Where to eat near caravan sites during Covid 19
We have just got back home from our three week tour and stayed at Bourton-on-the-Water, Camelford and Exebridge Lakeside and found it very difficult to find places to eat . Most of the time we cooked outside the caravan because a lot of the place we use to have lunch at were either closed, takeaway, or you had to book online. I think it would be helpful if on reviews if people could recommend cafes, pubs etc that are open and safe to eat at. We recommend Burford Garden Centre.
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We have found that many places at this time are not taking phone bookings only on line
We were advised by the landlord of the New Inn at Roughton last week it is better as on line or face to face they can arrange things better? nice meals
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No problems surely at Exebridge with the Anchor Inn just a stroll away and a nice big riverside garden for outdoor eating? (They were also doing take aways when we visited in July.)
If you like meals out I think it's best to check things on line, find the pub web sites etc and check their Covid arrangements, a lot are still doing take aways as well as in house eating. Most places have a web site.
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We visited Burford Garden Centre back in July, for my birthday treat dinner, it was mid week, but it was so busy we gave it a swerve. However, we did go to the marquee outside and had a cream tea, that felt safe. Charlie25 did you eat in Bourton? We like the Kingsbridge pub in the centre. Going soon, thought we might chance a meal in the garden, or was anywhere else there good/safe feeling?
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On our recent holiday:
Whilst at Southport CAMC site we ate out at the nearby Robertos Italian near the pier, twice. Fish and chips in a lovely cafe in Blackpool on the front by an amusement arcade. At a gastro pub in Parkgate on the Wirral.
Moving to Ferry Meadows we ate at the beefeater next to the site, a pub in Edith Weston and the chip van on site.
As it was during eat out to help out booking was very difficult. August was rammed in most eateries.
We made full use of the eat out to help out deals where available, and the DDS card too.
Absolutely no concerns around COVID-19 whatsoever.
First time we've not fired up the cadac on a camping trip as we felt it important to spend in eateries. The 32% off site fees helped the wider local economy, so win win all round
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If you happen to be staying at either Chester CAMC site or Delamere C&CC then try The Fishpool Inn near Delamere. Well organised, including temperature checks etc and the food is excellent.
If at Chirk try the Cross Foxes at Overton, another fine dining pub.
Must admit we are wary of trying anywhere when away that hasn't been tried and recommended by someone since lockdown was lifted.
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Charlie25, I am sorry but not surprised at your experience of looking for lunch in Camelford - it's not a noted culinary hotspot in any shape or form - but it's only eight miles to Port Isaac and the choices there are attractive.
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Mmmm, Port Isaac, a nice tourist hotspot with prices to match. There are a few decent places to eat in Camelford at realistic prices and I'm sure the local establishments would resent your comments Euro. Last month I've had an excellent lunch in the Masons Arms, a really good fish and chip supper from Peckish chippy and a spot on Sunday lunch at the golf club to name but three.
JK
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Why did you not book online?
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Due to Covid restrictions in pubs it seems to have become a rule of thumb to book inside seating or queue/turn up on spec for an outside place.
If you're in S Devon I can recommend the Waterside Bistro in Totnes with covered outdoor seating along the Dart but like others you have to book inside seating due to limited spacing.
Places like the National Trust have reduced their menus and seating. We've found many venues are doing food in disposable containers.
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We'v just returned from 2 weeks away. Canterbury and Suffolk. We ate out seven times and only had to pre book once. The other six we just turned up and were accommodated. If there is availability I can't see why they would turn you away.
There was another pub, I won't mention, but the PPE and social distancing of tables was non existent and four locals were sat at the bar. When I asked about track and trace the reply was, "we don't bother with that". We walked out
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If you're staying at the Kendal site, try Low Sizergh Barn (walking distance). Eat inside or out.
Disclaimer - they're part of our large clan!
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We are on our fifth stop in the south west and have had no problem in any of the pubs we have visited. Ideally eating in gardens but not always. Some do seem a little lax on track and trace though, it is there but you have to initiate yourself! We are really missing the information usually provided on site though! Not the brochures but the local information, walks, bus timetables and local pubs/restaurants. Some sites have posted useful information on the windows of the information room others nothing at all. Perhaps a notice board would be nice or a white board that members on the site could contribute to with their eating out experiences!
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We also prefer to cater for ourselves on an evening, although in normal times would often try and find a cafe for a light lunch, particularly if the weather is not as good as presently. However, currently we have no desire to do so and have been taking a packed lunch. I know we are not helping the local economy much with this approach, but everyone has to take responsibility for their own safety and we feel this the best way to go at present.
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It is a bit different out there at the moment, we might have a lunch out a few times whilst away, but had already committed to being as safe as possible this last holiday, so we did all our own catering, choosing some gorgeous locations to park up and enjoy something we fancied. We had takeaway fish and chips, overlooking Eyemouth harbour, and cake and a coffee at Chester’s Roman Fort, but that was it in terms of someone else catering for us.
This was our lunch view a couple of days, followed by a walk and a swim......
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The point the OP makes about including information in reviews it's a good and it's a shame more people don't mention places they have found.
In the current climate we probably won't eat out and we do what Kj does. We only go away for four days at a time so it's easy enough take some of Waitrose's ready prepared meals. When out and about during the day we would normally stop for a coffee and a bite to eat but would be reluctant to use a crowded cafe at the moment. We should be off to Seacroft soon and we normally like the cafe above the Henry Boot Museum in Cromer but if its as crowded as it normally is we will give it a miss. Sometimes Garden Centres are good choice as they often have large cafes and sometimes a bit quieter during the week.
