shops, fashion stores and beauty brands.
But here’s a top tip:
Before you sign up for everything, you might want to set up a separate email address. You’ll thank yourself later when your main inbox isn’t drowning in marketing emails.
Many places need at least a week’s notice, some want a month. So if your birthday’s coming up soon, get cracking.
And while these offers were correct at the time of writing, make sure you check the T&Cs and retailers directly as offers do change.
The 10 best birthday freebies ranked by value
These are the offers that put the most money back in your pocket. Values are approximate and depend on the brand’s current terms.
| # | Brand | What you get | Rough value | How to claim |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Turtle Bay | Birthday voucher for food or cocktails | Up to £20 | Join Turtle Bay Soul Club |
| 2 | Hobbs | Birthday treat, often a candle or voucher | Around £20 | Subscribe to the Hobbs newsletter |
| 3 | Bill's | Free bottle of Prosecco with a meal | Around £18 | Join Bill's Regulars Club |
| 4 | Las Iguanas | Birthday voucher | £10 | Join Las Iguanas Club |
| 5 | Levi's | Birthday voucher | £10 | Subscribe to the Levi's newsletter |
| 6 | Starbucks | Free drink of any size | Up to £6 | Reach Gold on Starbucks Rewards |
| 7 | Hotel Chocolat | £5 voucher plus a surprise treat | £5+ | Sign up to VIP.ME |
| 8 | The Body Shop | £5 birthday reward | £5 | Join The Body Shop Club |
| 9 | Krispy Kreme | Free doughnut of your choice | £1.65 to £2.25 | Register for Krispy Kreme Rewards |
| 10 | Greggs | Free sweet treat, valid all month | Around £2 | Download the Greggs app |
Table of Contents
Sweet Treats & Bakery Freebies
Start your birthday with something sweet. These bakeries and coffee chains hand out free treats like they’re going out of fashion.
1. Greggs
Freebie: Free doughnut, cake or cookie.
How to claim your freebie: Download the Greggs app and check the ‘rewards’ tab on your birthday.
T&Cs: Valid for one month after it appears. Single serving items only – no trying to claim a whole punnet of doughnuts.
2. Krispy Kreme
Freebie: Free doughnut of your choice (worth £1.65-£2.25).
How to claim your freebie: Join Krispy Kreme Rewards and add the birthday reward to your app to show in-store.
T&Cs: Valid in Krispy Kreme stores only, not the little concession stands you see in Tesco or other shops. You also get a free doughnut just for signing up, which is pretty decent.
3. Costa
Freebie: Free cake.
How to claim your freebie: Download the Costa app and join Costa Club to register your birthday details.
T&Cs: Available on your birthday. Join early to make sure everything’s set up in time.
You can also earn cashback at Costa Coffe with Gains App.
4. Lidl
Freebie: Free doughnut from the bakery.
How to claim your freebie: Sign up for Lidl Plus and check your app on your birthday.
T&Cs: Not the fanciest doughnut on this list, but it’s free and fresh from the bakery.
5. Caffè Nero
Freebie: Free cake.
How to claim your freebie: Download the Caffè Nero app and join Caffè Nero Rewards to register your birthday.
T&Cs: Available on your birthday. Most stores have a decent selection of cakes to choose from.
You can also earn cashback at Caffe Nero with Gains App.
6. Gail’s Bakery
Freebie: Free sweet treat during your birthday month.
How to claim your freebie: Sign up for Gail’s Bakery newsletter and they’ll email you when you can pick it up.
T&Cs: Valid for the entire month, so you’ve got time to get there. Worth it if you’re near a Gail’s.
7. Ole & Steen
Freebie: Free muffin, brownie or cookie.
How to claim your freebie: Join their Ole & Steen loyalty scheme before your birthday.
T&Cs: Check with your local store for availability. Scandinavian-style baked goods if that’s your thing.
8. Muffin Break
Freebie: Free muffin.
How to claim your freebie: Sign up for the Muffin Break loyalty program and register your birthday.
T&Cs: Does exactly what it says on the tin. Free muffin, birthday sorted.
9. McDonald’s
Freebie: Free medium fries.
