Using gas cooker in a car park

SueRoe
SueRoe Forum Participant Posts: 1

Just had our first trip away in our campervan. Stopped at the beach carpark on the way home and wanted to make a cup of tea using our gas cooker. The carpark was empty as it was the end of the day but we didn't know if this was illegal. Obviously it would be reckless to light up in a busy carpark but when no-one else is around is it actually illegal? Thanks in anticipation of any help.

Comments

  • DSB
    DSB Club Member Posts: 5,666 ✭✭✭
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    edited October 2017 #2

    I can't think it would be 'illegal'.  I imagine it would depend on careful judgment.  I would feel happy at the situation you describe.

    David 

  • young thomas
    young thomas Forum Participant Posts: 11,356
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    edited October 2017 #3

    Reckless?...this is what Mhs and campers are for...wink

    thousands of vans all over europe are brewing up (using has) as i type, i cant believe any consider themselves reckless.

    many of the european wide stopping places are (for better or worse) glorifoed car parks....i wouldn't hesitate to have a cuppa (or even my evening meal) on the go.... and often vans will be closer together than they would be on a CC site.

  • DavidKlyne
    DavidKlyne Club Member Posts: 13,859 ✭✭✭
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    edited October 2017 #4

    I would have thought that unless there are signs to the contrary, like there often are on motorway service stations,  it would be perfectly acceptable to boil a kettle. A lot of parking areas say no open fires but that is not aimed at boiling a kettle in a camper. What we do, when moving between campsites, is to have a flask of hot water so that we can make a coffee or tea en route which works quite well in that particular circumstance and is usually a bit quicker!

    David

  • Takethedogalong
    Takethedogalong Forum Participant Posts: 17,041 ✭✭✭
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    edited October 2017 #5

    Don't worry SueRoe, using the cooker in your MH is fine. If there are signs saying no cooking then just move on, but I think we have only ever come across one, and in truth, unless it is a permanently staffed car park, very rare, then no one tends to notice anyway!

    We have done full meals let alone cups of tea! One of the chief delights of a MH is having your own gourmet cafe at beck and call, anywhere, anytime, and with clean toilet available! Even if your payload restricts onboard water tank fill up while travelling, just have a container with enough for what you might need. 

    If the weather is poor, we still drive out somewhere, give dogs a quick walk, then back into MH for some bird watching while waiting for a nice meal to cook! We have done hill tops in howling gales, Winter moorland pull ins in the dark, beachside picnics in the dunes....all miles from anywhere just peace and quiet, the odd passerby wondering what we were up to, secretly envying our cup of tea!

  • brue
    brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited October 2017 #6

    We've often used our gas when parked up for a day out, used the gas kettle to make a drink and wash up plus the oven if needed. Usually out in the country or sea side. In fact we'll probably take the van for a day visit to a Dorset or Somerset beach this Autumn. smile

  • Takethedogalong
    Takethedogalong Forum Participant Posts: 17,041 ✭✭✭
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    edited October 2017 #7

    We have always used cooker, even in caravan for enroute rests, although our van doesn't have an oven, so usually toast, soup etc....We avoid service stations like the plague. Our MH is used for days out as well brue, lovely isn't it?laughing

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
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    edited October 2017 #8

    We boil a kettle with gas for a brew at motorway service stations.

  • crannman
    crannman Forum Participant Posts: 101
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    edited October 2017 #9

    being a truck driver I use a double burner camping stove all the time when ever I park up cook a meal boil kettle no problem 

  • Unknown
    Unknown Forum Participant
    edited October 2017 #10
    The user and all related content has been Deleted User
  • triky auto
    triky auto Forum Participant Posts: 8,690
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    edited October 2017 #11

    wink When touring you will often see the continental truckers set up their cooking facilities on the running board or a nearby camping table ,then all the other truckers join in and they all cook their meals and eat outside,complete with bottles of wine etc etc .It's just the done thing !!

  • KeithandMargaret
    KeithandMargaret Forum Participant Posts: 660
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    edited October 2017 #12

    Regarding Continental truckers.

    They are an absolute disgrace - we've pulled up alongside them on Motorway Aires and the smell of bacon, sausages and fresh brewed coffee lingering in the air as they cook their meals at the side of their trucks is so tempting and enjoyable - and all we have is a brew of tea and a few ginger biscuits!

    It's enough to make you stay in the UK - but not quite enough!

    And as Triky mentions - how they get away with drinking wine and then driving is most unjust to us sober Brits.

  • brue
    brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited October 2017 #13

    I think quite a lot of people take small gas stoves out in their cars, not to mention campers out in the wilds....the smell of bacon drifting across Exmoor, it's been going on for years. laughing

  • ABM
    ABM Forum Participant Posts: 14,578
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    edited October 2017 #14

    Oxtail  soup  please,  failing  that  it'll  be  Scotch  Broth  with  a  crumbled  OXO cube  in  it   laughing

  • ABM
    ABM Forum Participant Posts: 14,578
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    edited October 2017 #15

    Gawd,  it'll  be  well  bu**ered  by  now'  Bruesurprisedyell

  • brue
    brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited October 2017 #16

    I have a terrible way with words ABM and it's always too late to edit when I spot the error of my ways...wink

  • ABM
    ABM Forum Participant Posts: 14,578
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    edited October 2017 #17

    Don't  you  fret  Brue,  seeing  things  like  that  brings  a  happy, happy  smile  to  the  faces  of  us  'owd  pedants  laughing  !!  (  I  Think  thats  the  word  anyway   undecided??  )

    B

  • crannman
    crannman Forum Participant Posts: 101
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    edited October 2017 #18

    joined in lots of cook ups parked up for weekend break stews curry bbq ad good times 

     

     

  • Fysherman
    Fysherman Forum Participant Posts: 1,570
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    edited October 2017 #19

     We certainly do. No one believes "no naked flame signs" in Motorway car parks are anything to do with safety. Do they?

     

  • Unknown
    Unknown Forum Participant
    edited October 2017 #20
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  • Rosie Rabbit
    Rosie Rabbit Forum Participant Posts: 85
    edited October 2017 #21

    What everybody else said. But I think it's good of you to be considerate of others and ask the question.

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
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    edited October 2017 #22

    Sounds like me talking to my daughters.

    'If you ask your mum and she says No then don't come asking me. If you ask me and I say No then don't ask your mum later'. My advice to them was 'I suggest that you do as I would have done and if you think that the answer is no then maybe best not to ask!'

  • Lyke Wake Man
    Lyke Wake Man Forum Participant Posts: 238
    edited November 2017 #23

    The only reason the motorway services dont like it, they want you to go in their cafe and buy their expensive meals and drinks, you will find the lorry and caravan parking is always a long way from the fuel pumps for that reason

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited November 2017 #24

    I have only ever seen any naked flames in some of my dreamsembarassedcool

  • young thomas
    young thomas Forum Participant Posts: 11,356
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    edited November 2017 #25

    there you go, children....drugs are a terrible thing....undecided

  • Rocky 2 buckets
    Rocky 2 buckets Forum Participant Posts: 7,101
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    edited November 2017 #26

    laughinglaughinglaughing

  • Oneputt
    Oneputt Club Member Posts: 9,144 ✭✭✭
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    edited November 2017 #27

    Supermarket car parks, services and lay-bys we often brew up both home and abroad, just remember to turn the gas off again when you leavelaughing

  • artyboo
    artyboo Forum Participant Posts: 457
    edited November 2017 #28

    Totally agree with all AND, who is going to know?