Flex Catering Package
Flex Catering Package
Popular with self-catered students, the Flex Catering Package is a convenient, cashless way to dine on campus.
It doesn’t matter if you live on or off campus, the package is available to everyone.
It’s a flexible way to eat that allows you to concentrate on your studies and enjoy university life - without the hassle of shopping, cooking, and washing up.
It allows you to prepay for your meals in advance and save up to 50% on food and drink over the course of the year.
Students with a Flex Catering Package receive £12 a day, every day, to spend in the cafes, restaurants, and bars on campus.
Flex Catering Package 2023/24
Information about the 2023/24 Flex Catering Package will be available from July 2023.
Why buy the Flex Catering Package?
A convenient way to enjoy campus dining facilities.Save up to 50% by purchasing your meals in advance.Available in 12 different restaurants, cafés, and bars.Dine wherever and whenever it suits you, 7 days a week.Enjoy quality food and drink, cooked by professionals.Spend less time cooking and more time studying.Perfect if you don’t like to cook - or don't want to.Dine with friends and become engaged in the campus community.Helps you to budget and avoid unnecessary expenditure.
Where can I use it?
You can use your Flex tokens in any of the following restaurants, cafés, and bars:
- Hut 8 (Turing College)
- Rutherford Dining Hall (Rutherford College)
- Bag It (Rutherford College)
- Origins (Darwin College)
- Mungo's (Eliot College)
- Create (Marlowe)
- K-Bar (Keynes College)
- The Street Kitchen (The Plaza)
- Sibson Café (Sibson)
- Dolche Vita (Keynes College)
- Gulbenkian Café (Gulbenkian Arts Centre)
- The Sports Café (Sports Centre)
From time to time, you may also have the opportunity to use your Flex tokens at special events and pop-up food stalls.
More information can be found in the Flex Catering Package Brochure.
How much does it cost?
The Flex Catering Package costs £1,320 for the whole academic year.
It is designed to be used every day of the week (Monday - Sunday) during term time. In total, that is 220 days.
Students with a Flex Catering Package receive an allowance of £12 a day to spend on food and drink.
If you multiply £12 by 220 days, you'll notice this comes to £2,640. However, we apply a 50% discount, so you only pay £1,320.
Put simply - pay £6 per day, get £12 to spend!
The maths simplified
£12 allowance x 220 days = £2,640
(Apply 50% discount)
Total: £1,320
How does it work?
You will receive an allowance of £12 a day to spend on food and drink. This allowance can be used in any of the 12 participating restaurants, bars, and cafés on campus.
The £12 allowance is split into two £6 tokens which can be used separately (for two smaller meals), or at the same time (for one larger, more substantial meal). This gives you the freedom to choose whatever you want to eat, whenever you want to eat it.
The £12 Flex allowance renews each day. Any unused balance from the previous day cannot be refunded or carried over to the next.
The Flex Catering Package is loaded automatically onto your KentOne card (student ID card) - so there's no need to activate it! When purchasing a meal, simply tap your KentOne card on the reader at the till, and your allowance will be deducted.
Please note: The Flex Catering Package only works during term time and excludes the winter, spring, and summer vacation.
How do I make the most out of each Flex token?
Each £6 token can only be used once, so be sure to make the most out of each token. For example, if your lunch costs £5.00, why not add a £1 snack to enjoy later?
If you wish to use your £6 tokens separately (for two smaller meals), you need to make sure the cost of the first meal does not exceed £6. Otherwise money will be deducted from the second £6 token, and that token will become 'used'. Once a token has been used, it cannot be used again. For example, if you purchase a dish which costs £6.25, £6.00 will be deducted from the first token, and £0.25 will be deducted from the second token.
To ensure your second £6 token is kept intact for use later in the day, you can either spend within your £6 token budget, or pay any remaining difference using an alternative payment method (debit/credit card, Apple Pay, etc.). For example, if your meal costs £6.25, please ask your server to use one £6.00 Flex token and to pay the remaining £0.25 difference using an alternative payment method (credit/debit card etc.). This will leave your second £6 token untouched for use later in the day.
Likewise, if any dish costs more than £12, you will need to pay the remaining difference yourself.
