What a week with a MealPass looks like
By
UoN Catering
Posted 18 hours ago
Fri 11 Sep, 2026 12:09 AM
Living in catered halls means your main meals like breakfast and dinner are already locked in. The real strategy is mastering how to budget your £27 weekly MealPass allowance. Since your digital wallet resets every Sunday at midnight, running out of funds by Thursday afternoon is an easy mistake to make if you aren't careful!
Whether you're racing between lectures on University Park or heading over to Jubilee Campus, we have a guide that shows you exactly how to budget your campus dining without draining your wallet.
Head over to Coates Cafe on University Park Campus for a Seasoned Chicken Gyros!
At £4.75, this delicious, hot, street-food-style lunch gets your week started right while keeping you comfortable under the £5.40 daily average.
Try out Puritea's freshly prepared Honey Chicken with Sriracha Mayo on pumpkin seed bread in the Portland Food Court. Even better if you pair it with a refreshing can of Fanta Lemon.
Coming in at £5.20, this premium sandwich and drink combo gives you a sweet and spicy kick to fuel your afternoon.
For a midweek treat, stop off at Subway in Portland Food Court for a hearty Nacho Chicken 6" Sub, bundled with a classic Subway cookie and a Refill drink.
All together, this costs £5.79. It is your most expensive meal of the week (because it goes over the daily average), but due to you saving money on Monday and Tuesday, it balances out effortlessly!
Marmont Café is going to be your budget safety net for the week. Grab yourself a steaming hot, freshly baked Jacket Potato loaded with Beef Chilli!
It's almost like a recovery day for your MealPass, spending only £4.50, this comfort meal provides a steady dose of energy while putting your pennies back into your digital wallet for Friday.
Your end-of-the-week celebration is here! Treat yourself to a warm Wiltshire Ham & Mature Cheddar Croissant paired with a can of Costa Caramel Latte from the Costa Coffee UP on University Park Campus.
Spending £6.74 makes this a luxury but thanks to your strategic spending earlier in the week, you can afford to treat yourself for surviving another week of lectures!
3 Tips to Maximise Your Pass
- Keep your eyes on the clock: As your balance resets on Sunday at midnight, if you haven't used up your allowance, it will be back at £27, so you will lose any spare money in your digital wallet!
- Explore beyond University Park: If your timetable takes you elsewhere, the pass is highly versatile. Swap out Thursday's jacket potato for a hot Chicken Tikka Ciabatta (£4.95) at Café Aspire on Jubilee Campus.
- Track your balance: Monitor your spending daily to make sure you're never short when paying at the till.
By balancing cheaper comfort food days with slightly more premium deals, you can eat incredibly well across our University campuses without spending a single penny of your own!
