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?

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.

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

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.

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)

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.

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

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.

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 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 😁

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’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.

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

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

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.

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.

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

For cold nights if you're worried, and I do get it, surprisingly peanut butter is a good emergency standby, flapjacks, high calorie/energy foods to keep for emergencies. Otherwise it's a case of being extra careful about everyone getting into warm clothes before it gets cold, having the extra jumpers and socks, and being prepared to warm up anyone who gets chilly. There should be at least warm water in the toilet blocks to fill a hot water bottle if needed?

Why on earth would they offer refunds.

The government advice is not to do any activities which could start a fire. What part of that is difficult for people to understand?! Why can't people just make the world's tiniest sacrifice to avoid whole forests and villages being burned to the ground. The selfishness is shocking.
Camping is not essential. Go another time or change your plans. This is life. If you want to live in a community with others you have to on the very rare occasion take them into account.

Using your washing machine at home can cause a fire. So can owning a magnifying mirror. So can microwaving a sausage. The government hasn't banned anything other than the sale of disposable barbecues. Some local areas have regulations e.g. my local council has banned fires on allotments.

The government hasn't passed a law by sending an emergency alert.

They have issued statutory guidance relating to the sale of disposable barbecues:

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/statutory-guidelines-on-disposable-bbqs

If anyone can show me where the law has been changed about using stoves I would be very happy to say I'm wrong.

Also, to be clear, I am not trying to say we shouldn't minimise risks, but the government definitely hasn't banned "any activity that could cause a fire". Otherwise we had all better stop using any electricity full stop. Or driving our cars because if we crashed them they could cause a fire.

Do you have access to a fridge? M&S do lovely cooked roast chicken - either whole or in packs of thighs, breasts, etc., and also cold poached salmon fillets. Potato salad with that and maybe some salads? Nice for a couple of dinners anyway?

Sorry misquote by myself they haven’t banned them they have advised against them! Would it really hurt people to change their behaviour for the benefit of all others? This is why we’re having so many fires at the moment because people
are bloody selfish! A washing machine is far less likely to cause a fire than a bloody camping stove on tinder dry ground!!!!!

God. You are the reasons T&Cs have to list every possible thing aren't you.

They haven't listed it but setting fire to paper on your patio, lighting a tree, pouring petrol on your grass and then sitting candles on it, are also all banned. It doesn't say it on the alert it just says anything that could start a fire, so please go ahead and cover your garden in tea lights and something flammable. It doesn't say it explicitly so it's obviously allowed.

Who's 'told' you this? The alert is simply that. The only thing covered by legislation is the sale of disposable bbqs. You can still legally have a fire, bbq, set off fireworks, etc. if you so choose.

I mean i wouldn't recommend it, but you are allowed by law to do this.

If the campsite has said that they are not allowing gas cookers on their site, that is their right but they are being extremely unreasonable. Definitely grounds for a refund.

Personally I'd just ignore the and use mine anyway. They can get to fuck.

I just despair this morning! The number of bloody posts trying to circumvent the advice! 😭

None of the things you've listed are 'banned'. Fuck me, people like you are dense little sheep. Bet you were reporting neighbours for taking more than an hours walk in the lockdowns.