First Table: 50% Off Food at 530+ London Restaurants

There's a reason First Table's been around since 2014, it actually works. You book the first table of service at a restaurant (usually 5pm or 5:30pm for dinner), and you get 50% off the food bill. Drinks are full price. It's not a voucher you have to remember or a code you have to punch in. You just book, show up on time, and the discount is already applied when you pay.

What you get

50% off your food bill at over 530 restaurants across London. The booking fee is £4–£8 per reservation (though promo codes can knock it down to £3). You're looking at groups of 2, 3, or 4 only, no solo diners, no groups of five. The deal's available for breakfast, lunch, or dinner depending on the restaurant. Times vary, but you'll see exactly what slots are available for the next 14 days when you browse the site. There's also a Last Table option from around 8pm if you want to eat later and don't mind paying the full food price for a smaller discount.

How to get it

1. Head to https://www.firsttable.co.uk/london or download the app. 2. Search by area, cuisine, or restaurant name. Filter by date and time, first tables drop daily at 9pm for seven days ahead. 3. Select your restaurant and time slot. Check the restrictions (some places exclude certain dishes or require you to buy a drink). 4. Pay the booking fee online. You'll get a confirmation email with your booking reference. 5. Show up at exactly the time you booked. More than 15 minutes late and you lose the deal entirely.

What the TikTok didn't mention

• Best time to book: New slots drop at 9pm every night. If you want a Friday or Saturday at a popular restaurant, set a phone reminder or you'll miss it, the good ones sell out within minutes.
• What to order: This is where First Table gets properly good. Some restaurants use it to test experimental or "trust the chef" menus at half price. You're getting dishes you wouldn't normally try. Skip the kids' meals and the set menus, order à la carte and you'll get better value.
• Stack it with other apps: First Table doesn't stack with other discount codes, but you can still claim a free drink at DUSK before dinner or grab a Too Good To Go bag for dessert after. The booking fee's your only real extra cost.

The catch

The booking fee isn't deducted from your bill, you pay it upfront and it doesn't come off what you owe at the end. And if you're late, even by 16 minutes, the restaurant won't honour the discount. Some restaurants also exclude alcohol, premium items, or certain dishes from the deal, so read the small print before you book.

First Table's the closest thing London has to a proper restaurant hack that's actually still worth using.