Bridport Bingham Grange

Amesford
Amesford Club Member Posts: 685 ✭✭✭
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edited January 2020 in UK Campsites & Touring #1

Just received an email with reference to our September booking at this site stating that the "urgent works"  and upgrades that were due to take place this year have been cancelled and will now be done next year, this now means the site will be open all this year but alas the on site restaurant will be closed 

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  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
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    edited January 2020 #2

    Open dates given as:-  Open dates:13 Mar 2020 - 02 Nov 2020

     

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited January 2020 #3

    That is not a surprise Morn Hill refurb has also been "put back"is it possible that the club are at last listening to the wardens and going to put money into the sites that are In   need of urgent work that the wardens have been requesting instead surprised 

     

  • Rufs
    Rufs Club Member Posts: 4,073 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited January 2020 #4

    I am surprised they have put this one on hold as there have been a lot of complaints from members. Have used this site several times before the club bought it and although a little quirky to say the least when it came to toilet/shower facilities, i thought it was just fine, but probably not what you would expect from a club site, and it is somewhat isolated and not on a regular bus route, but a walk/cycle into Bridport is possible if you are fit. The restaurant was a big plus in my view, eat in or takeaway, did this ever open after the club purchased the site ?.

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited January 2020 #5

    It was open when we used the site after the club had bought it, the original owners staff were still working in restraunt but we were not impressed with the food, or as the site was/is especially the lower halffrown, great dog walk laughing

  • DSB
    DSB Club Member Posts: 5,675 ✭✭✭
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    edited January 2020 #6

    ...apparently the resturant is to close.  Not sure if this is temporary, while the upgrade it in progress, or whether it is permanent   Just read it on FB.

    David

  • Amesford
    Amesford Club Member Posts: 685 ✭✭✭
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    edited January 2020 #7

    We had heard some negatives about the site but hoped these would sorted during the upgrade alas we have now decided to cancel which is something we rarely do 

  • Rufs
    Rufs Club Member Posts: 4,073 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited January 2020 #8

    as i said, it was not really what club members expected and the original owners in my opinion got greedy by providing more pitches but not upgrading toilet and showering facilities, pity as was great site for exploring the area and yes, dog walk was very good, restaurant was not something i expected club to continue with, and i expect food standards slipped as little incentive for previous owners to continue.

  • RedKite
    RedKite Club Member Posts: 1,717 ✭✭
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    edited January 2020 #9

    Whilst staying the Broadway  site last November we heard that the restaurant will be closed from this season shame as it is not near any pubs or other places to eat.  We stayed on this site years ago when it was open all year and the restaurant was good then.

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
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    edited January 2020 #10

    I often wonder about the viability of restaurants on sites of this size.

     

  • Rufs
    Rufs Club Member Posts: 4,073 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited January 2020 #11

    Oh! i think it was very profitable under previous management, you normally had to book a table in advance, i seem to recall it was only open THurs thru Sunday,  and the food then was very good quality, and although it was not dog friendly they did provide a very good take away service, only 2 hours from home so used it quite a few times

  • brue
    brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited January 2020 #12

    The web site states, with apologies, that the restaurant facility is closed for the 2020 season. I presume this part of the site is still being redeveloped?

    Bridport, Beaminster and West Bay have plenty of eateries but I would imagine due to the rural position of the site the restaurant will be an additional attraction for quite a few site users.

  • Rufs
    Rufs Club Member Posts: 4,073 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited January 2020 #13

    but I would imagine due to the rural position of the site the restaurant will be an additional attraction for quite a few site users. 

    exactly that, but i fear the club may not have done its homework properly. Site previously had a lot of repeat business, the club by all reports have lost some of this business, restaurant was a key element, Club members are not exactly flocking in their hundreds as the site is not of the standard expected by club members , and now they have delayed the renovation project. Restaurant was part of the main block that housed reception, shop, bathrooms, toilets, etc. 

  • DavidKlyne
    DavidKlyne Club Member Posts: 13,864 ✭✭✭
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    edited January 2020 #14

    It has around the same number of pitches as Seacroft and that restaurant seems to do very well, we have used it on every visit. Bingham Grange does not have any particular appeal to me as it seems to be in the middle of nowhere. 

    David

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited January 2020 #15

    I have just heard, that there seems to be a problem with some of the buildings and at least one has been condemned, because it breaks fire regulation and it was not worth the cost of getting it up to datesurprised so there may be more hidden problems to the put back of the refurb? undecided

  • brue
    brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited January 2020 #16

    Are some of the buildings on site very old? There maybe planning issues to resolve for alterations etc.

  • Unknown
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    edited January 2020 #17
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  • Rufs
    Rufs Club Member Posts: 4,073 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited January 2020 #18

    quite remarkable, a post gets trashed by many who have probably not been anywhere near Bingham Grange and have no intention of going anywhere near Bingham Grange. Well i was there only a couple of years ago and they certainly had all the right certificates from the local council to operate so i think all this talk of buildings being unsafe etc is pure speculation, and, they had quite recently increased the number of pitches, again this would require council approval, yes buildings were old but i think some people are getting confused with some of the farm buildings that were attached to the site. Not sure why original owners sold out, probably because the club made them an offer they could not refuse, it would seem the club do make some strange decisions when it comes to purchasing sites.