David
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Yes, Steve, we are much the same, Normally, if we are visiting a NT property we will have a sandwich in the cafe, or if out and about may stop at a supermarket and buy sandwiches and use their toilets, but evenings we are always back at the van. We do sometimes buy fish and chips if nearby or on site.
Right now, we have given up on trips for this year, hopefully things will improve and we can get away next March.
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We are off to a cottage in West Runton soon. Have decided to take MH with us to use as our own mobile cafe. Expecting Norfolk to be very busy to be honest, certainly places like Wells, Cromer, Sheringham, so we can head off and do our own thing, make sure Mum is safe.
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Some eating places have gone to great lengths to make the space they have as covid safe as possible.
I agree about the reviews which lack local details, very few would inspire me to visit on that basis, too much emphasis on the site reception not enough about local experience.
Strangely, I wouldn't want to enter a supermarket and buy a sandwich, too much pre-handling and travelling!
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Last week all the places you mentioned were very busy
Sherringham has a "one way" system on the footpaths, but then that was only being adhered to by some
The "seniors" cod and chips special at the Sherringham Trawler chippy eat in "booking needed"as less capacity, are still good value
Blakeney point NT car park was also very busy, but the "all day" big breakfast baps from one of the little cabins are still yummy
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Thanks JVB, it’s as we expected, really. We might go to Brancaster Beach, as it’s possibly easiest for Mum to walk onto, but we shall park up places like Cley Marshes, Titchwell and inland a bit where it’s likely to be a bit quieter. Hoping to do timed visits to Blickling, Felbrigg to look around Gardens, and I think someone mentioned Houghton was open as well. We have been to Sandringham before, so not on our list. It’s the churches we will miss the most if they are locked. I might brave the Hat Shop in Burnham Market if it looks well organised.
Its about a change of scenery for Mum really, cottage is large and has a big garden, so even this will be a change. 😁
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We are not into indoors eating at the moment when out and about, but have no problem sitting outside.
Baltic Wharf, say no more other than many eating areas outside.
Carsington water the Visitor centre did very acceptable meals at the upstairs and outside restaurant with snacks hot and cold available from the downstairs cafe.
Clumber Park, we visited 'Friar Tucks' twice for a greasy breakfast sitting at one of the outside tables, also jacket potato at the NT centre but the amount of packaging dismayed me a little. I know the reasoning behind it but wow, the landfill from all this must really amount to something. Cycled into Worksop and found somewhere to eat outside along the main drag, plenty of takeaways or eat in but had to search hard for outdoor seating area. Also used the visiting Pizza van to site twice, very enjoyable and as you can read we don't like cooking when away.
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We've had bar meals in the garden of The Village Inn at West Runton TDA, looks like they're only doing outside eating just now, with a limited menu (like many places) dogs are welcome. The cafe down at the beach isn't very wonderful but has sea views. A coffee on Cromer Pier, that's nice too and the Pavillion Bar is dog friendly. A good local place to park the M/H is on the cliff side car parks at East Runton. No dogs at the Cley Marshes vistor centre, so park up elsewhere. Hope you all enjoy it!
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It's terribly difficult to recommend places to eat because people's taste varies so much - for instance anyone coming to Cornwall might sensibly stop off at the Lydford site (for Dartmoor walks, National Trust gorge, and the Granite Way cycle trail) and for meals there is a choice of the Castle Inn and the Dartmoor Inn. Both are within walking distance of the site - but they are absolutely different in style, price, menus, customer base, and general ambience. We like them both , but how can I tell which one other Club members would prefer?
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I’ve just checked back to my review of New England Bay to see if I mentioned eating out, and I’m sorry I didn’t ! Just where to shop.
We went to one of our favourite places twice - The Old Colfin Creamery
https://www.theoldcolfincreamery.com/.
We had been before so knew it was clean and spaced out. We had an Afternnoon Tea and lunch another day. About 15/20 minutes drive from the site.
We also went to The Galloway Smokehouse (specifically for their Cullen Skink) - about a 40 minute drive. The only problem was hearing the waiter’s voice through his visor.
https://www.gallowaysmokehouse.co.uk/about/galloway-fisherman-cafe/
Both times the premises felt safe, and all precautions were being taken.
I like cooking - but not the daily grind of farm meals produced on time (12:30) every day.
Sometimes I long for someone else to plan what to cook.
I agree it’s difficult to recommend restaurants etc, as people like different things. Hearty “Pub Grub” is not for me.
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When we were staying at West Aytom Club site near Scarborough a few weeks ago we had dinner out quite a few times. The pub near the site aye Old Forge Inn do nice meals and were very well set up for the current climate we pre booked about an hour before arriving and had our own allocated table and the food was excellent also they were taking contact details. We also took a wander down most nights just for a drink and never had any issues getting in. We also had dinner one evening at the Fox and Rabbit near Pickering this time we just showed up but they were able to accommodate us in the lovely bar area and again the meal was great and contact details being taken. Most of the pubs in York were open too we had lunch outside at the White Swan in the city centre busy but well spaced out
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Have only eaten out once since March but then before coronavirus struck we would probably only eat out once a month.
Our camping trips are short and (fairly) local because of caring responsibilities so we tend to take meals with us. The only exception this summer was a walk to the cafe down the lane from the Wirral site a few weeks ago, and then it was only for a drink and an ice cream.
Very well organised, eating at outside table only which were cleaned (as were the seats) after every customer, details taken for Track and Trace.
We are off to Burrs again this weekend and may go in the Brown Cow but will see how busy it is. It’s typical pub food but they have a big beer garden and are also doing take-aways which is very handy.
The cafe at the side was also doing take-away meals when we were there in July so if we don’t want to cook we have 2 options within 25 metres of the site entrance.
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