How to claim your freebie: Download the McDonald’s app and register for MyMcDonald’s Rewards.
T&Cs: Available on your birthday.
10. Subway
Freebie: Free cookie.
How to claim your freebie: Sign up for Subway Rewards through their app.
T&Cs: Available on your birthday. One cookie per person, which seems fair enough.
11. Millie’s Cookies
Freebie: Free cookies.
How to claim your freebie: Subscribe to the Millie’s Cookies newsletter and they’ll send you a voucher around your birthday.
T&Cs: Worth the spam emails for fresh cookies.
Coffee & Drinks
If you’re the type who needs coffee to function, these freebies will actually save you proper money.
12. Starbucks
Freebie: Free drink of any size.
How to claim your freebie: Reach Gold level in Starbucks Rewards and ensure your birthday is registered.
T&Cs: Any size, any drink. People have been known to order the most expensive thing on the menu just because they can.
You can also earn cashback at Starbucks with Gains App.
13. Coffee #1
Freebie: Free cake of your choice.
How to claim your freebie: Join their loyalty scheme before your birthday.
T&Cs: Pretty straightforward. Join early and you’re sorted.
14. John Lewis
Freebie: Coffee and cake.
How to claim your freebie: Sign up for the John Lewis Members and register.
T&Cs: It’s a membership anniversary rather than your birthday.
15. Boost Juice
Freebie: Free birthday smoothie.
How to claim your freebie: Pick up a VIBE loyalty card and register it with your birthday details.
T&Cs: You’ll need to bring your card and ID to claim. For every drink you buy, you earn points towards more free drinks.
16. Dobbie’s
Freebie: Birthday voucher for coffees and cake.
How to claim your freebie: Sign up for Dobbie’s membership and register your birthday.
T&Cs: Membership required, but if you’re already shopping at Dobbie’s garden centres, might as well get the free coffee.
Restaurants & Eating Out
This is where things get interesting. Some of these freebies need you to buy something else, but you can still eat pretty well for not much money.
Burgers & Fast Food
17. Burger King
Freebie: Free Whopper or Plant-Based Whopper.
How to claim your freebie: Sign up for YourBurgerKing and add your information under ‘Account Info’ at least seven days before your birthday.
T&Cs: You need to register at least a week in advance. That’s a proper meal right there – one of the better fast food freebies.
18. Ed’s Easy Diner
Freebie: Free milkshake.
How to claim your freebie: Pick up an Ed’s Club loyalty card and register it with your birthday details.
T&Cs: Voucher sent around your birthday. You also get a free regular burger or hot dog with purchase of any drink just for joining.
19. Honest Burgers
Freebie: £5 off your order.
How to claim your freebie: Sign up for the Honest Burgers loyalty program and register your birthday.
T&Cs: Not completely free, but £5 off a burger meal is £5 you’re not spending.
Italian Food
20. Zizzi
Freebie: Free main meal.
How to claim your freebie: Sign up for Zizzi newsletters and register your birthday.
T&Cs: Free main available with the purchase of another main meal. Bring someone, split the bill, everyone wins.
You can also earn cashback at Zizzi with Gains App.
21. Pizza Express
Freebie: Free side, dessert or pizza (depending on membership tier).
How to claim your freebie: Join Pizza Express Club and ensure your birthday is registered.
T&Cs: The higher your membership tier, the better the freebie. Top tier members can get a free pizza.
You can also earn cashback at Pizza Express with Gains App.
22. Prezzo
Freebie: One free main, drink and slice of birthday cake
How to claim your freebie: Sign up for Prezzo Club and register your birthday details.
T&Cs: Must be with a booking of 5 people.
You can also earn cashback at Prezzo with Gains App.
Mexican & Other Cuisines
23. Barburrito
Freebie: Free burrito.
How to claim your freebie: Download the Barburrito Rewards App and register at least four days before your birthday.
T&Cs: You must have spent a minimum of £6 before your birthday month to receive the free burrito. Birthday reward appears on the first of your birthday month and is valid for 31 days.
24. Tortilla
Freebie: Free burrito. (Not currently available)
How to claim your freebie: Sign up for Tortilla’s loyalty program and register your birthday.
