Marathon runners can celebrate their valiant efforts with free food and drink across London.
If a casual 26.2 mile jog—you know, no big deal—is on your agenda this weekend, you may be interested to know that there are plenty of good things to be found at the finish line. As well as TfL offering free travel to all runners and volunteers*, many London pubs and restaurants are also giving away food and drink — after all, you deserve it. Just flash your finisher’s medal and relax with one of these epic freebies:
(See also: the Great Big Marathon Spectator’s Pub Crawl. 🍻)
1. Free pizza at Franco Manca
Now I understand why you lunatics run the marathon! If you present your medal at any Franco Manca store, you’ll get a pizza on them, on both Sunday 28 and Monday 29.
2. Free mac ‘n’ cheese and a beer at Berners Tavern
Jason Atherton’s acclaimed restaurant at the London EDITION hotel is offering runners a plate of their famous mac ‘n’ cheese, alongside a complimentary beer or soft drink. Now, I’m not claiming to know anything about running marathons, but surely this is just what you need post-race?
3–11. Free drink at Three Cheers Pub Co.
The Three Cheers Pub Co. will be offering marathon runners a free drink at all nine of its London venues. Just flash your medal at any of these for wine, beer, prosecco or a house spirit and mixer: The Abbeville, Clapham; The Avalon, Clapham South; The Bedford, Balham; The Bolingbroke, Battersea; The Latchmere, Battersea; The Princess Victoria, Shepherd’s Bush; The Rosendale, West Dulwich; The Stonhouse, Clapham; or The Tommyfield, Kennington.
12. Free burger at MEATLiquor
Marathon runners and volunteers will be applauded with a free burger at any London MEATLiquor restaurant. Choose from any burger on the menu — including meat, veggie and vegan options.
13. Free glass of fizz at Bluebird Chelsea
Crossing that finish line qualifies you for a free drink at Bluebird Chelsea. Show off your medal and you’ll be handed a glass of fizz, on the house.
14. Free bingo at Dabbers Social Bingo
For something a little different, why not cash in your courageous efforts for a free game of bingo? Marathon runners will get three free games of bingo on April 28, meaning you’re in with a chance of winning loads of exciting prizes.
15. Free pizza at Bunga Bunga
Battersea-bound runners should make for Bunga Bunga, where the bonkers Berlusconi-themed restaurant will give finishers a free sourdough pizza.
16. Free Negroni at Mr Fogg’s Society of Exploration
On Sunday April 28, all medalists are invited into Mr Fogg’s Society of Exploration for a free Negroni from the Mechanical Mixologist Machine. Rest your bodies as the machine makes you a drink at the press of a button.
17. Free burger at Maxwell’s
Maxwell’s is also great for runners, who get a free burger when flashing their medal. Choose from the Old Time Burger with a side of fries, or the Vegan Bacon & Cheese Burger with shiitake bacon, vegan cheese, lettuce, tomato, red onion, gherkin and avo’ mayo.
18. Free curry at Baluchi
Throughout Sunday, this gorgeous, award-winning restaurant is offering a delicious butter chicken or aubergine and tamarind curry to runners. Both come served with fluffy pilau rice. Baluchi also happens to be home to London’s first ever Naanery, which has just opened.
19. Free chaat at Cinnamon Bazaar
Cinnamon Bazaar in Covent Garden is treating marathon runners to a free chaat dish to help them refuel after the race. Options include their signature Papdi chaat with tangy tamarind yoghurt and chickpea vermicelli; a tasty soft shell crab chaat with curried yoghurt, apple and celeriac pickle; and seven others!
20. Free cocktail at Skylon
If you’ve just run 26.2 miles, you sure as hell deserve a cocktail. Head up to Skylon inside the Royal Festival Hall and enjoy a drink of your choice, as well as lovely, panoramic views of London.
21. Free dim sum at Royal China Group
Recharge your batteries with a free dum sum dish at Royal China on the day of the marathon. Choose from any of their renowned dishes, including Cheung Fun with peanut sauce, steamed prawn and chive dumplings, and honey roast pork puffs. Just flash your medal at their Baker Street, Fulham, Harrow-on-the-Hill or Canary Wharf restaurants. Offer valid until 5pm.
22. Free Champagne at All Bar One
Claim a free glass of Moet Champagne by downloading the All Bar One app. Flash the in-app voucher alongside your 2019 London Marathon medal at any All Bar One in London.
23. Free burger at Old Compton Brasserie
Old Compton Brasserie—the all-day British brasserie—will also be giving away two burgers: the OCB burger with dry cured streaky bacon and organic cheddar, served with fries; and the PB burger, which is a plant-based burger with shiitake bacon, vegan cheese, lettuce, tomato, red onion, gherkin and avo’ mayo.
24. Free pizza at The Perseverance
This place has a pretty appropriate name, I’d say. To congratulate you on all your hard work and perseverance, The Perseverance are offering runners with a free pizza on Sunday April 28 and Monday 29.
25. Free smoothie at Crussh
From race day right up to Friday May 3, marathon runners can claim a free medium smoothie from any Crussh store (check opening times though — some stores aren’t open on Sundays).
26. Free cocktail at Aster
Valiant runners will receive a complimentary cocktail from the beautiful Victoria restaurant, Aster. (Here’s hoping they bring back their frozen pornstar martinis for the summer 🤞)
*Runners can travel for free on London Underground, London buses, London Overground, DLR, TfL Rail, trams, and Emirates Air Line between 4.30am and 6.30pm on Sunday 28 April. Just show staff your race number! If you’re a race official or on-duty St John Ambulance volunteer you can also travel for free on these services by showing your officials’ course pass or tabard.
Also published on Medium.