2020 Britstops

[Ocean Spirit]

Just curious about Britstops.
I know lifestyle has the biggest impact. Some only get away on planned trips with more facilities and some tend to hop around with more spontaneity so it's use will vary.
On principle I don't like the January to January subscription. Not a big deal but it does mean if you decide you want it in September your membership is nearly over.
Anyway.....
Whats your take on it?

 

[Ocean Spirit]

This poll has had 68 views and nobody has hit the button to cast a vote....
Is that 68 people who have never contemplated the idea of buying birtstops I wonder or is the poll part above the question a bit hidden?

 

[sapto]

Sorry no Brittstops here

 

[westfalia]

Whats the deal with brit stops?
How much is it and what do you get.
Stayed at some pubs with camping facilities and some without, don't know
if they were part of it but we weren't and they didn't mind.

 

[kurienp]

This poll has had 68 views and nobody has hit the button to cast a vote....
Is that 68 people who have never contemplated the idea of buying birtstops I wonder or is the poll part above the question a bit hidden?

Usually browse and post from an iPad like now and cannot see any polls. Could that be the reason why no responses to a poll that you mention? Britstops or not, if I saw a poll I would kinda click on it to see where my option stands.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro

 

[insomnia]

Have a read of this https://vwcaliforniaclub.com/threads/not-bothering-with-britstops-anymore.32163/ it is not worth it any more, just use search for sites, its free!

 

[MartG]

I took out a membership last year, we've used it quite a few times but have never been asked to prove our membership, not that I wouldn't play fairly, but as @westfalia says, any pub / farmshop won't turn away potential business.
What would annoy me is members stopping over and not using the hosts facilities and spending some cash there...
I'm in two minds whether to renew...

 

[GrannyJen]

Perhaps it's just me but I love the feel of a book.

I don't need to open my laptop, find a signal, or even think about it, the book is always to hand. I even enjoy just reading it and getting inspiration for where to go next. Having said that, I think searchforsites takes a lot of beating.

 

[No_heroes]

Perhaps it's just me but I love the feel of a book.

I don't need to open my laptop, find a signal, or even think about it, the book is always to hand. I even enjoy just reading it and getting inspiration for where to go next. Having said that, I think searchforsites takes a lot of beating.

Totally agree with this!!! Make an amazing book and it will hit all the boxes!!

 

[Ocean Spirit]

What I didn't realise was I couldn't see the poll results without voting myself
Now I see...

 

[steve and lisa]

Book was great 5 years ago but waste of money now as none of the sites in the book are exclusive and they can all be found on search4sites plus many more.

 

[Elly Swanson]

We’ve been with Britstops for 4 years and use it a lot. The things I like about it are:

• you don’t have to be a customer/service user to stopover (although we usually are)
• we’ve rocked up later than expected, when a place has closed and left before it’s opened and the places have always been okay about it
• we’ve never had any agro
• there are cafes, farm shops and other businesses as well as pubs
• you know what to expect before you go
• there are lots of reviews and info on the user’s Facebook group
• if you have any concerns about/issues with a place the organisers sort it
• locations are friendly and welcoming
• some of the locations only allow Britstop people to stay over
• some locations have special areas for Britstoppers
• it’s nice to have a directory, so you don’t need to search for places all the time
• the directory info is updated each month via email

We don’t limit ourselves to only Britstops and have overnighted in lots of places, but a Britstop always feels safe. I‘m happy to stop over in any on my own, if I’m travelling as a female on my own without hubby and dog.

I think for all the positives it’s pretty cheap and will be buying the book again this year.

 

[Elly Swanson]

Perhaps it's just me but I love the feel of a book.

I don't need to open my laptop, find a signal, or even think about it, the book is always to hand. I even enjoy just reading it and getting inspiration for where to go next. Having said that, I think searchforsites takes a lot of beating.

Totally agree, Jen. First thing I do is cross ref and add the old numbers in the new book. It’s always interesting to see who’s still going and what new locations there are. Sad to see the ones that are no longer in because they’ve shut down though.

 

[Velma's Dad]

When looking for a pub stop food quality is of fair importance to us, except on the odd occasion when we just need a beer/pie/kip. Unfortunately, I don't think Britstops are vetted for quality, any pub etc that wants to be listed pretty much gets in. So our (limited) experience with them has been patchy. And anyway not everyone's tastes in pubs/locations are the same.

The same applies to Searchforsites of course.

So, we tend to find a pub that looks like our kind of place, from TripAdvisor and/or just the pubs' own websites, and then phone ahead and ask if they'd be happy us over-nighting (emphasising small campervan) if we book a table. So far, never been told no.

I'm not knocking Britstops, the book can still be useful go-to resource.

 

[Elly Swanson]

When looking for a pub stop food quality is of fair importance to us, except on the odd occasion when we just need a beer/pie/kip. Unfortunately, I don't think Britstops are vetted for quality, any pub etc that wants to be listed pretty much gets in. So our (limited) experience with them has been patchy. And anyway not everyone's tastes in pubs/locations are the same.

The same applies to Searchforsites of course.

So, we tend to find a pub that looks like our kind of place, from TripAdvisor and/or just the pubs' own websites, and then phone ahead and ask if they'd be happy us over-nighting (emphasising small campervan) if we book a table. So far, never been told no.