T&Cs: No minimum spend required. Just join and claim on your birthday.
25. Las Iguanas
Freebie: £10 voucher
How to claim your freebie: Join Las Iguanas Club and register your birthday details.
T&Cs: £10 voucher
You can also earn cashback at Las Iguanas with Gains App.
26. Nando’s
Freebie: Free side or dessert. (not currently available)
How to claim your freebie: Join Nando’s loyalty program and register your birthday.
T&Cs: Not a full meal, but a free side or dessert is nothing to complain about when you’re already going for Nando’s.
You can also earn cashback at Nandos with Gains App.
27. Chopstix
Freebie: Free noodle box.
How to claim your freebie: Sign up for Chopstix rewards and register your birthday.
T&Cs: Full noodle box on your birthday. Quick lunch sorted.
28. Rosa’s Thai
Freebie: Free Pad Thai.
How to claim your freebie: Join Rosa’s Thai loyalty program and register your birthday details.
T&Cs: That’s a full meal for zero pounds. One of the better restaurant freebies on this list.
Pubs & Casual Dining
29. TGI Friday’s
Freebie: Free dessert
How to claim your freebie: Join TGI Friday’s Stripes Rewards and register your birthday.
T&Cs: FREE dessert on your birthday for app users when ordering a main meal.
30. Harvester
Freebie: Free main meal.
How to claim your freebie: Sign up for Harvester newsletters and register your birthday.
T&Cs: Free main available with the purchase of another main meal. Pretty standard pub grub birthday deal.
You can also earn cashback at Harvester with Gains App.
31. Hungry Horse
Freebie: Free drink
How to claim your freebie: Sign up to the Hungry Horse newsletter at least 28 days before your birthday.
T&Cs: Valid 2 weeks before and after your birthday
32. Frankie & Benny’s
Freebie: Free main meal.
How to claim your freebie: Sign up to be a friend of Frankie & Benny’s and you’ll be sent a voucher around 10 days before your birthday.
T&Cs: Free main meal available with the purchase of another main meal. Cannot be used with other offers and discounts. Valid for 30 days after receiving the voucher.
You can also earn cashback at Frankie & Bennys with Gains App.
33. Toby Carvery
Freebie: £10 voucher. (no longer available)
How to claim your freebie: Sign up for Toby Carvery emails and register your birthday.
T&Cs: Requires a £20 minimum spend. All the roast dinner you can handle at half price basically.
You can also earn cashback at Toby Carvery with Gains App.
34. Brewers Fayre
Freebie: Free meal.
How to claim your freebie: Sign up for Brewers Fayre loyalty card and register your birthday details.
T&Cs: Varies by location so check with your local Brewers Fayre before turning up expecting a freebie.
Booze & Cocktails
If you’re planning a birthday night out, these freebies will get you started.
35. Turtle Bay
Freebie: £20 voucher.
How to claim your freebie: Join Turtle Bay’s Soul Club and register your birthday.
T&Cs: No minimum spend required. That’s basically two main courses or four cocktails depending how you play it.
You can also earn cashback at Turtle Bay with Gains App.
36. Slug and Lettuce
Freebie: Free cocktail
How to claim your freebie: Sign up for Slug and Lettuce newsletter and register your birthday details.
T&Cs: Birthday cocktail offer is valid with confirmed bookings of 2 or more
37. Bill’s
Freebie: Free bottle of Prosecco.
How to claim your freebie: Join Bill’s Regulars Club and register your birthday.
T&Cs: Another free bottle of bubbles. You could do a whole prosecco crawl at this rate.
38. All Bar One
Freebie: Various drink offers.
How to claim your freebie: Sign up for All Bar One emails and register your birthday.
T&Cs: Offers change regularly, so sign up to see what they’re currently offering for birthdays.
You can also earn cashback at All Bar One with Gains App.
39. Revolution De Cuba
Freebie: Free cocktail.
How to claim your freebie: Join Revolution Rewards and register your birthday.
T&Cs: Cannot be used in conjunction with Happy Hour or any other non-related birthday offer.
40. Be At One
Freebie: Surprise cocktail voucher.