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited January 2020 #19

    Quite agree as the cc staff who had the job of trying to implement t he regulations,  that had been in their words seem to have been flouted by the previos owners by increasing pitches in the "better"top  part of the site ,which as we found in places, you could almost touch the van next pitch,  as it seems it was dificult to sell the pitches in the very poor with lack of any type of facilities in the lower half

    But it still has a great dog walk down to the stream with nice seats

  • Rufs
    Rufs Club Member Posts: 4,073 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited January 2020 #20

    so if this was the case we should be taking the club to task for not doing due diligence properly in the first place undecided

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited January 2020 #21

    Why?as soon as they put their own staff in to work with the original owners, and it had already been noticed by the club staff,   so they have been sorting it out since ,hence the problems they had with many of the original customers, as the club agreed to carry forward the "arrangements? " for the next season,that were already in place, surprised

    smile

  • bandgirl
    bandgirl Forum Participant Posts: 440
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    edited January 2020 #22

    We stayed at Bingham Grange during the summer after the takeover by CAMC (2018).  It was made clear at the time that the facilities were not the same as the usual on CAMC sites and that, in order to honour bookings made prior to the takeover, our pitch would be allocated.  We were on the upper part of the site (the old part), and the pitches were in a good condition but somewhat narrow.  The wardens (who were extremely friendly and helpful) advised us to park our car on an adjacent empty pitch if we wanted.

    I would echo the comments about the pitches on the lower area being of poorer quality.

    We used the restaurant on a couple of occasions, and the food was very good.

    In addition to the toilet block, there were some individual shower cubicles with slate floors.  I used the facilities for showering in the area next to reception because I liked the concept of having shower, basin and toilet together in a small room, just like being at home.

  • Navigateur
    Navigateur Club Member Posts: 3,880 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited January 2020 #23

     

    I stayed recently at the Camping and Caravanning Club's site at Wolverley.  This is a very nice site that continues to win many awards. The site buildings are a remnant of a field hospital that was built from scratch in two weeks during the Second World War. The toilets, as that seems to be a major discussion point elsewhere, were spacious and excellent. Shows what can be done.

  • Rufs
    Rufs Club Member Posts: 4,073 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited January 2020 #24

    glad somebody else liked the site, ditto for me shower, basin and toilet together, although i did like those nice big slate cubicles that were also a combination of all you required i thought, but i think there were only 2 which was a bit of a shame, but as i said did not conform to normal club standards. undecided 

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited January 2020 #25

    Some parts of the site were/are ok but did you use the waste disposal or chemical emptying point for the lower pitches and the hike to use them near the old barns?can imagine the comments on here ref the mv waste pointsurprised, it is no wonder that the upper level was crammed in with pitches th a as Bandgirl noted needing to park elsewhere, I understand now that the some pitches on the upper level have now been taken out of use to meet fire regulations are now used for parking instead

  • Takethedogalong
    Takethedogalong Forum Participant Posts: 17,056 ✭✭✭
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    edited January 2020 #26

    Given some of the major news items that are affecting/going to affect some sites (Baltic Wharf, Cayton Bay, Bridport???) it’s about time the Club got its act together and had a dedicated thread under this section, perhaps just for HQ to post updates, factual information about what is going on, timescales, plans etc..... As it is, most of information is coming via links or news articles from folks who come across them, trickle feeding of information that folks pick up from Wardens or friends etc... I have no doubt that the website possibly has a “News” page, but it simply isn’t the easiest or most logically laid out website, and finding certain things can be a trial at times. Doesn’t need to be much, perhaps just a link, but it would be helpful, and stop speculation that isn’t helpful?🤔

  • brue
    brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited January 2020 #27

    CAMC have a site "news" area, hidden in the depths of uk holidays but if you put redevelopments in the search box it also takes you there. The problem is the updating because "old" news appears in some searches.

    A "Latest Updates" would be useful, rather than "what's on" which has been moved top right near the log in.

    No info about Bingham Grange but other news about Brighton, Cayton etc (where I see the leafy bit we stayed on will be covered in s pods.)

    redevelopment >LINK<

  • Takethedogalong
    Takethedogalong Forum Participant Posts: 17,056 ✭✭✭
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    edited January 2020 #28

    I knew it would be somewhere but takes some getting to, at least three clicks too many for me!😁

    Things are a bit too deeply hidden sometimes.

  • brue
    brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited January 2020 #29

    As an aside TDA, what's the situation like at Rowntree, is the "apparthotel" up and running?

  • Takethedogalong
    Takethedogalong Forum Participant Posts: 17,056 ✭✭✭
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    edited January 2020 #30

    Yes, it’s now open. Just some landscaping to be done. It’s a nice looking building, has copper (or copper like) panels along with pleasant coloured brick. The Manager had been round to RP Site, and they were offering coffees for a £1 with piece of cake in the cafe to members. Called Roomz. RP was very quiet all week, even leaf collecting was being done by hand. We like the pitches up at the top, just below camping area. It’s a cul de sac, so you don’t get vehicles passing at all. Good for back gate into park as well. It wasn’t full when we were there, the odd pitch with no one on. It worked out at less than £25 per night for us, so cheap stay close to city centre. We didn’t spend much at all in truth. Railway Museum was free, but we showed our support by having lunch there. Jorvik we got discounted by flashing our Club cards. We left it too late to see Minster, but we have spent hours in there previously. Our find of this break wasn’t actually in York....we came home via Pontefract to visit the Castle. Despite not living far away, neither of us had been. Excellent visit...free to get in, very nice cafe, and a very interesting place. A bit off the main routes now, but easy enough to detour from A1. No issues parking MH either, but it wasn’t busy.

  • brue
    brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited January 2020 #31

    Thanks TDA. smile