Brit Stops (1 Viewer)

Jan 3, 2008
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Sounds an interesting idea rather like France Passion but has anyone actually used it by buying the book and staying at places recommend.

I am reluctant to pay the fee when I have no idea whether there are any stopping places in area I want to visit. There are 500 or so places but it would be nice to know where some are before committing myself.
 

Langtoftlad

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If you enter Britstops into the search engine at the top of the pages, it will return some 9 pages of threads.
The guys who run Brit Stops are members and contribute to this forum so if you have a specific question.
To precis the debate, majority for & think its a good idea and value for money but it doesn't suit some.
Like life really :)

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lorger

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Not a member bit seriously thinking of joining, I have liked their page on Facebook to gauge comments by users and have to say it's about 99.9% positive.
 

grumps147

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On one right now, 617 in 2015 book. Two of us here, the lady from the other couple is a folk singer, there is a folk night on, hot pot, and bar with hand pulls from local micro brewery. £12 each for the folk night tickets, free night with britstop. If we want tomorrow morning breakfasts start at 9 am. Lots of local walks, many around the britstop farm itself, dogs welcome on leads. Pub in local village about 150 yards. You won't believe this is right on the Merseyside Boundary. Buy the book, try it, what's to lose?
image.jpg
 

irnbru

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Just looked at a friends book and the number of brit stops in Scotland is rather disappointing but then again we can wild camp in most places so not the same requirements here I guess.

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StanandShirley

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Buy the book the best £25 you will ever spend, have used dozens in UK never had a bad one. In Ireland now and have used a few in this years book and will be useing more in the next weeks while here. Steve from Brit Stops always replies to updates that we find. It's a god send BUY
 

Judge Mental

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Sounds an interesting idea rather like France Passion but has anyone actually used it by buying the book and staying at places recommend.

I am reluctant to pay the fee when I have no idea whether there are any stopping places in area I want to visit. There are 500 or so places but it would be nice to know where some are before committing myself.

Agree.... The main turn off is not knowing where they are...it's a very strange set up IMO

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Judge Mental

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But if you buy the book you do know where they are.

And waste £25 if no suitable locations..

In fact I considered buying it for house hunting on south coast until a friendly owner told me there where none in areas of interest. As I said its an odd set up and probably holds back wider sales.
 
D

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And waste £25 if no suitable locations..

In fact I considered buying it for house hunting on south coast until a friendly owner told me there where none in areas of interest. As I said its an odd set up and probably holds back wider sales.

And from Britstops point of view if they just published all the locations for free who would buy the book?

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Langtoftlad

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If you happen to go to any of the MH shows, Steve often has a stand where you can browse the book to see if it might be right for you.
I guess there are no certainties in life but for me, the 'gamble' was worth it - Brit Stop somewhere, 3 times in a whole year, and the book has paid for itself
[However, if you are someone who never pays anything to pitch or park up overnight, or never usually goes to a pub etc, then perhaps it's not for you].

As for wasting the money "if no suitable locations", as a newbie I find that a bit baffling.
Does everyone know exactly where they want to be going in the next 12 months?

What I've done so far [only a month] is look where I want to go and see what type of options are available inc Brit Stops.
 
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iandsm
Jan 3, 2008
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And from Britstops point of view if they just published all the locations for free who would buy the book?

Which means you have to buy the book on the off chance there might be a spot near where your destination might be.

I probably will invest because I think just two nights at a Britstop location it pays for itself and equates to one night at a CC or CC&C site and after that it's a saving but it is a shot in the dark.
 

Judge Mental

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And from Britstops point of view if they just published all the locations for free who would buy the book?

That is hardly my problem.. I can look on ACSI web site, decide if the books and stops right for me, buy the book and produce the card at sites. As I said originally this a very odd set up thats all

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Easyliving

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The main point here Mr Judge is the 'produce the card at sites'. Most of the pubs, farm shops etc in the guide would probably not be bothered at all whether or not you had the Britstops book, they just hope that you might spend a few quid with them.

If there was a list of Britstops locations you could browse without buying the book - there would be no book.

Paul
 
Feb 16, 2013
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Find myself agreeing with judge for maybe the first time, we had it two years ago, my sons got it this year so could borrow his if needed but don't think ill be bothering, it cost us a fortune in meals and drinks, never mind the £25. I know you are supposed to not be obliged to buy anything but thats not our style.
 
