Channel Tunnel

[Late Starting]

Looking for info from anybody that has traveled through the Tunnel to Calais in the Last couple of weeks or so
what checks if any were done on food in your van.
We are due to travel in a couple of days so just trying to scope out the lay of the land as regards to what we could take with us.
THANKS in advance for any help offered in this matter.
Late Starting AKA Cliff & Brenda.

 

[Wabs]

From what I understand, you can’t take any dairy or meat products,

 

[emjaiuk]

We uploaded our health certificates etc and no checks whatsoever apart from passports. We've never had any form of internal check in either direction, apart from gas off check.

 

[Offagain]

We went through early on Friday.
Apart from the usual checking the gas is off they weren’t interested.
Didn‘t even scan or stamp our passports …..

Because we have Greek residency

 

[scousebird]

We went through on Thursday evening, just the gas bottle check. They were pulling all the cars in for a check. I would say only take what you are prepared to lose in case you do get checked.

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[Roseandpeter]

We uploaded our health certificates etc and no checks whatsoever apart from passports. We've never had any form of internal check in either direction, apart from gas off check.

Same for us ...we came through yesterday.

 

[stevec]

Came through Friday afternoon. M20 clear (apart from contra flow) and only passports and gas checked. Had downloaded COVID passes previously.

 

[The Wino]

I suppose it's like lots of things the fact you're asking shows you know you're not supposed to take dairy and meat products so it's just a matter of whether to risk it or not. There are supermarkets in France so it's not essential to take anything whether they just confiscate anything they do find or theres a fine I don't know. I think its very unlikely it will be checked but you will be knowingly breaking the law.

 

[pagey]

Same as above went out Thurs 11.20 am if you have loaded the health checks they are not checking off now to cook a bacon sandwich

 

[Shrimp]

We uploaded our health certificates etc and no checks whatsoever apart from passports. We've never had any form of internal check in either direction, apart from gas off check.

As above on April 6th.
All as it used to be, no food checks at all.
Only difference is if you are taking a pet you and the pet are checked in via the Pet Reception which is easy to find and gets pointed out to you.
We got there too early and got put on an earlier train.

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[Landy Andy]

Used tunnel Monday and had full check wit customs person inside the van doing checks, including external lockers.

 

[TheAleMan]

No checks done on our very recent trip. We took all the normal stuff associated with a fridge On the way back we had a quick on board search.

 

[chaser]

How I understand it, unvaccinated folks can go now, so how do they go on with the health check thing.
As to food ,there is absolutely no need to take anything unless you are on a special diet.
They have shops in France

 

[Minxy]

Used tunnel Monday and had full check wit customs person inside the van doing checks, including external lockers.

Going to France or returning? Never had an outward check but have had an inward one (pre-B).

 

[Two on Tour]

How I understand it, unvaccinated folks can go now, so how do they go on with the health check thing.
As to food ,there is absolutely no need to take anything unless you are on a special diet.
They have shops in France

You try and find Branston pickle in France, plus they don't have proper mustard and you need a chainsaw to cut through what the French laughingly call a steak.
We also take with us a few other food essentials that the French palates are missing out on but leave space in the fridge and cupboards for some of the food delights that the French have to offer.

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[chaser]

You try and find Branston pickle in France, plus they don't have proper mustard and you need a chainsaw to cut through what the French laughingly call a steak.
We also take with us a few other food essentials that the French palates are missing out on but leave space in the fridge and cupboards for some of the food delights that the French have to offer.

Have you googled it?
Just put "branstone pickle in France"
More than you can shake a stick at.

 

[chaser]

Have you googled it?
Just put "branstone pickle in France"
More than you can shake a stick at.

And obviously you are not going to the right places for your steak.

 

[Googlebot]

I would say only take what you are prepared to lose in case you do get checked.

Don’t forget to hope if you do get checked that they don’t fine you.

It’s not just the loss of the goods, it’s breaking the law.

We weren’t checked at all last week, it’s up to you if you decide to risk it.

 

[two]

There are good supermarkets in France so why risk being caught and the consequences?
We always call-in anyway, for wine, croissants, and other local produce...