How to claim your freebie: Sign up for Be At One emails and register your birthday.
T&Cs: You won’t know what cocktail you’re getting till you open the voucher. Makes it slightly more exciting.
41. BrewDog
Freebie: Drink for free (if you bring 3 other people)
How to claim your freebie: if you book a BrewDog bar or pub in the UK for your birthday – you’re drinking for free (if you bring three mates of course)
T&Cs: The group has to be four or more people…like any good party! One free drink when all other attendees purchase a drink. What a gift.
Chocolate & Confectionery
Sweet tooth? These chocolate brands have you covered.
42. Hotel Chocolat
Freebie: £5 voucher.
How to claim your freebie: Join Hotel Chocolat’s loyalty program and register your birthday.
T&Cs: Requires a £5 minimum spend. Not technically free, but you’re getting £10 worth of chocolate for a fiver.
43. Lindt
Freebie: Voucher
How to claim your freebie: Sign up for Lindt’s MyLindt loyalty program and register your birthday details.
T&Cs: An in-store minimum spend of £10 is requested from Jan 1st 2025 to redeem the birthday gift. There is a £20 minimum spend online.
44. M&S Sparks
Freebie: Birthday treat (varies year to year).
How to claim your freebie: Join M&S Sparks and update your profile with your date of birth at least 35 days before your birthday.
T&Cs: Could be Percy Pigs, biscuits or chocolates. They change what they offer regularly. Make sure you’ve opted into marketing and registered well in advance.
You can also earn cashback at M&S with Gains App.
45. Morrisons
Freebie: Free chocolate bar or pack of cookies.
How to claim your freebie: Sign up for Morrisons More Card and register your birthday.
T&Cs: Simple birthday treat. Nothing fancy but it’s free chocolate.
You can also earn cashback at Morrisons with Gains App.
Beauty & Skincare
Beauty brands love a birthday freebie. Some are actually pretty generous.
46. Space NK
Freebie: Free birthday gift bag.
How to claim your freebie: Join Space NK N.dulge loyalty program and register your birthday.
T&Cs: You must have purchased something in the past 12 months to qualify. If you’re already shopping there, it’s a nice bonus with decent products.
47. Rituals
Freebie: Free gift (usually hand wash or similar product).
How to claim your freebie: Sign up for Rituals loyalty program and register your birthday.
T&Cs: You need to make a purchase to claim it. Still, free product with something you were buying anyway.
You can also earn cashback at Rituals with Gains App.
48. The Body Shop
Freebie: £5 voucher.
How to claim your freebie: Join The Body Shop Love Your Body Club and register your birthday.
T&Cs: £5 off any purchase. Decent if you’re already buying from The Body Shop.
49. Sephora
Freebie: Beauty points or gift (depending on membership tier).
How to claim your freebie: Join Sephora’s Beauty Insider program and register your birthday.
T&Cs: Higher membership tiers get better birthday gifts. Worth checking what tier you’re on.
50. Superdrug
Freebie: Surprise birthday treat.
How to claim your freebie: Sign up for Superdrug Health & Beautycard and register your birthday.
T&Cs: The “surprise” means you won’t know what you’re getting. Could be points, could be a product sample.
51. Boots
Freebie: Double points during your birthday month.
How to claim your freebie: Join Boots Advantage Card and ensure your birthday is registered.
T&Cs: Not technically free stuff, but double points for the whole month adds up if you’re shopping there anyway.
You can also earn cashback at Boots Online with Gains App.
Fashion & Retail Discounts
These aren’t freebies exactly, but birthday discounts that can save you proper money.
52. Nike
Freebie: 10% off your order.
How to claim your freebie: Join Nike Membership and register your birthday at least 10 days before.
T&Cs: Must join at least 10 days in advance. Works on full-price items, which is where the real savings are.
53. ASOS
Freebie: 10% off.
How to claim your freebie: Have an ASOS Premier membership and ensure your birthday is registered.
T&Cs: Premier membership costs money but includes free next-day delivery. The birthday discount is an added bonus.
54. H&M
Freebie: 25% off one item.
How to claim your freebie: Join H&M Member program and register your birthday.