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We have bought the book twice, good idea but has cost me a lot of money due to my inability to enter a pub without trying a few delicacy's. As I said if you use it its worth it. We have also just rocked up at a pub had a bite to eat and asked to stay in car park which has always been yes.

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Brian_K

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Can't access the Britstops group page - is there a problem?

Brian
 
D

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That is hardly my problem.. I can look on ACSI web site, decide if the books and stops right for me, buy the book and produce the card at sites. As I said originally this a very odd set up thats all

The main point here Mr Judge is the 'produce the card at sites'. Most of the pubs, farm shops etc in the guide would probably not be bothered at all whether or not you had the Britstops book, they just hope that you might spend a few quid with them.

If there was a list of Britstops locations you could browse without buying the book - there would be no book.

Paul

And that's the problem, and is why a freely available list of locations won't work. None of the sites pay anything to be in the book so they have nothing invested in it. It doesn't matter to them if you have a current membership or not, they just want you to spend some money with them.

The only income Britstops make is from people buying the book, if there was a way for people to dodge buying it then there would be no point in them continuing with the scheme and it would disappear.
 

scotjimland

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And that's the problem, and is why a freely available list of locations won't work. None of the sites pay anything to be in the book so they have nothing invested in it. It doesn't matter to them if you have a current membership or not, they just want you to spend some money with them.

The only income Britstops make is from people buying the book, if there was a way for people to dodge buying it then there would be no point in them continuing with the scheme and it would disappear.

and exactly how France Passion works.. (y)

we have planned a trip round Wales later this summer and will use several BS locations as night stops..

I love Britsops and it has huge potential , but what I would like to see is a phone app with an annual subscription.. same as Campercontact..

books are so yesterday.
 
D

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I love Britsops and it has huge potential , but what I would like to see is a phone app with an annual subscription.. same as Campercontact..

This comes up quite often on the FB group. People also suggest producing it in CD or similar format, or making it available online. I guess the cost involved, especially in multi platform app development, and the admin involved in trying to make sure only paid members get access are the big stumbling blocks. I'm sure that Steve @BritStops has thought about this before.

Personally I would quite like an app as well but I'm happy with the book instead (y)

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Dec 24, 2009
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Well - we'd like a bit of a 'clue' - so eg Warwickshire, 26 sites; Lanarkshire, 0 - or at least something. You usually say 'Perhaps we'll go to (a general area) - eg N Wales or the E coast' or wherever, when deciding to go somewhere 'next week' - don't you? Same as you do with 'All the Aires' or the CC/C&CC.

We joined France Passion in 2009 - used one site on the Ile d'Oleron and it was OK but the following morning the woman in the shop examined the Membership cards with great suspicion and entered all details in a ruddy Ledger - which we were required to sign - another lady from another van which also stayed the previous night was in there the same time - a vineyard - and the shop lady glared at us so hard all the time we were in there as if we were going to rob her, when we were both just being polite and browsing, as you do - that we both exchanged meaningful glances and left immediately.

Consequently we have never ever bothered since. Far nicer places to stay!
 

scotjimland

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I guess the cost involved, especially in multi platform app development, and the admin involved in trying to make sure only paid members get access are the big stumbling blocks. I'm sure that Steve @BritStops has thought about this before.

yes, I appreciate that.. perhaps when it has outgrown book format and become to cumbersome Steve may sell it to a company with the necessary finances to develop the app ... maybe not..

Another great campsite book that went by the wayside was Dick and Mo's ..The BigPitch Guide.. for RVers .. he eventually sold it but the buyer never developed it and it's now defunct.. some history here http://www.motorhomefun.co.uk/forum/threads/big-pitch-guide-now-defunct.80637/
 

Jim

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Hi, I was working on Groups early this morning upgrading some functionality, however I'm getting server errors when I try and rebuild permissions. I can't find out why its falling over and I've got someone booked to look at it for me. Hopefully get it sorted by tomorrow.

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Daveg

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We use it extensively for overnight stops on our way up and down the country. Also for bases around places or people we are visiting - Yorkshire especially. Our daughter hasn't the room to put us up in Leeds, but there are Britstop options, which is great for us.

Club and commercial sites are stupidly expensive for overnight stops in England and this is a very good contribution to the gaiety of nations. It way not have the thousands of stops, but it's a very good start.

Long may it thrive.

Dave
 

Jkarchibald

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Count me in - have just ordered my book. At £30 (with postage) I felt it only needs to be used once or twice to recoup the outlay.

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