 

[chaser]

There are good supermarkets in France so why risk being being caught and the consequences?
We always call-in anyway, for wine, croissants, and other local produce...

We go just to try other stuff, the only thing we take is instant coffee and tea bags and I know you can now get tea bags, just saves having to look for them as they are no carriage.

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[Coastal Cruiser.]

We are off soon and without a doubt Mrs CC will be loading the van to the gunnels with food, obviously as before we will be returning with most of it.
Don’t say to much as best not upset her

We have just returned from 5 nights away and I think she used half of what we took, and regards her clothes probably took enough to last a normal person 4-5 weeks.
Have a locker for shoes and I think she had about 6-7 different types in there

 

[Two on Tour]

Have you googled it?
Just put "branstone pickle in France"
More than you can shake a stick at.

Just Googled and pushing it a bit for "More than you can shake a stick at", call me a liar if you like, but personally we have never seen Branstone pickle in a French food outlet, as It has become a bit of a game for us to spot the Branstone when we shop in France, no luck yet.

As for finding a good steak in France, I take my hat off to you for finding a good one as I don't bother even trying a steak in France anymore.

I think you will find that Lenny HB view on French streaks is pretty much the same as AGM batteries.

 

[two]

We are off soon and without a doubt Mrs CC will be loading the van to the gunnels with food, obviously as before we will be returning with most of it.
Don’t say to much as best not upset her

We have just returned from 5 nights away and I think she used half of what we took, and regards her clothes probably took enough to last a normal person 4-5 weeks.
Have a locker for shoes and I think she had about 6-7 different types in there

Be careful with shoes...
...aren't they a beef product?

 

[orridge]

You try and find Branston pickle in France, plus they don't have proper mustard and you need a chainsaw to cut through what the French laughingly call a steak.
We also take with us a few other food essentials that the French palates are missing out on but leave space in the fridge and cupboards for some of the food delights that the French have to offer.

any large hypermarket has a world foods aisle so plenty of Branston available... Although we do take some with us anyway.

 

[orridge]

Looking for info from anybody that has traveled through the Tunnel to Calais in the Last couple of weeks or so
what checks if any were done on food in your van.
We are due to travel in a couple of days so just trying to scope out the lay of the land as regards to what we could take with us.
THANKS in advance for any help offered in this matter.
Late Starting AKA Cliff & Brenda.

No checks apart from Gas in both directions and being searched in Calais on the way back for stoways (they check the garage, shower and under beds.

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[Speve]

Much the same as others before just upload advance passenger info with health certificates other than that not a single check except that the gas was turned off.

 

[chaser]

Just Googled and pushing it a bit for "More than you can shake a stick at", call me a liar if you like, but personally we have never seen Branstone pickle in a French food outlet, as It has become a bit of a game for us to spot the Branstone when we shop in France, no luck yet.

As for finding a good steak in France, I take my hat off to you for finding a good one as I don't bother even trying a steak in France anymore.

I think you will find that Lenny HB view on French streaks is pretty much the same as AGM batteries.

All you have to do is make your first or last stop , or preferably both at gravelines, and book in at the restaurant right on the aire

 

[two]

Just Googled and pushing it a bit for "More than you can shake a stick at", call me a liar if you like, but personally we have never seen Branstone pickle in a French food outlet, as It has become a bit of a game for us to spot the Branstone when we shop in France, no luck yet.

As for finding a good steak in France, I take my hat off to you for finding a good one as I don't bother even trying a steak in France anymore.

I think you will find that Lenny HB view on French streaks is pretty much the same as AGM batteries.

Shouldn't that be Branston (no 'e')? I think it's made with waste yeast from the breweries in Burton-on-Trent, as with Marmite. It wouldn't surprise me that the French have better things to pair with their cheese.
As for steak, good ones are available. They're just more expensive.

 

[chaser]

Here you go
L'eclusier

23 Rue des Islandais, 59820 Gravelines, France
+33 3 28 65 02 42 Broken Link Removed

 

[62272]

Used tunnel Monday and had full check wit customs person inside the van doing checks, including external lockers.

Did they look inside your fridge?

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