Who actually has a Nando’s Black Card? (and how to get one)

Nando’s Black Card could feed you for free all year

The restaurant chain has been remarkably quiet about the whole thing, even denying that the cards existed back in 2010.

So what exactly is it? The black card, or the “High Five” card, is said to give its holder and up to four friends free food and non-alcoholic drinks (sorry, no beers) at Nando’s for a year. 

(Image credit: FB/Ed Sheeran)

Each person can reportedly claim a starter, a combo meal, a dessert and a soft drink, making it a pretty serious perk for anyone who manages to get one.

The value can quickly add up, too. If five people used the card three times a week, the free meals could be worth around £11,000 over the course of a year.

Even Nando’s co-founder Robbie Brozin appears to be on the outside looking in. Asked about the elusive card, he said: “It's a rumor, I believe. I haven't got one. It's about time they gave me one. If it does exist, I'd like one.”

So, if anyone at Nando’s is reading this, Brozin is still waiting for his.

Nando’s Black Card holders are a seriously random bunch

The big question is who actually gets one. Nando’s has never exactly been keen to publish a guest list, so the identity of its Black Card holders remains mostly a guessing game.

The biggest requirement appears to be giving Nando’s plenty of love and publicity on social media.

A rather star-studded collection of names has been linked to the card over the years, with Niall Horan, David Beckham, Ricky Gervais, JLS, Pixie Lott and Oprah Winfrey all rumoured to have joined the exclusive club.

Jay-Z was also rumoured to be a holder, and allegedly made the most of his supposed membership by having Nando’s chicken included on his rider for the Brit Awards. Honestly, fair enough.

There is at least one person who does not have to rely on rumours, though. TV personality Rick Edwards really did receive a Black Card, and he was clearly very happy about it.

“Getting it was one of the best days of my life,” he said. “I love Nando’s. Always will.”

So much for the Nando’s Black Card being a secret

Ed Sheeran has also managed to take some of the mystery out of the Black Card club as he posted a picture proudly holding his own card. Not exactly the most secretive way to prove your membership.

(Image credit: X/Ed Sheeran)

Back in 2010, Sheeran even teamed up with musician Example for a freestyle about the chicken chain, which they dubbed Nando’s Skank.

The song even namechecked Example’s Black Card, with Sheeran rapping: “Yo, and we eat chicken for free / Cause he’s got a black card you see.”

It probably won’t be taking home any songwriting awards, but it did make one thing very clear: Sheeran was already seriously committed to Nando’s.

Nando’s had to step in after Jack Whitehall’s daily chicken run

Even the celebrities lucky enough to get their hands on a Nando’s Black Card can take things a little too far. Jack Whitehall apparently decided to test exactly how much free chicken was too much.

Speaking to Matt White, host of Manchester’s Finest YouTube channel, the comedian admitted that he went to the Nando’s in Fallowfield “every day for six months” and brought his mates along for the ride.

“You could get four complimentary meals on it, so I'd take all my mates... daily,” he said.

Daily really was the important part there. Whitehall eventually managed to push his luck so far that Nando’s took the card back, making him the first person to lose the coveted perk.

“And then I became the first person that they took the Nando's black card back off because I'd abused it.”

The chain later confirmed that Whitehall’s card had been withdrawn because his use of it “wasn’t within the spirit of the offer”.

Asking for a Black Card will get you nowhere

Getting a Nando’s Black Card is not as simple as asking for one. In fact, Nando’s has made it very clear that requesting a card is probably the quickest way to make sure you never get one.

The chain has previously said: “no-one who’s requested a card, no matter how politely, has ever received one. Asking for one is simply the biggest taboo – a definite no no.”

Nando’s has also pointed fans towards its other ways of getting rewarded, adding: “we love each and every one of you – that’s why we show our gratitude with a wealth of other Nando’s treasures such as our loyalty card, competitions and promotions.”

There was once another, slightly more ridiculous route to free Nando’s for life. The chain had said that anyone who could prove they had eaten at every Nando’s restaurant around the world would qualify for free food for life.

Unfortunately for anyone already planning their great chicken pilgrimage, that offer is no longer available. So you can put the passport away, eating your way around the planet will not get you a Black Card.

And with more than 1,200 restaurants across roughly 30 countries, completing that challenge would have been quite the commitment anyway.

The UK and Ireland have the biggest share of locations, so at least the first leg of the Nando’s world tour would have been fairly manageable.

Boldon is considered the number one Nando's in the UK by fans of the brand. Do you agree?