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?

I travel around for work and often work in my car between visits - I’m so tempted to get one 🤣🤣

Wouldn't they have had to do this anyway? Presumably hot food would also need storage?
I think if someone is high maintenance then staying in the middle of nowhere was alway going to be a bad idea in the first place.

Depending on what you want to cook and if you have electric at the site.

Look at an electric stove and also an electric grill. Lots available and look pretty good. Can then do pasta etc. the hobs are approx £20 - 40

Edit to say, Sorry just seen you have no electric, do kind of power banks exist for normal 3 prong plug?

OP - I think you either need to let go of what you thought the week would be like and just embrace what could be funny memories to look back on, or rearrange it.

Some of my favourite memories are when things haven't gone to plan. Don't fret. Just adapt!

Assuming you don’t intend to stay at the campsite all week but venture out, eat during the day. Go out for breakfast, lunch turn into dinner. And take a snack back for tea.

This is what holiday insurance is for.

Depending on where you are you might get some rain soon though so their policy may change again.

I wouldn't go but does your holiday insurance not cover it or credit card? Etc.

Please please don’t do this. It’s now illegal to cook with an open flame, you would have to close the tent right up and there is the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning. People have died with the dying embers of a barbecue being brought into their tent. Too easy for errors to happen, don’t take the risk.

Firstly, I don't think the campsite is necessarily being unreasonable. I've stayed at a Norfolk campsite, way out in the sticks, during a drought and we didn't feel safe at all because of the fire risk. People we actually using accelerant to light their barbecues 😬. On a dry heath, surrounded by pines.

Ring the campsite instead of emailing.you are more likely to get a response.

Read all reviews and see if anyone mentions if there is a cookout area (often near the washing up area) where you can plug in a hotplate and/or a kettle.

Take a cool bag or box and freezer packs to keep milk/butter/ mayo cold. I've never stated at a campsite that didn't have a system for refreezing ice blocks.

Croissants/cereal bars/fruit for breakfast.

Lunch out and about or french bread and houmous etc for lunch.

Dinner, you have takeaway options? Visiting food vans? Supermarket cafes (for economy) and pubs.

At the risk of sounding like chat gpt, If you tell us the campsite or area we can be more specific.

You've lost the money whether you go or not. If you think you can still have a good time then go but if you think it'll ruin your holiday why pay for a horrible week away? You'd be better off paying not to go.

You realise that in places where fires area much more common thing, it’s totally ok to have a stove to cook?
That having a stove to cook does NOT mean you’re starting a fire in the campsite.
And that the vast majority of the fires we’ve had are started VOLUNTARILY. Theyre not accident.

I actually have a big issue with our PM going on about disposable bbq. Not because they are not a problem (when used carelessly which a lot of people do). But because it gives this feeling that all the fires were started with people having a bbq/stove/camping and being careless. It is not.

I see you say no electric hook up.
Is that the whole site or just your pitch. Someone might let you borrow thier electric for a kettle, its a gamble?

Id be tempted to go, but shorten the trip

Im not sure id enjoy it as a holiday without a hot drink in the morning to be honest and we tend to cook on site to keep costs down, so we boil water for pasta or rice and fry some bits.

Cold breakfast and lunch is fine an easy and eating out once or twice ok, but sometimes you fancy a pasta pesto for dinner and your morning coffee with a bacon buttie.

I dont know.

Im absolutely team let's be safe.

Just wasnt clear from the alert how long it lasts or if we get another alert or what have you

Are the camp site offering anything to help? Like offering somewhere to boil a kettle at least? How far away is the nearest cafe/pub etc?

Also where are you going? It rained here last night. So it might change.

You can get camping generators. May be that and a travel kettle?

I think the overall problem is the late change and not being allowed to cancel. I can see the site owners problem too. I just looked into it and some areas like New Forest have banned all open flames specifically including camping stoves.
I feel for you, I love camping but not without coffee!

We always ate out when we camped so that’s an option but I think it’s due to rain a lot next week so you may be ok? Hopefully the weather in general is good for your holiday but some rain would let you cook?

Yes. Will be informed? It’s rained here. Not much but enough that my patio is still damp.

I would look into a baro cook system. It uses a water activated sachet to heat liquid or food. Like the mre's that the military use. You won't be cooking 3 course meals, but enough to have hot water, hest up some tinned / pre-cooked food, boil some eggs etc. Better thsn missing your holiday.

I would take as many thermos flasks as you have. In these circumstances you'd think they might try and make a kettle available even if they are still working through the logistics. Or failing that you may be able to get one filled if you eat in a cafe/pub.

It's not ideal. You'll need to try and find hot food in the day if you go anywhere and do quiches, potato salad, little sausages, chicken skewers (first night prepared at home) wraps....anything that feels like it isn't just endless sandwiches. It's not ideal but is workable for four nights.

We’re camping at the moment and it’s not ideal being unable to cook at all. Luckily we’re visiting family today so I’m going to pop in Asda and buy a flask so we can have pot noodles and a cuppa later. We’ll drive to McDonald’s or something for dinner tonight.

I feel your pain! This isn’t what I signed up for (I was so excited for a bacon roll this morning!)

I used to camp a lot and loved cooking outside my tent but most places I went to had some sort of communal spaces where I’m sure the site owners would have done something to help guests who don’t have hook ups. It’s basic customer care. I don’t think your site sounds very customer centric (despite the difficulty). I find it a bit hard to take that they haven’t come up with anything!

Also as another PP said, if it’s in any kind of holiday area surely some enterprising locals will provide different options!

the money is gone regardless of whether you go or not.

Sandwiches don't last a week without refridgeration is my point. Most foods require either refridgeration or heating. It's difficult to be without both and a family camping trip isn't supposed to be a test

https://share.google/J5Kf1CVeMzBkgfqEa

Prevention is better than firefighters spending weeks putting out massive fires.

Sometimes in life you have to make sacrifices for the greater good. There are lots of stupid people out there and the government has to accommodate them.

This.
I was once camping and saw a tent on the campsite go up in a matter of seconds.
(Luckily its owner was outside and just stood there looking dumbfounded).