When I was at University, going for a ‘cheeky Nandos’ was a weekly treat.
I know I talk about being sensible and eating cheaply to save money a lot on this site, but we have to enjoy ourselves too, right?
Plus, I had the Nando’s student discount to take advantage of, so it wasn’t such a financial stretch as it otherwise might have been.
Nando’s is legendary with students. The vibe of the restaurant, the awesome food, the prices, it all adds up to create the perfect environment for friends to share a meal and socialise without having to spend big or make huge amounts of effort.
So when the student discount came along it was the talk of student halls up and down the country.
People still ask if Nando’s has a student discount today, and I’m here to answer that question for you.
It’s Gone But It Needs to Come Back
Do Nando’s have a student discount? They certainly used to, but it has been put on hold for now.
It was great when it was running – it got you 20% off your order making it feel almost as cheap as cooking at home.
They discontinued the discount in 2023 though, and hungry students have had to pay full price ever since. Well, except for a deal with Deliveroo a while back, but as I will explain, this wasn’t the bargain it was made out to be.
They might bring the student discount back at some point, but I imagine it will be for a limited time again.
Last time they did it the terms were Monday to Wednesday between 11:30am – 10:00pm, but the discount had a closing date from the start. So they limited the discount to their quietest days, and it was only ever due to run for a set period of time.
If they do offer another student discount promotion, I would expect it to be a similar situation.
They should definitely bring it back. Maybe we could start a petition? Maybe this article could be the start?
#HelpHungryStudentsSurvive!
Other Ways to Get Nando’s Cheaper
The South African chain is well known for sticking to their guns when it comes to discounts, so there aren’t many easy ways to get tasty Peri Peri Chicken for less.
They exist, but they are usually either short-lived or have limited availability. That means you will have to be eagle eyed or a little bit clever to take advantage.
Nevertheless, here are your options for discount at Nando’s:
Nando’s Reward Card
A must for regular visitors. This is a brilliant loyalty scheme and probably why they don’t do too many other big discounts.
The Nando’s card is a rewards scheme, whereby you earn ‘chillies’ and can trade them in for free food. Every time you spend more than £7 per visit you will earn a chilli, and they stack up until you are ready to use them.
Rewards are available at 3, 6 and 10 chillies:
- Green Reward (3 Chillies): A Free 1/4 Chicken, 3 Chicken Wings or any starter
- Orange Reward (6 Chillies): A ½ chicken or any single wrap, burger or pitta
- Red Reward (10 Chillies): Free Whole Chicken, a meal with one or two regular sides or a salad or bowl
Pretty good, right?
The rewards last for 12 months so you have ages to use them up, and you can use as many or as few as you like per visit.
Three+ App
Depending on when you are reading this, Nando’s partnership with Three may not still be live, but at the time of writing it’s still going strong.
Three mobile customers can use the Three+ app to get a code entitling them to free Gelado when they spend £15 or more.
To claim you have to be eating in the restaurant, but it’s available to use once per week.
Blue Light Discount
As a student, you are unlikely to be in the army, the police, or the fire brigade. However, student nurses and doctors may be able to benefit.
Nando’s don’t work with the Blue Light scheme directly, but if you show proof of your blue light status they will apply a 20% discount to the first £20 of your order. That’s a £4 saving.
You could always join the police as a Special Constable, which is a voluntary role, but gets you a badge and therefore a Nando’s discount. It’s an extreme length to go to for cheap chicken but it would work. There may be other benefits too such as cheaper travel, it depends on where you are studying.
Don’t Use Deliveroo
The lazy student stereotype is a tired one that is often unfair, but we don’t always help ourselves.
If you are ordering Nando’s to be delivered to your halls of residence, then stop. You are almost certainly paying more.
Nando’s themselves charge a delivery fee plus up to a £2.00 supplement if the order is under £15. If you use an app like Deliveroo you will be paying a delivery fee too, and while there is no minimum order, the price of the things you buy is often up to 30% higher! This changes from one delivery app to another but Deliveroo is well known for it.
Gift Cards
If you are struggling for present ideas at Christmas or on Birthdays, why not ask for a Nando’s gift card?
A £20 gift card will get you two visits with a little bit left to pay on top. Not bad.
Check Groupon and Other Discount Sites
You can sometimes find discounts and promotions for Nando’s on these sites, but you will probably have to get lucky with timing.
When they do pop up they aren’t usually around for long, so it’s worth a check before you go but don’t set your heart on it working.
The offers I have seen a really varied, from deals on specific meals to money off promotions on specific days, like New Years Day.
Buy the Sauce and Cook at Home
Alright, this isn’t the same thing, but you can buy the Nando’s sauces in the supermarket.
If you did this one night a month, for example, you could save a lot of money by cooking your own food with their official sauce. Call it Nando’s Night and have some friends round.
After all, other than the sauce it’s just chicken cooked on a grill, right? Totally doable.