For many people, the start of April will be a bit of a busy one - what with the continued Easter celebrations and the school holidays both taking place at the same time.

And considering we’re already a third of the way through 2024 (!!), this months also means that it might be a time when a lot of us decide to try and save on the pennies when we can - especially if there's summer plans on the horizon.

Thankfully, penny-pinching doesn't always have to result in not going out every now and then. There are plenty of restaurants, bars, cafes and venues serving up some amazing deals and discounted offers right now.

This month, there's everything from discounted hot dogs to fancy three-course meals all available for cheaper than what they would normally be - with venues including Gordon Ramsay's Lucky Cat, Bundobust and Tampopo all holding a bunch of special offers. And the best bit is that, for most of them, you don't even need a special voucher or have to download an app to take advantage.

To help you make the best decision when it comes to eating out, having a cheeky drink after work or just finding somewhere to hang out with friends, we’ve rounded up some of our favourite deals for April below.

As always, remember to check with each restaurant when you arrive that the deals mentioned are still available as specials will leave the menu or change from time to time.

Tampopo

Launching from April 3, Tampopo will be offering a 2-4-1 brunch offer throughout the month to coincide with everyone’s favourite celebration: National Brunch Month.

Available until midday, you can order two brunch dishes and only pay for one. There’s the cinnamon and pineapple pancake, a bacon and egg roti wrap or even the emperor’s breakfast featuring crispy bacon, sambal pork sausage, fried egg, tomatoes, mushrooms, edamame, sweetcorn fritters.

Elsewhere on the menu, Tampopo will also be serving up a Worker’s Lunch menu where you can choose from four options for just £10. It’ll be available Monday to Friday until 5pm.

There’s Tampopo restaurants on Albert Square, in the Corn Exchange and at The Trafford Centre.

Vapiano

This is one you’ll want to get in on early before you miss out on it. To coincide with Ramadan, Italian restaurant Vapian are offering a Sundowners Bundle meal available from 6pm everyday until April 6.

The £10 deal includes chicken skewers and vegetable soup, served alongside croutons, olives and ciabatta. Elsewhere on the menu, there are a whole range of pastas, pizzas and other delights to enjoy if the £10 deal isn’t up your street. All the chicken and beef served at Vapiano is halal.

Vapiano is at Exchange Square, M4 3TR.

Italiana fiftyfive

Take advantage of an early dinner special at Italiana fiftyfive. Formerly known as Cibo, the Italian restaurant - with locations in Didsbury and at the Great Northern - serves up one course for £15.99 or two courses for £19.99 between Sunday and Friday from 5pm to 7pm.

The special menu includes starters, like pate, calamari and bruschetta, alongside mains including lasagne, risotto, salmone Adriatico and ravioli. If you've got a sweet tooth then the desserts list includes Crème Brule, panna cotta and Tiramisu.

You can book a table here.

The Pen and Pencil

Every Monday, you can get 50% off food at Northern Quarter venue the Pen and Pencil. All you need to do is book in advance (max party of six). The restaurant’s menu includes sandwiches, burgers, ribs, salmon fillet and harissa roast cauliflower.

Separate deals available include a light bites happy hour (Mon- Fri, 4pm-7pm) where you can get three small dishes for £15 or six for £25. Drinkswise, the venue also hosts a happy hour from 4-7pm every Monday to Friday with two for £12 cocktails and £15 bottles of wine.

Salt Dog Slims

Cheap cocktails and hot dogs are the agenda at Salt Dog Slims’ Happy Hour. Running from Sunday to Thursday until 8pm, you can get selected cocktails for £6.50 as well as a classic hot dog for just £2.50. There’s also two for £6 on Alabama Slim, Smirnoff Ice and Jägermeister too.

Salt Dogs is at Bow Lane, M2 4FW.

Exhibition

If you’re after lunch, then Exhibition is a good shout. Located at St George's House on Peter Street, the venue features two award-winning kitchens from OSMA and Baratxuri.

Available from Wednesday to Friday, between 12pm and 4pm, you can choose either a toastie from OSMA or a traditional Basque-style tortilla, alongside a soft drink, for £10. You can also update to an alcoholic drink, or low/no options, for a little extra.

Riva Blu

Enjoy two courses from Riva Blue’ set lunch menu for just £20 or go all out with three courses for £25.

Located in the Corn Exchange, Riva Blu’s lunch menu includes starters like Bruschetta al Pomodoro and Calamari Fritti, mains including Spaghetti alla Carbonara and a Margherita pizza, whilst desserts include Tiramisu and Panna Cotta al Limone.

Bundobust

For £9.95, you can choose two dishes at Bundobust between 12pm to 4pm every Monday to Friday.

Choose from a mung bean chatpata, okra fries, bhajis or a bundo chaat, followed by either a raghda pethis (a potato cake where the North of England meets India), tarka dhal and rice, egg buhurji or chole saag.

Bundobust is opposite Piccadilly Gardens, M1 2AG.

Lucky Cat

If you’re after something a bit fancy for a celebration or event that won’t break the bank, then Gordon Ramsay’s Lucky Cat offers a lunch menu at £38 per person.

Available from 12pm to 6.30pm Monday to Friday, the lunch menu includes a starter, alongside your choice of main course of either flat iron steak and fries, salmon with teriyaki and salad or hispi cabbage with tofu. Dessert includes either a chocolate tofu, a fruit selection or mochi.

You can book a table here. Lucky Cat is on King Street, M2 4WU.