There’s a valuable way for Londoners to save money on a meal out, as well as help restaurants test out their menus and staff.
Did you know that money-savvy Londoners and foodies can make use of a unique website, Soft Launch, that connects food enthusiasts and budget-conscious diners in London with exclusive discounts at newly opened restaurants? By showcasing soft launch deals, the website allows users to enjoy delicious meals at significantly reduced prices, often as much as 50% off. This concept not only benefits diners, who can grab a cheap meal, but also serves a strategic purpose for restaurants as they prepare for their official openings.
Photo by Lily Banse on Unsplash
What is a Soft Launch?
A soft launch is when a restaurant opens its doors to the public but does so in a limited capacity. This phase often includes offering discounts or complimentary meals to attract customers and gather feedback.
Soft launches serve several purposes for the restaurants:
Trial Run: Restaurants use this time to test their menu and service and fine-tune their operations without the pressure of a full-scale opening. It allows staff to practice and refine their skills in a real-world setting.
Customer Feedback: Early diners provide valuable insights that can help the restaurant make adjustments before the grand opening.
Building Buzz: Offering discounts creates excitement and encourages word-of-mouth marketing, which is a valuable tool for attracting future patrons.
Benefits for London Money Savers and Foodies
Soft launches present an excellent opportunity for diners, particularly those looking to save money while enjoying new culinary experiences. Here are some key benefits of why keeping your eye out for soft launch restaurant opportunities can be a great idea:
Significant Discounts: Many restaurants offer steep discounts during their soft launch phase—often up to 50% off. This makes trying new places more affordable and encourages diners to explore various cuisines without breaking the bank.
Diverse Dining Options: With new restaurants opening frequently in London, foodies can sample a wide range of dishes from different cultures and culinary styles. Soft Launch helps keep track of these openings, ensuring that diners are always in the know about where to find the latest hotspots.
Exclusive Access: Soft launches often aren’t widely advertised, meaning those who are in the loop (like subscribers of platforms such as Soft Launch) can enjoy exclusive access to deals and experiences before they become mainstream.
Always-on deals: You’ll find a selection of always-on deals on the site, as well as time-limited soft openings. These deals offer discounts for already established restaurants and venues, with the extra discount for being a Soft launch member. This might be money off menu prices, discounted tickets for special events, such as comedy clubs, or money off deals, such as pre-theatre meals or dinner and drinks packages.
How Soft Launch Works
Soft Launch operates by curating a list of participating restaurants in the capital and their respective offers. Users can easily navigate through various deals available at new establishments across London via handy website map.
These deals entice diners with the prospect of savings and allow restaurants to gather crucial feedback on their offerings before fully launching. It is worth noting that not all offers and deals are available to all members, if you want access to all the deals, then you’ll need to pay a subscription fee.
Should you sign up for Soft Launch & what does it cost?
Soft Launch offers two different membership levels: a free option and a VIP option. The differences are:
Free membership level:
5-10 restaurant deals a month
Access to public posts
VIP membership level:
£5 per month or £48 if you buy a year subscription
Unlock all the deals
2x more deals than free subscribers
Access to Always-On Offers VIP exclusives you won’t find elsewhere
First dibs on tables
Get sent every free deal 24hrs+ before free subscribers
Cancel anytime
Is the site worth using?
Soft Launch is a useful website to join if you live in, work in, or travel to London frequently. London restaurants have a reputation for being on the pricier side, and so this website helps Londoners to experience new restaurants and food at a discounted price and and possibly cuisine that they may not have been able to afford or may not have otherwise discovered without this website.
The site doesn’t always have huge amounts of offers available, but it’s worth checking regularly as new offers pop up on a regular basis.
The basic membership is free, making it an invaluable resource for both food lovers and savvy spenders in London. Whether you’re a local or just visiting, keeping an eye on soft launches can lead you to some of the best dining experiences London has to offer—all while saving money along the way, but to get the most out of the site you’ll probably need to pay that £5 a month charge to have access to all the deals, but for Londoners who like to hit the town and enjoy a meal out regularly, a fiver a month is a pretty reasonable investment!
About the author: Al Baker runs the Penny Pincher Blog and is a money-saving side hustle expert and content creator.
