Camping dilemma since fire alert

[SaturdayGiraffe]

Off camping next week but been told no cooking stoves allowed now - so no hot water, no hot food.
There’s no pub or shops nearby either.

The site is saying we are inside 14 day cancellation so they are charging to move the dates back and we’ll lose full amount if we go elsewhere (although not even sure where else since the phone alert).

Camping with kids, with no hot food or drink - would you do it?

Does anyone know a site where we could cook still?

For anyone not clicking the link above:

Due to an extreme wildfire risk identified by Forestry England, BBQs, campfires, stoves and all outdoor cooking equipment are not permitted on any Camping New Forest campsite until further notice.

I am sorry, OP. When a much longed for holiday doesn’t go to plan, it can be really disappointing. And some of the suggestions on here about takeaways etc are really quite expensive.

Get one of those little kettles you can plug into the car lighter. At least then you can have hot drinks or pot noodles, everything else is manageable - a bigger meal at lunchtime out and about and then sandwiches or snack bits in the evening. You could even get a couple of big flasks and ask cafes to fill with boiling water, if you explain why.
It's unfortunate, but not worth losing out on your holiday.

If it were us, OP, and it wasn’t tooo far to drive to get there, I’d compromise and go for a shorter than planned camp. I’d get one of those car plug in things to heat water for coffee, prep loads of cold nice food for evenings, pack the cool box tight with it all, and pre-book a couple of pub meals if possible. If you’re in the new forest there will be pubs nearby by car, even though you’ve said there aren’t any close by (I assume you mean to walk to?).

We go to the same kind of campsite it sounds like you’re talking about - no EHU, def no microwaves in the washing up area, no nearby cafes / pizza delivery. I tend to require campsite freezers to keep ice packs fresh, and hot showers, but beyond that we’re pretty flexible.

We’re only an hour or so from the new forest so for me it’d be worth a short trip, but if it’s many hours drive, I’m not sure I’d want to do that. Good luck and let us know how it goes.

So you were going to a New Forest camp ground - sorry if I’m being thick but I couldn’t find anything in your updates that said where you were going. Not that it makes any difference OP. If you would rather cancel and try to find somewhere else, then as per my posts above, the holiday provider has significantly changed the terms and conditions of the original holiday, so the 14 day cancellation period doesn’t apply. Legally they have to refund you. They will know this, which is likely why they’re not answering your emails.

I paid £18 a night for a pitch a couple of weeks ago. Glorious site, compost loos, hot shower, hot water tap for washing up, acres of space around me, and peace and quiet.
Bliss.

I am ;planning on going next weekend, and my intended site are in the process of clarifying whether they can allow stoves or not.

I can manage fine with cold food but not sure about morning coffee - but they do have a coffee machine at Reception so I could manage with that, maybe.

I think I would push for my money back and go elsewhere. It's easy for them to say just go to a cafe etc.... Not being able to even have a hot drink while relaxing on a morning or evening is pretty miserable.

I'm imagining when my children were younger probably sleeping less well than at home and then having to spend ages getting them ready, rounding them up, piling into the car then driving somewhere to have my first coffee off the day. That's not fun when camping is about taking things slowly and relaxing in nice surroundings.

Tbh, I’m not sure I would go camping at the moment - having taken lots of Beavers scouts and brownies in the past, the heat, condensation and inability to sleep would be awful and if there is no substantial risk of rain where you are going, there is still a a risk of fire nearby - you could get trapped at the site and unable to leave easily (am thinking of the New Forest fires and the impact on the A31.) Obviously it has now taken a turn and is becoming cooler, but the safety and general [lack of] enjoyability of the experience would be enough for me to decide to cancel.

Sandwiches and pub meal , or Buy a small electric job if you have hookup

Sarcasm. People are advising OP to just get takeaways or order delivery. Just get a chippy. Get a Tesco meal deal. When OP has already said there's no pub or shop nearby.

It doesn’t protect them from having to give a refund in the circumstances though. The cancellation period doesn’t apply here.

YABU for not using the Mn Camping Board Camping & Caravan Holidays Forum | Mumsnet

In that case I wouldn't be going if they can not provide a way to access hot food and water.

I love camping from a couple of days wild camping to holidays with a comfortable camp set up.
But multiple days of denied access to decent hot food and water is not a holiday and not what you've signed up for.

They should give a refund because the conditions that they are providing have changed significantly and they affect basic provision and comfort, and the costs of mitigating that (e.g. eating out) are significant. Hopefully the government can reimburse businesses affected by localised restrictions.

If a refund isn't forthcoming, I'd still rather forgo the trip and additional costs such as fuel than have a shit, stressful time.

(Keen camper, and repeated survivor of cooking in a well-ventilated 7 man tent that's bigger than most kitchens 🤷‍♀️ and no I wouldn't heat a 2 man tent with a stove overnight)

Presume you are going to the New Forest. It is sweltering here right now and staying hot through the night. Not having hot food is a non issue. I would definitely miss a coffee in the morning, but there are plenty of cafes to grab one. I am sure local businesses will be glad of your trade.

Most campsites unless they are really basic & completely off grid are supplying hot water in urns or kettles.

Otherwise cold food

Police? I don't know. You tell me as you seem to be one of these reporting pieces of shit?

It's not a ban 🤦‍♂️

Looks like it is in the New Forest, where OP is going- at least on Forestry England campsites.

The way they haven't tried to find a solution for their campers at all- no kettles, no offering refunds- chimes with a lot of impressions I have previously got of Forestry England. Looks like they think they're doing you a favour by taking your money 🙄.

(making a mental note never to stay on one of their sites)

You can wash hands perfectly adequately with cold water and soap.

We were meant to be going 2 nights next week-
But , with the cooking ban- we are leaving it till September!
Thankfully, we hadn't booked the campsite But nearly booked the attraction we were heading too- would've been £200 down the drain!!

I think I'd still go but expect to probably leave early. The campsite not replying to emails is really unacceptable. They must have an office/reception type building there? As a pp said, surely they could at least organise some hot water for people to use? If all else fails you can get cans of iced coffee that don't have to be kept in a fridge and would at least keep the withdrawal headache away

I'd be cancelling, wanting all my money back and they can claim off their insurance. They've had to change the terms that you agreed to at the time of booking, they've broken that contract. Not there fault, but not yours either.

This OP.

As PP have said, the 14-day period doesn’t apply here as the material terms of the contract have changed.

I suspect they’re not replying because they’ve told OP she’s inside the cancellation period and can’t have a refund, and they know they’re wrong.