We’re making some important updates to how you pay for food and drink on the Canterbury campus, in line with the University’s catering partnership with Chartwells, which started on the 1 June 2025.
As part of this transition, Chartwells are introducing a modernised EPOS (Electronic Point of Sale) system, which will improve your experience in our outlets and bring a wider range of payment and reward options.
As a result, your KentOne card will no longer be accepted as a cashless payment method in our campus outlets. The card will still function as your University ID, but cashless payments will now move to a new, more flexible platform.
Key dates for KentOne payment use:
- From 24 July 2025, KentOne payments will no longer be accepted in catering outlets on the Canterbury campus
- KentOne payments in the two Co-op shops on campus (Plaza and Park Wood Hub) or in the Templeman Library (for printer credit) will remain post 24 July 2025 until a replacement EPOS system for those areas is in place. We will keep you updated accordingly.
Why the Change?
The University is transitioning catering services to Chartwells, who will bring a more tailored, student- and staff-focused offer. A new EPOS system and app-based platform, Time2Eat, will provide:
- Faster service through mobile ordering and self-service kiosks
- Exclusive rewards and discounts
- More personalised food offers and loyalty options
- Better integration across all catering outlets
What happens to any funds on your KentOne card?
If you uploaded funds yourself:
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- You can spend these funds in catering outlets until 23 July 2025, and in the Co-op shops or Templeman thereafter until a new EPOS system is in place
- Alternatively, you can request a transfer of these funds to the new Time2Eat app account by contacting: kentone@kent.ac.uk
If your KentOne account was credited by the University:
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- These funds will be automatically transferred to your new Time2Eat account on 24 July 2025
- You will need to create a Time2Eat account to access and spend them in our catering outlets
- Please note: once transferred, these funds will no longer be usable in the Co-ops or Templeman Library as these university funds are required to be used in university catering outlets.
For full instructions on how to create a Time2Eat account and manage transfers, please refer to our Frequently Asked Questions. Please note the Time2Eat app will be live for Kent students and staff to use from 24 July 2025 as a payment method.
About the Time2Eat app
Time2Eat will be introduced in two phases:
- From 24 July 2025, you can pay for food and drink at catering outlets using the app.
- From September 2025, the full app features will be available, including:
- Mobile ordering to your table
- Click-and-collect lunch options
- Exclusive promotions, hot beverage stamp cards, and rewards
You’ll also find Time2Eat kiosks in different locations on campus with the first location to be announced in the coming weeks, offering a quick and rewarding way to order meals on the go.
Discounts and offers
- The 10% KentOne discount will no longer apply. However, Time2Eat users will enjoy a range of promotions and discounts, including loyalty rewards and time-limited offers, which will replace and exceed the previous benefits.
- Our new ‘Savour’ range (details to follow) will offer fresh, great-value options across selected outlets, ensuring an affordable choice is always available.
- The Gulbenkian Arts Centre Café will continue to offer a 10% discount for members. Annual memberships are available for £10 (staff) and £5 (students), which also include cinema and theatre discounts.
- We will still be offering a Cost of Living meal available across campus outlets.
Please note, due to the complexities of processing refunds and current limitations in staffing and resources, we are unable to offer refunds. If you experience an issue specifically related to accessibility that prevents you from using the Time2Eat app, we are committed to addressing such concerns. In such cases, refund requests will be reviewed and handled individually on a case-by-case basis to ensure fair consideration.
For any questions or to explore how the changes affect you, please visit our FAQs or contact the KentOne team directly at kentone@kent.ac.uk