I'm not knocking Britstops, the book can still be useful go-to resource.

Only been to one bad Britstop: in the dark peak. We checked on trip advisor and it got loads of 5 stars for everything. The place was old, tired and dirty, infact neglected and falling apart. I had to send the food back twice and ended up telling them not to bother at all. One local told me, “oh it’s always like this, we eat here every weekend and love it, last month I got salmonella.” Seemed like it was a badge of honour and probably worth an extra star!! So, I think you can even be let down using Tripadvisor.

It was a bank holiday but we chanced going over to our favourite Britstop in the white peak. Although we got there very late, and they were chock full, they went out their way to fit us in for a couple of nights.

There are some Britstops that definitely aren’t for us, but plenty more that are. I can see your POV though.

 

[ArunAlec]

I used it one year and had a few good stopovers but found too many of their sites were pubs and the pitches their car park. I reckon most of the pub sites wouldn’t be bothered whether you were a member anyway.
The best sites I found were a vineyard, whose shower and loo were better than mine at home and a cider farm with a dedicated field. Both of these were definitely “Britstops only”.

 

[Elly Swanson]

I used it one year and had a few good stopovers but found too many of their sites were pubs and the pitches their car park. I reckon most of the pub sites wouldn’t be bothered whether you were a member anyway.
The best sites I found were a vineyard, whose shower and loo were better than mine at home and a cider farm with a dedicated field. Both of these were definitely “Britstops only”.

Pubs sites that aren’t Britstops will usually only let you stay if you’re a customer. In the Britstop scheme the proprietors agree to let people stay with no obligation to be customers/use services.

There is much heated debate on this with some saying it’s freeloading, you should always be a customer, it’s downright rude, taking the p**s, etc. Personally I don’t get it. The scheme is the scheme, proprietors/owners sign up voluntarilyj and agree to the terms. If someone stays for free and gives nothing back it shouldn’t matter, that’s how it is sometimes. You can use the scheme as you like within the Ts&Cs and that’s how it should be.

I personally don’t mind kipping in a carpark for free, even when I’m a customer. It’s not a pitch, it’s a parking space to use for the night. I’ve been really grateful to the places we’ve stopped at en-route to somewhere & have planned to eat/use and have either arrived or left while they’re still closed, due to unforeseen circumstances. We always leave them a note, thank you card, send them an email or message. Always grateful too to the ones that we ring late when we just need a couple of hours shut eye before journeying on. Better for us than stopping in a lay-by or random place where my hubby would keep one eye open and not really rest/sleep at all.

But it really depends on what you want when you’re travelling and what your expectations and needs are. Britstops has been very flexible scheme for us and thus worth the cost (under £30 per year with monthly updates).

 

[johnyboy]

I've had it for about 4 years and not used it, I think I cancelled this year, but would probably prefer to support and app with subscription if they were to do one, I would religiously get the book out of the van and update all the contact and opening/closed venue infomation once a month but it was a time sink vs my lack of usage

 

[Tandt]

We have been dithering about joining britstops and have once again not done yet as we were going to leave ccc but our ccc membership has reduced this year so keeping it as we have their book. Spent a couple of night on two cls last year where we were the only ones in a big field but no facilities for £10 pn. Still dithering.

 

[AJM660]

Just curious about Britstops.
I know lifestyle has the biggest impact. Some only get away on planned trips with more facilities and some tend to hop around with more spontaneity so it's use will vary.
On principle I don't like the January to January subscription. Not a big deal but it does mean if you decide you want it in September your membership is nearly over.
Anyway.....
Whats your take on it?

We need another poll option which is 'I dont know what Britstops is'
Andrew

 

[Geoff York]

Just curious about Britstops.
I know lifestyle has the biggest impact. Some only get away on planned trips with more facilities and some tend to hop around with more spontaneity so it's use will vary.
On principle I don't like the January to January subscription. Not a big deal but it does mean if you decide you want it in September your membership is nearly over.
Anyway.....
Whats your take on it?

Britstops a waste of money
I always ask pub/ restaurant / farm shop if I can stay ..... buying drinks / food etc
Never been refused in 20 years

 

[Victor]

Britstops a waste of money
I always ask pub/ restaurant / farm shop if I can stay ..... buying drinks / food etc
Never been refused in 20 years

100% agree, they make out it is an exclusive club but then information is widely available free online, I purchases once five years ago

 

[Elly Swanson]

Britstops a waste of money
I always ask pub/ restaurant / farm shop if I can stay ..... buying drinks / food etc
Never been refused in 20 years

True, but with Britstops you don’t have to be a customer to stay at most of the places. Whatever your opinion on that, there lies the difference.

 

[Tandt]

True, but with Britstops you don’t have to be a customer to stay at most of the places. Whatever your opinion on that, there lies the difference.

So once you have paid your fee is camping always free but it would be protocol to spend there or do some charge

 

[ArunAlec]

True, but with Britstops you don’t have to be a customer to stay at most of the places. Whatever your opinion on that, there lies the difference.

Whilst I agree that they state that you are not obliged to give them your custom, when I’ve used them I’ve always felt it was expected. On one occasion it was ”suggested“ that I should and given the excellent facilities they provided it was only proper to do so.