Bistros everywhere please!

13

Comments

  • brue
    brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited February 2019 #62

    I haven't been to the new Knaresborough bistro Steve and the previous one was fairly small, can't remember there being a dog problem. At Hillhead and Seacroft dogs are allowed in a certain area, eg the covered conservatory at Hillhead not inside the main bar area. Never had a problem. Don't want to get involved in a dog discussion either, we've rarely seen many dogs out with their owners for a meal and they've all been well behaved (that's the owners by the way....wink)

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited February 2019 #63

    Dogs are not allowed in the restaurant areas of any club sites with "bistros" that we have visited with our dog ,they are allowed in the other public areas,where there are tables and chairs for a meal or drinks, except also the pools 

  • brue
    brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited February 2019 #64

    We've booked one night at Knaresborough later this year so will see what it's like after the refurbs. I thought it was expensive for this one extra facility so there you go we'll be paying through the nose for it. For us it's just the convenience of an overnight stop  and hopefully a break from cooking that night. wink

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
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    edited February 2019 #65

    A copied review from Sept 2018

    We just overnighted here although we have been some years ago. Lovely tidy site - great improvements - new loos and barriers and serviced pitches. Very helpful wardens. The new Bistro The Wanderer was great - good beer and excellent food. Should try the salmon en croute with shrimp sauce - lovely!! Nice to see 3 good dogs in there - under the tables and causing no problems.

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
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    edited February 2019 #66

    Another review 

    Not as dog friendly as we thought.
    We have used this site several times to date , before and after the refurb. The wardens are top notch, the site is kept in best order and the Bistro gives this site a definite edge for us. However there was a big surprise on Friday the 7th Sept. this year. Whiist sitting in the patio area enjoying a drink I fell foul of the new rules , well new to me anyway, I asked the young man behind the bar for some water for our dog. This was immediately refused as "we don't provide water for dogs as the bowls cost £2 each" and various other mutterings which I missed I in my astonishment. This on a " Dog Friendly Site" in a Bistro that allows well behaved dogs in the dining area. That evening we had booked for 4 and brought our own bowl for the dog to have a drink which was begrudgingly, I feel, filled. DOG OWNERS PLEASE BE AWARE OF THIS NEW RULE THEY OPERATE A VERSION OF BYO FOR DOGS Please make up your minds, are dogs welcome or not. Next time we are on site with our friends and our dog we will go to a local restaurant and spend what was almost £100 on a meal there. There is plenty of choice. DOG OWNER PLEASE NOTE

    Comment from the Club:

    We’re sorry you had this experience in the Bistro and can confirm that there is no new ruling regarding dog bowls, this was an unfortunate misunderstanding by the member of staff you spoke to. Please rest assured that Knaresborough remains a dog friendly site.

  • brue
    brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited February 2019 #67

    I read a review about the M/H service point being awkward, hoping it isn't if it's all been "improved." wink

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited February 2019 #68

    Have not yet been to the refurbished Knaresborough site ,will be visiting this year on the way back from Hawes,so do not know if like the other sites where there are no dog areas in some parts of the food areas 

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited February 2019 #69

    We never found any M/V  service points on cc sites awkward in our time with motor caravans but then we modified ours to get over the poor design of the outlet pipes on both m/vswink 

  • SteveL
    SteveL Club Member Posts: 12,311 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 2019 #70

    That I would find totally acceptable JVB. We often frequent pubs where dogs are allowed in certain areas and therefore you have a choice. Although from some of the other quotes above it looks as though Knaresborough might be more general. We will just have to wait and see when we visit.

  • Unknown
    Unknown Forum Participant
    edited February 2019 #71
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  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited February 2019 #72

    May do a bit of "research" wink

  • young thomas
    young thomas Club Member Posts: 11,357 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited February 2019 #73

    I didn't say that, although there are many sites all over Europe that vanners do treat as destination sites.

    my point was that I think that, as more MH appear in the club network, more folk will appreciate a chance to grab coffee, breakfast, lunch or even dinner without having to 'make much effort'.

    after all, JVB keeps telling us (via his comprehensive record keeping) that MHs (apparently) dont go off site...

    perhaps the proximity of other local options has a bearing...Hillnead for example has nothing in walking distance and a decent commitment on a bike...