T&Cs: One item only, so pick something expensive to maximise the saving.
You can also earn cashback at H&M with Gains App.
55. Levi’s
Freebie: £10 voucher.
How to claim your freebie: Subscribe to Levi’s newsletter and register your birthday.
T&Cs: £10 off jeans that usually cost £80+ is decent. Better than nothing.
56. Sweaty Betty
Freebie: 50% off one item.
How to claim your freebie: Join Sweaty Betty’s loyalty program and register your birthday.
T&Cs: If you’re into activewear, that’s a massive saving. Pick something expensive to get the most value.
57. Oliver Bonas
Freebie: £5 voucher.
How to claim your freebie: Sign up for Oliver Bonas emails and register your birthday.
T&Cs: £5 off homeware or gifts. Not huge but it’s something.
58. Hobbs
Freebie: Birthday treat worth £20.
How to claim your freebie: Subscribe to Hobbs newsletter and register your birthday.
T&Cs: Could be a candle or gift voucher. Varies what they send but it’s worth about £20.
59. Camper
Freebie: 25% off.
How to claim your freebie: Join Camper’s One Rewards program and register your birthday.
T&Cs: 25% off shoes that usually cost £100+ makes this worth having.
Other Freebies Worth Knowing
These don’t fit neatly into categories but they’re still worth claiming.
60. Hobbycraft
Freebie: £5 voucher.
How to claim your freebie: Join Hobbycraft Club and register your birthday.
T&Cs: No minimum spend required. Great if you’re into crafts or DIY projects.
61. IKEA
Freebie: £5 voucher. (no longer available)
How to claim your freebie: Become an IKEA Family card member and register your birthday.
T&Cs: Valid for 28 days with no minimum spend. The email will tell you if a coupon has been added, but you’ll need to go in-store to print it from a machine.
62. Build-a-Bear
Freebie: Pay your age for a birthday bear.
How to claim your freebie: Sign up for Build-a-Bear Bonus Club and bring proof of age to store.
T&Cs: If you’re 30, you pay £30. If you’re 7, you pay £7. Kids absolutely love this one. Adults less so unless you’re very into stuffed animals.
63. Pets at Home
Freebie: Free pet treats.
How to claim your freebie: Sign your pet up for the VIP Club and register their birthday.
T&Cs: Yes, your pet needs their own account. Yes, it’s worth it. Free treats on your dog or cat’s birthday.
64. Yankee Candle
Freebie: Free gift.
How to claim your freebie: Join Yankee Candle Rewards and register your birthday.
T&Cs: Usually a small candle or wax melt. If you’re already buying Yankee Candles, might as well get a freebie.
65. Disney Store
Freebie: 25% off.
How to claim your freebie: Join Disney Magic program but you must sign up at least two months before your birthday.
T&Cs: Two months advance notice required. Plan way ahead for this one or you’ll miss it.
66. Bristol Buses
Freebie: Free travel for entire birthday month.
How to claim your freebie: Register at Birthday Bus and provide proof of birthday.
T&Cs: Only works if you live in Bristol. But if you do, that’s free buses for a whole month. Absolutely mental.
67. Cineworld
Freebie: Free popcorn.
How to claim your freebie: Have a Cineworld Unlimited membership and register your birthday.
T&Cs: Unlimited members only. Not a free ticket, but free popcorn when you go to the cinema on your birthday.
You can also earn cashback at Cineworld with Gains App.
68. Odeon
Freebie: Birthday treat.
How to claim your freebie: Join Odeon Extras scheme and register your birthday.
T&Cs: Varies what the treat is, but usually related to food or drinks at the cinema.
You can also earn cashback at Odeon with Gains App.
What birthday freebies can you get in London and other UK cities
Most national brands above work anywhere in the UK. Some cities also have local birthday offers worth knowing about.
London has the widest choice. On top of every national brand, look out for independent spots that run birthday treats through their mailing lists, including free poke bowls, free bar drinks and free desserts at independent restaurants. Sign up to the venue’s newsletter a couple of weeks ahead and check the offer is live before you travel.
Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds and Glasgow have strong coverage from the national chains listed above, plus city centre bars and restaurants that often run birthday cocktail or dessert offers. Check each venue’s app or social pages.
Edinburgh and Cardiff are well served by the coffee, bakery and restaurant chains. Greggs, Costa, Krispy Kreme, Pizza Express and the high street beauty offers all apply.
Bristol: Bristol residents can also get free bus travel for the whole of their birthday month on local services, on top of the national freebies.
Quick rule: wherever you are, the national app based freebies (Greggs, Costa, McDonald’s, Burger King, Starbucks, Krispy Kreme, Boots) are the reliable core. City specific extras are a bonus, so always confirm before you go.
What Companies Get In Return
Right, here’s the bit nobody talks about but everyone should know.
When you sign up for these freebies, you’re handing over data. Name, email, date of birth, phone number. Pretty standard stuff.
But companies can also collect timezone, language settings, phone ID, and location data depending on the app. They build a profile of you. They use it for marketing. They often sell it to third parties.
Dr Maryam Mehrnezhad from Royal Holloway University explains that many of these apps use third-party tracking. Your data doesn’t just sit with the restaurant or shop. It gets passed around.
Professor Alan Woodward puts it bluntly: “If you’re not paying for something, you’re the product.” That free doughnut? You’re paying for it with your information.
I’m not saying don’t claim freebies. I’m saying know what you’re getting into.
How To Protect Yourself While Claiming Freebies
You can still grab free stuff without leaving yourself wide open. Here’s how.
Set up a separate email address just for freebies. Something like birthdayfreebies @ gmail.com. When the spam rolls in – and it will – it won’t clog up your main inbox.
Some people use a fake birthday close to their real one. The terms and conditions usually say not to do this, but plenty of people do it anyway. Your call.
Use strong passwords and turn on two-factor authentication where possible. If you’re giving companies your data, at least make it harder for anyone else to access it.
Actually read the terms and conditions. Yeah, I know. Nobody does this. But at least skim them to see what data they’re collecting and who they’re sharing it with.
Control your app permissions. Turn off location tracking unless you actually need it for the app to work. Most don’t.
Uninstall apps you’re not using anymore. If you claimed your birthday freebie from Nando’s three years ago and haven’t been back, delete the app.
Check your account settings regularly. Most apps let you opt out of data sharing in the settings. Takes two minutes to find and tick the boxes.
Quick Tips To Maximise Your Birthday Haul
Sign up at least 2-4 weeks before your birthday. Some places need longer. Disney Store wants two months notice. M&S Sparks wants 35 days.
Check expiry dates on vouchers. Some last a month, others only seven days. Don’t let freebies go to waste.
Download the apps. Most freebies are app-exclusive now. Websites won’t cut it.
Keep ID handy. Some places ask for proof it’s actually your birthday. Driving licence or passport usually works.
Plan your birthday week strategically. Don’t try to claim everything in one day. Spread it out. Monday breakfast at Greggs, Tuesday lunch at Barburrito, Wednesday dinner at Harvester. You get the idea.
Remember your half birthday. TGI Fridays and a few others give you a second round of freebies six months later. Mark it in your calendar.
What’s It All Worth?
Let’s do some quick maths.
Say you claim:
- 3 bakery items (£3-5)
- 2 coffee shop freebies (£6-10)
- 2 restaurant meals with a friend splitting the cost (£15-25)
- 1 drinks voucher (£10-20)
- A few retail discounts (£15-30 in savings)
You’re looking at £50-90 worth of free stuff and discounts in a single birthday week. Some people push it higher by claiming everything possible.
The Guardian reporter got £54 in one day just from sweet treats and gifts. If you’re organised and hit the restaurants too, £100+ is genuinely possible.
Is it worth the effort? Depends on how much you value your time versus your money. But if you’re already shopping at these places anyway, you might as well get something free for your birthday.
Just remember what you’re trading for it. Your data, your inbox space, and a bit of your privacy. Whether that’s a fair trade is up to you.
Now go forth and claim your freebies. Happy birthday.
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Disclaimer: Content on this page is for informational purposes and does not constitute financial advice. Always do your own research before making a financially related decision.