Please note: Kent is a cashless campus and we are unable to accept banknotes and coins.
Terms and Conditions
Please ensure you have read and understood the Terms and Conditions before purchasing the Flex Catering Package.
Frequently Asked Questions
You can spend your Flex tokens in any of the following restaurants, cafés, and bars:
- Hut 8 (Turing College)
- Rutherford Dining Hall (Rutherford College)
- Bag It (Rutherford College)
- Origins (Darwin College)
- Mungo's (Eliot College)
- Create (Marlowe)
- K-Bar (Keynes College)
- The Street Kitchen (The Plaza)
- Sibson Café (Sibson)
- Dolche Vita (Keynes College)
- Gulbenkian Café (Gulbenkian Arts Centre)
- The Sports Café (Sports Centre)
From time to time, you may also have the opportunity to use your Flex tokens at special events and pop-up food stalls.
The £12 allowance is split into two £6 tokens which can be used separately (for two smaller meals), or at the same time (for one larger, more substantial meal).
Each £6 token can only be used once, so be sure to make the most out of each token.
If you wish to use your £6 tokens separately (for two smaller meals), you need to make sure the cost of the first meal does not exceed £6. Otherwise money will be deducted from the second £6 token, and that token will become 'used'. Once a token has been used, it cannot be used again. For example, if you purchase a dish which costs £6.25, £6.00 will be deducted from the first token, and £0.25 will be deducted from the second token.
To ensure your second £6 token is kept intact for use later in the day, you can either spend within your £6 token budget, or pay any exceeding difference using an alternative payment method (debit/credit card).
Likewise, if any dish costs more than £12, you will need to pay the exceeding difference yourself.
The Flex Catering Package can only be purchased online from The University of Kent Online Store. We are unable to accept cash or bank transfer.
No, if you live in any of our part-catered accommodation (Eliot College, Rutherford College, Keynes College, or Becket Court) then your meal plan is included in your accommodation costs already. The Flex Catering Package is only for students living in self-catering or off-campus accommodation.
We cater for food allergies, intolerances, special diets (vegetarian, vegan, etc.), and religious diets (halal, kosher, etc.).
Please speak to a member of staff before placing your order to discuss any dietary requirements.
Our priority is to ensure customers with food allergies and intolerances have accurate information which enables them to make safe food choices.
Allergen information is published online here so customers can make an informed decision before they dine with us.
If you have any questions regarding dietary requirements or food allergies, or wish to discuss your needs with our Health and Safety Advisor please contact catering@kent.ac.uk
Unused tokens cannot be transferred, refunded, or rolled over to another day.
No, unfortunately you can’t buy the Flex Catering Package for just one term.
The package is for the full academic year, starting in September 2022.
Yes! You will be able to buy the Flex Catering Package if you're arriving in January 2023. We have a special Flex Catering Package that runs from January - June 2023. The package will become available to buy in December 2022. The price of this will be £768.
If you have provided us with incorrect details, please email kentone@kent.ac.uk with your name, order number, and correct details.
If you are experiencing problems with your Flex Catering Package, please email kentone@kent.ac.uk. The team will try to get back to you as soon as possible.
If the matter is particularly urgent, please ring +44 (0)1227 827434
Lost KentOne cards should be reported to the KentOne team. Once reported, the lost card will be blocked for all future use. The University will retain any blocked cards. Replacement cards will be issued at the last known balance (as per system records) and a non-refundable administration fee of £15 will be charged for the new card.
Lost fobs should be reported to your College Reception. Once reported, the lost fob will be blocked for all future use. Replacement fobs will be issued with the last known balance (as per system records). There is a charge for a replacement fob.
You may cancel your Flex Catering Package at any time within the 14-day cooling-off period. During the 14 days, you can cancel for any reason and get your money back for any unused tokens. Your cooling-off period begins the day after you start using the Flex Catering Package.
Cancellations after the 14-day cooling-off period will be at the discretion of the Head of Trading.
To exercise your right of cancellation, you must give written notice to us at catering@kent.ac.uk
Refunds will be processed via the same method used by you to purchase the Flex Catering Package.