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited February 2019 #74

    Never miss a dig B boy ?,but then maybe some are more observant than others cool,

  • young thomas
    young thomas Club Member Posts: 11,357 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited February 2019 #75

    DD, I agree...

    when calling into Granada, last week mid Saturday afternoon, we stopped at Camping Reina Isobel and had to pass the site restaurant to walk to reception to check in.....the restaurant was heaving, hardly a spare seat...

    it's only a small site and turned out that the majority of diners were locals, not campers, who came because the food was great and the ambiance what they were after....

    we parked up quickly and went back to join them in the sunshine, a great way to unwind after a few hours driving...

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
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    edited February 2019 #76

    perhaps the proximity of other local options has a bearing...Hillnead for example has nothing in walking distance and a decent commitment on a bike...
     

    Probably not as many motorhomes there then. 

    With 240 pitches and a swimming pool to encourage some to stay on site it sounds a more reasonable location for such a facility perhaps

  • Metheven
    Metheven Club Member Posts: 3,987 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 2019 #77

    Every site should have a Bistro/Cafe/Restaurant, everyone has the choice then to walk on by or walk on in and enjoy 👍

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
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    edited February 2019 #78

    my point was that I think that, as more MH appear in the club network, more folk will appreciate a chance to grab coffee, breakfast, lunch or even dinner without having to 'make much effort'.

    Are facilities to produce a meal more restricted in a MH

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited February 2019 #79

    Hillhead is also where you ere starting to find quite a few motor caravans as there is a good bus service just at the site entrance,(and dogs are welcome on them also (£1 per dog for a days travel ticket)

  • Unknown
    Unknown Forum Participant
    edited February 2019 #80
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  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
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    edited February 2019 #81

    Motorhomes may be more likely to arrive later on than caravans but that does not seem much more likely from what I notice.

    SOme caravanners arriving late on a Friday after work doubtless pop out for a meal also

  • brue
    brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited February 2019 #82

    Hillhead is popular with all types of user including tent campers. Although there are two bus routes outside, to the Dart or Torbay there is also access to the coast via footpaths (a tough old walk coming back up hill but it's surprising how many walkers go to the site to do the coast path etc.) It's also in a prime spot overlooking Torbay and no doubt it costs a lot more than some sites to run even if there are cheap drinks in the bar early evening...wink

  • Unknown
    Unknown Forum Participant
    edited February 2019 #83
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  • young thomas
    young thomas Club Member Posts: 11,357 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited February 2019 #84

    they might or might not be.....depends on the MH and the caravan, I guessundecided

    the point was that a MHer might like to treat themselves to a night off cooking and the opportunity to grab something on site (without having to drive/bus/walk) might appeal.

    nothing to do with van kitchens.

  • Takethedogalong
    Takethedogalong Forum Participant Posts: 17,064 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 2019 #85

    I know of a decent CL just round the corner from Knaresborough. Perhaps wafting a membership card might get you into Bistro? CL might even have done a deal about their visitors using it, I don’t know. Port Arthur Farm. Few years since we stayed, it had just opened. 

    When we stop on a CL not far from Marazion, we sometimes pop in for a gas bottle, or to get fish and chips if the van calls. 

    Another member not bothered about such extras on site, especially if it is subsidised by Site fees. Happy to leave it for those who are. 

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
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    edited February 2019 #86

    Less of the decrepit Alan

    I use the term advisedly David. Went for a 2 mile walk in the Sun on Saturday down by the river and think I averaged less than 1.5 mph smile

  • ABM
    ABM Forum Participant Posts: 14,578
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    edited February 2019 #87

    surprisedembarassed

     

     

     

    wink

  • DaveCyn
    DaveCyn Club Member Posts: 339 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 2019 #88

    No thank you!

     

    Bistros & bars on site to me ='s more noise.

    If you want those type of facilities there's plenty of commercial sites that offer them. 

  • Metheven
    Metheven Club Member Posts: 3,987 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 2019 #89

    Yes please!

    Bistros and bars on site to me = a choice of food and drink

    If its not for you there are plenty of fields that doesn't offer it

  • nelliethehooker
    nelliethehooker Club Member Posts: 13,647 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 2019 #90

    From our recent experience of a club site it was M/Hs that arrived well before the "official" arrival time, eg at 11:10 today, just as we were leaving, rather than caravans, E/T. It was caravans that were coming onto site in the early evening, not M/Hs.

  • nelliethehooker
    nelliethehooker Club Member Posts: 13,647 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 2019 #91

    If its not for you there are plenty of fields that doesn't offer it

    How very impolite!! Each member is allowed to their opinion, whether it agrees with your's or not. DaveCyn didn't tell you to go and use a commercial site with the facilities that you desire!!