Everybody deserves to feel special on their birthday and along with presents and cards a little freebie certainly wouldn't go amiss.
There are many venues, from shops to cafes and restaurants, that offer customers a complimentary treat to make their visit on their big day a bit more of a celebration. From a free after-meal dessert to a glass of fizz, this special treatment is often a welcome extra touch that will be remembered.
Among the places in Newcastle keen to make a birthday fuss are leading chains - and below is a pick of just some of them - but keep an eye out for thoughtful independents too.
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On the list, for those keen to select somewhere to pick up a free treat on their birthday - and why not - is North East favourite Greggs alongside the likes of Las Iguanas and Costa Coffee. So, in all, you could make quite a meal of it if you time your birthday visits right.
We've included The Body Shop too, if you fancy a non-food related gift. And we've explained how to take advantage of what's on offer, by signing up to the company app, for instance, or its newsletter in good time for your birthday.
Greggs
You can barely turn a corner without seeing a Greggs so it won't be a struggle to pick up the free treat which the much-loved North East bakery chain offers customers on their birthday. To take advantage, you need to download the app - which, if you're downloading it for the first time, entitles you to a free hot drink too so it's a win-win.
The birthday freebie is a sweet treat and applies to your special day every year. To get it, register on the app for the free Greggs Rewards loyalty scheme and will receive a voucher on the app which can be shown in any of Greggs' shops in exchange for a free cupcake, cream cake or doughnut. To download it and find out about its other benefits see here.
Krispy Kreme
Another one for doughnut fans is this popular chain which has a store in Eldon Square in the city centre and which invites customers to sign up online to its rewards programme. Among the benefits of that is a free Original Glazed Doughnut on your birthday.
There's a freebie too for joining up the rewards scheme. To sign up and for more details, including member-only discounts, see here.
Slug & Lettuce
The restaurant-bar, which has venues in Grainger Street and the Quayside, invites customers to sign up to its mailing list to receive a voucher for their birthday enabling them to claim a free bottle of prosecco. In order to claim you have to make a booking for at least two people.
To sign up to the newsletter see here and when it's your birthday you will receive a voucher to claim the fizz when you go.
Pizza Express
Creating an online account at the restaurant, which has a branch in Newcastle's Eldon Square, will result in a 'birthday surprise' when the time comes: see here. This tends to be free dessert during your birthday month so check it out when making a booking.
Las Iguanas
Sign up to the Latin American restaurant's mailing list at least a week before your birthday and you'll receive a free gift to celebrate your birthday and this can be the likes of a free main course or a bottle of bubbly, it says. To sign up see here.
The city centre branch is in Grey Street. See Las Iguanas' website here for current birthday news of free 'DIY' Caipirinha Board which involves creating your own cocktail.
Tortilla
Another restaurant in Grey's Quarter in Eldon Square, this one offers - as you may have guessed from its name - a free burrito on your birthday. It's an annual offer and you need to opt into the company's marketing to ensure you get it by email.
For more about its Tortilla Club detailing its loyalty scheme offers see here.
Costa Coffee
The coffee chain offers free cake for your birthday treat and this can be claimed anytime up to seven days after your birthday, with no other purchase required. Among its city centre locations are Central Station and Market Street.
To ensure you don't miss out, you have to download the latest version of the Costa app and set up an account if you haven't one and register your birthday to receive this freebie - a slice of cake which no doubt will feel like it's your own birthday cake. See here for more about its Costa Club rewards.
Burger King
A free Whopper - or plant-based Whopper - is the treat you can pick up if you have signed up for an account with the chain - which has branches around the city centre in Northumberland Street, Clayton Street and Neville Street - at least seven days prior to your big day. You will also need to have opted in to receive email marketing communications or app push notifications.
You then will receive the birthday offer automatically on your birth date each year - and it will be is valid for 14 days after the given date too. To sign up see here.
Body Shop
The store has a Love Your Body club and those who sign up for a free loyalty card will receive a free £5 voucher on their birthday, which will be valid for up to one month after the date. See here for more about the scheme.
To be eligible you will need to have made one purchase using your card within the previous 12 months but otherwise the £5 is available to spend either online or in-store, which would save delivery fees - there's a branch in Eldon Square in the city centre - and there's no minimum spend.
Miller & Carter
The steak restaurant, which has a city branch in Mosely Street, says those signing up to its newsletter - and guests - will get to enjoy a glass of complimentary prosecco as a little birthday treat, calling it a perfect finishing touch to round off a celebratory meal.
You will have to sign up - see here - at least two weeks before your birthday to receive the free bubbles and there's a complimentary glass of wine offer if you're signing up the mailing list for the first time.
