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UK travel

Welcome to our UK travel forum where you can get advice on everything from holidays to exotic destinations, to tips on London travel.

Just back from Center Parcs .....

9 replies

pacinofan · 17/09/2006 13:37

at Sherwood Forest for a 4 night midweek break. Is it us or does anybody else find the standard of catering pretty c**p at Center Parcs? First night we were there we looked forward to a takeaway pizza from Luciano's. Stupidly, because they are pretty expensive (along the lines of Pizza Express) I thought they'd be pretty good. They weren't just poor - they were diabolical and looked and tasted as though a child had put them together. We didn't complain but we should have.

Second night we go to Huckleberry's American Diner. My burger arrives and neither myself or dh could recognise it as 'beef'. Burger described on menu as 'Center Parc's own hand-pressed beefburger' - I've tasted far better in McDonalds. Dd1 had a horrid, cheap tasting hot dog, old chips and dried-up mushy peas and dh had an overdone steak. Again, we paid top prices to eat here. This time we did complain and asked that the burger be removed from the bill as it was so awful.

I realise this sounds like a huge moan, but as a family we look forward so much to hard-earned breaks I just hate it when you go away and end up eating rubbish. The rest of the parc was fine, dd1 loved it and overall I think the concept of Center Parcs is good. Just wish they'd bring in, say, Pizza Express to do pizzas, get rid of Parc Market and bring Sainsbury's or Waitrose on sight or at least stock high quality local produce.

Anyone else found this?

OP posts:
Gobbledigook · 17/09/2006 13:41

Never been and never plan to. Food sounds terrible - well done for complaining.

Crackle · 17/09/2006 13:42

They should franchise the food out to new people as it does suck. We now have one 'nice' meal when we go out (The Grand Cafe at Longleat) but self cater the rest. I resent seeing £80 charges on my debit card after the holiday for crappy burger meals that I've already forgotten.

It's a captive audience, no need for the restaurants to aim high IMO.

chocolatemummy · 17/09/2006 13:46

hevent been to shrewood one , been to longleat four times, never had any problems with the food tbh, it is quite expensive, the Indian restaurant at longleat was gorgeous and we had a nice takeaway pizza, maybe down to the staff

ANAconda · 17/09/2006 16:17

oh no! we're off to sherwood forest in a couple of weeks. I had suggested eating out as cooking doesn't really make a holiday for me, but perhaps i'll stock upat m&S before we go!

HuwEdwards · 17/09/2006 16:21

We went to Sherwood Forest 6 years ago and the food then was pretty revolting - had hoped it would've improved by now.

bananaloaf · 17/09/2006 16:32

ooooh i am of to centreparcs for the first time in november sounds dispointingx

Saturn74 · 17/09/2006 16:38

We've been to CP at Sherwood Forest a few times.

We found the Pancake House to be revolting (only went once, about five years ago), but Huckleberry's served really nice food last time we were there(October 05).

This might have been because DS2 has quite a restricted diet though, so we are quite fussy when we order as everything has to be right. (It's a bit reminiscent of Meg Ryan ordering her meal in 'When Harry Met Sally'!)

It certainly sounds worth an email of complaint to Center Parcs though, Pacinofan.

anniediv · 17/09/2006 16:55

We went to the Country Club restaurant in Elvedon Forest Center Parcs, and the meal was great, they catered well for all members of our group aged from 3 to 73! Pizza place a bit of a letdown though. Would recommend taking your own supplies!

Rookiemum · 18/09/2006 16:19

We went to Whinfell forest. I thought the Chinese was pretty rubbsih DH but it may have been more the dismal motorway cafe like surroundings rather than the food. We had the buffet at the Indian, again fairly rubbish but Dh ordered a different curry and it was fab - think they pre make the basic ones.
It is a shame as the rest of center parcs is so good. I also thought it was ironic that they had a childrens menu with healthy options such as salmon and pasta that sounded way nicer than anything on the adult menu.

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