Britstops - is it useful

[StephandJohn]

I was wondering about people's experience of Britstops. We're thinking of visiting Scotland and later gong down south for a few weeks and wondered how useful it would be.
Also d oes anyone know how much the 2020 edition will be?
Thanks
Seph

 

[Puddleduck]

We find it useful One or two nights on a Britstop a year and it has paid for itself.

Also if we are not paying to camp we have a meal (or at least a drink or shopping or otherwise support the business) with the host. Some stops are better than others of course.

In Scotland there is a lot of free parking anyway but Britstops is still useful for ideas of places to visit. We used it a lot when we were in Ireland a couple of years back.

 

[StephandJohn]

Thanks. We were thinkingof Ireland as well sometime so that's useful info.

 

[Dorwyn]

We had it as a Christmas pressy in 2017, but never found ourselves in the right place at the right time. TBH it doesn't quite work for us. Not to say it never will.

 

[Cliffdale]

I have a related question!

Is Britstops more useful than 'Searchforsites' pub stops?

I have the 2017 Britstops but never used it. I usually find what i am looking for on the Searchforsites web site.

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[maison]

We bought Britstops a few years ago and found it useful.

However, we have renewed it as we have found that a friendly approach to the landlord. “Hello, we would like a meal and a few drinks in your Pub. Would it be OK to stay in your car park, somewhere out of the way, for the night?”

Only on one occasion have we been refused.

 

[StephandJohn]

Thanks everyone.
Just looked at searchforsites and that looks good too.

 

[bigtwin]

I have a related question!

Is Britstops more useful than 'Searchforsites' pub stops?

I have the 2017 Britstops but never used it. I usually find what i am looking for on the Searchforsites web site.

I think it complements it.

However, I would far rather use a Britstop than a pub on SfS as you KNOW that the landlord is happy to see you. Pubs on SfS can be added to the database by any Tom, Dick, or Harry without the landlord necessarily being aware.

Ian

 

[Spriddler]

I've found it useful.
Fenland breakfast 'Brew with a view' from my window at the Five Miles From Anywhere Britstop.

 

[Allanm]

We’ve had Britstops for a few years, but only ever found half a dozen places we felt comfortable staying at
I think it’s worth having if you don’t rely on it and have alternatives.

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[MisterB]

Try searcing for moonfruit wild camping. I think it's just as good for a lot less money ...

 

[138go]

We just stop and ask. It's surprising how many landlords say yes. One landlord told us a sorry tale about a family who wandered in from their motorhome and started plugging in their laptops and mobiles. When he questioned it they replied that they were with Britstops. He asked what they were having to drink and what time they were eating. They replied that it says in the book that you don't have to eat or drink. What a cheek!

 

[EX51SSS]

We bought Britstops a few years ago and found it useful.

However, we have renewed it as we have found that a friendly approach to the landlord. “Hello, we would like a meal and a few drinks in your Pub. Would it be OK to stay in your car park, somewhere out of the way, for the night?”

Only on one occasion have we been refused.

Which would cost you more than Brit Stops and no refusal.

 

[EX51SSS]

We just stop and ask. It's surprising how many landlords say yes. One landlord told us a sorry tale about a family who wandered in from their motorhome and started plugging in their laptops and mobiles. When he questioned it they replied that they were with Britstops. He asked what they were having to drink and what time they were eating. They replied that it says in the book that you don't have to eat or drink. What a cheek!

Should always ask about plugging anything in . If you actually go in the pub, then I certainly would expect to drink or food.

 

[Jewellbags]

We had 3 out of 3 very good britstops so far . I’ve no complaints and the entries do give you useful information on the approach roads etc

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[EX51SSS]

Had some really good Brit Stops. Tried moonfruit but nowhere near as good. Sfs can compliment Brit Stops but not instead of.

 

[Off da Grid]

Had it for a year but didn’t use it haven’t bothered since

 

[ceejayt]

Would not be without it!

 

[Solwaybuggier]

It’s really useful when you’re on your way somewhere- there are excellent stops. There’s also a Facebook group where you can pick up on user reviews.

 

[138go]

Should always ask about plugging anything in . If you actually go in the pub, then I certainly would expect to drink or food.

We would always eat in the pub if they were kind enough to let us use their car park.

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[EX51SSS]

We would always eat in the pub if they were kind enough to let us use their car park.

I understand what you mean but the idea is you're not obliged to and to me, that's very important. Rarely, I haven't only because of table times etc but if I'm going to give any custom obviously it's to to the pub I'm at.

 

[The Wino]

Like a lot of people bought it once hardly used it now look on search for sites.

 

[StanandShirley]

Never been to a bad Britstop brilliant bit of kit yes kit wouldn’t be without it

 

[mitzimad]

we always feel obligated to eat at the pub so it doesnt work out as a cheap option for us two meals with drinks is usually more than a night on a good campsite

 

[Mark and Mindy]

We had it as a Christmas pressy in 2017, but never found ourselves in the right place at the right time. TBH it doesn't quite work for us. Not to say it never will.

We bought it at the NEC last February ready for getting our first van, thumbed through the pages, looked at lots of places which would work for us but in reality the same as Dorwyn when it actually came down to it, the venues we were attracted to weren't right at the time and the places we went to didn't have what we wanted or even anything at all. I'm not going to renew it this year.

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[bigtwin]

we always feel obligated to eat at the pub so it doesnt work out as a cheap option for us two meals with drinks is usually more than a night on a good campsite

We usually eat but it does depend on circumstances. If we don’t eat we’d always have a drink in the pub (but find it’s getting harder and harder to sneak the drink in ??? (only kidding)).

Ian

 

[Offagain]

We bought Britstops a few years ago and found it useful.

However, we have renewed it as we have found that a friendly approach to the landlord. “Hello, we would like a meal and a few drinks in your Pub. Would it be OK to stay in your car park, somewhere out of the way, for the night?”

Only on one occasion have we been refused.

We do exactly that. Never been refused yet.
Yes it might end up being more expensive than a campsite but we’re not huge fans of them at the best of times and we still have to eat.

We just stop and ask. It's surprising how many landlords say yes. One landlord told us a sorry tale about a family who wandered in from their motorhome and started plugging in their laptops and mobiles. When he questioned it they replied that they were with Britstops. He asked what they were having to drink and what time they were eating. They replied that it says in the book that you don't have to eat or drink. What a cheek!

That’s just rude.

 

[The Wino]

I found some good ones on the pub stops on here

 

[Jaws]

Our experience with britstops has been mixed
On the whole I would say it is pretty good, but do not rely on the info !!
Couple of notables
One we stopped at wanted £20 to park.. refundable if we spent £50 or more in the pub
Another was interesting.. in Wales.
Pub was down a very small road, that after about 1/2 mile started going down quite steeply.. No where to turn so carried on
Eventually found the pub. There was one spot for motorhomes but it was on a gravel incline about 20 degrees down.
If we had tried to use it there was no way on earth we would have ever got back out !

But on the flip side, we have had some really good experiences with it.. Including a place that was beside a decent private zoo that the landlord gave us tickets to visit

 

[Winger]

If you go to a campsite and then amble to the nearest pub you walk in as a nobody whereas if you have rang ahead to say your from Brit stops you have an instant connection with the Landlord who generally go the extra mile to make you welcome when you arrive.
Altogether a more pleasant experience

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