Camping dilemma since fire alert

The government has banned any activity that could cause a fire!! That would include camping stoves!! 🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️

Have you got/can you borrow a hot plate and/or air fryer, Take an extension lead and hopefully there will be somewhere to plug it in.

If it remains this hot, I couldn't imagine eating hot food.

If it cools down and rains the ban may go.

This would be my base menu in this heat:

• Find a local bakery for pastries/fresh rolls
• Sandwiches on crusty bread
• Gazpacho/dips and chips with a few bits from the take away
• Fruit and ice cream.

No don't go. I was in this exact situation a couple of years ago, just for a weekend. And it was a nightmare. Ruined the whole thing.

It’s any activity that could start a fire! Not just disposable bbq’s! So most places will ban any and all open flames!

There was another thread by a woman who had the same issue. People were really rude to her

I’d be wary of using the car for a lot of appliances, unless you’re taking the car out every day for a fair run. I did this on holiday previously and had a flat battery at the end of the week.

I often camp without a stove, it's not a problem in hot weather. Cold food of all kinds, sandwiches, rolls, fruit etc, go out to a pub for a hot meal if you want one. If lack of tea/hot water is a real problem, ask the camp office if they can fill a thermos for you, but the enjoyment is in the camping and the break, I wouldn't miss it for this!

I suggested the car kettle originally - and said for a cuppa - it obviously wouldn’t work for a meal but at least she can have a tea or
coffee with her cheese sandwich 😁

There's no pub or shop but obviously there'll be a dominos and a Chinese nearby

@Mumtotornadoes "obviously"?

Why is it obvious? I live literally next door to a campsite. There is definitely no Dominos/Chinese or any other sort of food outlet nearby.

TBF, there is a chip shop and a pub in the village, but they aren't particularly walkable as there are no pavements and a lot of blind bends on the fairly busy road. Not everywhere is exactly like where you live.

We could smell the active bbqs in our kitchen after the alert went off.

I don't think normal camping stoves have been banned so I think this is probably an overreaction by the camp site. Obviously great care is needed, make sure there's as minimised a risk of it tipping over as possible, preferably use it on a paving slab or similar, make sure you have a bucket of water and/or sand available. But I don't think camping stoves have been banned. If the government haven't banned them and the campsite has I think I'd be pretty tempted to push to get my money back.

Yes...I'd make the most of not cooking...you're on holiday! Fuck that! 😄

OP a cheap holiday has suddenly become a very costly one because you are forced to buy every single meal out. From a consumer rights point of view you have strong leverage here because although campsites have a duty of care to implement bans during local wildfire alerts, they can’t drastically change the nature of the service you paid for without offering an alternative. Legally it’s a significant change of contract.

The 14-day cancellation rule applies when you yourself choose to cancel a booking - because you changed your mind etc. It does not apply when the business fundamentally alters what they are providing and Under UK consumer law, (consumer rights act 2015) services must be provided as described.

If you booked a standard pitch with the reasonable expectation of being able to cook your own food (a standard element of camping), and they remove that facility while providing zero alternative such as an electric hookup or a communal kitchen, they are in breach of contract, and because an essential element of the holiday is no longer possible through no fault of your own, you have grounds to argue that the contract is frustrated or substantially altered. They can’t refuse to refund you under a standard cancellation policy when they can’t deliver the holiday you bought. They know this. Which is why they are not returning emails.

I would keep trying to contact them and make sure that they know you know your rights. Do you have a phone number for them ? If not keep emailing and relay the info here. Other info you need regarding the consumer rights act 2015 is online - specifically you need the section on ‘frustrated contracts’ which is what this seems to be. Hopefully you can get them to see sense, move the dates and avoid small claims court. Good luck.

I’m sure there would be a place to buy coffee or tea nearby, at least at our campsites there have been!

eating salad and wraps, local quiche or sausage rolls from the butcher, take along some cold pasta salad for first day. Pre cooked meats and cheese (meats and cheeses always pleases)

A 1,5 litre bottle of frozen water will keep cold for about three days in a cool box, and you can bring sandwiches etc and just drink the water as it thaws. You can also freeze milk and things like egg muffins, pasta with pesto, wraps/tortillas with cooked shredded chicken, sesame peanut noodles or rice with vegetables..all nice to eat cold!

And freeze ice coffee to use as an ice pack as well if you are desperate for coffee.

The site doesn’t have electric? You mentioned no electric because you are in a tent not a camper but we were in a tent and used one of these https://www.halfords.com/camping/electrical-and-power/halfords-mobile-mains-power-unit-and-usb-cable-450587.html?utm_id=17253532456&utm_campaign=Retail_Google_PMax_UK_Motoring_Camping_NA__&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&gclsrc=aw.ds&&$ja=tsid:%7Ccid:17253532456%7Cagid:%7Ctid:%7Ccrid:%7Cnw:x%7Crnd:16282618956963641926%7Cdvc:m%7Cadp:%7Cmt:%7Cloc:9045963&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=17262801092&gbraid=0AAAAADrJx6yMo5BZ85niwDcqSfw_IRa5&gclid=Cj0KCQjwnIDUBhDrARIsAJDGwSu-s9CIxJEomJnKlOER5mw7eyrrpE_bZPKUW-KdXq4hBR2PqORUaQwaAiSjEALw_wcB

This. If you have a cooking stove off the ground, watched at all times and with a bucket of water by the side I’m not really sure there’s a risk. If that camping site want to be ultra cautious that’s fine but then they have to issue refunds if people aren’t happy. The fact there’s no ehu so you can’t even boil a kettle or use a hot plate would mean i wouldn’t go. But I’d be furious to lose money due to their decision.

We are camping next week and using the fire pit and a bbq is banned obviously, but not ordinary cooking stoves on a table. We will be beyond careful with water all around us. There is no ban on cooking stoves across the land? ( Im ready to be corrected) It is just your site I think.

A gas stove in the tent? Are you for real?

Agree. A decent thermos flask would be better. Could get away with all sorts in there if not too fussy.

Not sure if people saying just use a car kettle, have ever used them
they are tiny, so you aren’t going to be making pot noodles for a family
they take ages to boil
and if the engine isn’t running you risk draining the car battery
not really a practical solution

And we have a winner of the Darwin Award!

So the likely scenario is they got no advance warning of the alert and have panicked and sent out emails immediately banning everything. They're probably dealing with lots of enquires without actually understanding their liability.

Just give them a day to find out their legal implications and there'll be a clearer picture. It does look like portable gas stoves may be exempt but as you can see by a pp there a safety element to them that people can overlook. In theory they should prioritise replies by date of arrival but if they are bombarded by multiple emails from 1 client and then you cinder hiw many clients they have while if frustrating for you at the moment it's understandable. They are probably prioritising today's arrivals.

Having taken a fire safety course I own one but would never use it inside a small area. Carbon monoxide is a silent killer.

I would probably get a car kettle and that will open up lots of possibilities, Pot Noodle (other brands are available), instant porridge, cup soup, camping meals, tea, coffee.

I seem to be in a minority but I would cancel even if it meant loosing money. I mean, the money is spent now whether you go or not, so you're not more out of pocket by cancelling.

No way would I spend 5 days drinking instant coffee made with cold water and eating cold food out of packets.

I would call the campsite OP. Maybe some of your days are within the cancellation period?

Absolutely. How terrifying to think people in the tent next door are cooking in their tent or other such nonsense. Could kill other campers if a fire goes wrong. I prob wouldn't go purely because other people can't be trusted not to be selfish.