We sit here in the Concierge Camping bar area. An apple juice for Max. A Gin & Tonic for Suzanne, and a pint of Madri for me. Next to the drinks is a bag of Haribo Star Mix.
We didn’t have to pay a single penny for any of this. It was all free. Yes, that’s right. All FREE.
What? Is this the UK’s first All Inclusive Campsite?
Well, no, not exactly.
Let me go back a couple of hours.
Arriving at Concierge Camping
It is a warm summer’s afternoon as we arrive. Excited to be at last staying at one of the UK’s most highlight rated campsites.
“Attention to detail is impressive – a touch of luxury”
said the AA when it awarded them the CAMPSITE OF THE YEAR 2018-19.
We pull into the entrance area and I head for the office.
5 minutes later I am back in the van. But not before being impressed by the reception, the small bar, and the lounge-style seating area.
Our tyres crunch over the slate grey gravel. We edge around the circular campsite. Our pitch is on the inside of the circle, so we don’t see it immediately.
High privacy hedges enclose each pitch. This means we don’t see the tent that is set up on our pitch until the last minute.
We head back to reception, and an admin faux pas has us on another pitch.
After that initial scare, we are Pansies for the night. Pitched up on pitch number 4, named Pansy.
The bad start continues
The unfortunate start to our trip at one of the so-called best campervan sites in the country continues.
We plug the campervan in and nothing. The little signal on our console tells us we are still on battery. Another problem to fix.
As luck would have it, a member of the site team was walking past. To their credit, they fixed it quickly. It turns out a fuse had blown in the main fuse box.
Hoping that our bad luck was behind us, we headed off to that neat bar we saw on arrival.
Compensation at Concierge Camping
We enter, and the same lady that helped fixed our electricity was behind the bar. “First drinks are on us. Sorry for the inconvenience. In 6 years that has never happened,” she proclaims!
Her colleague drops a bag of Haribos on the bar next to Max.
So, if you head back to that first paragraph, that explains why we are now sitting here, with free drinks and sweets.
Marc Cohn’s “Walking in Memphis” hums over the speakers. A gentle breeze floats in under the classy pointed canopy. It is not particularly warm, but the gentle breeze is welcomed anyway.
Back at the campervan, and we prepare burgers and chicken for tea.
There are few better feelings than sitting in front of a small BBQ, tongs in one hand and a cold beer in the other.
The odd child plays nearby. Perhaps too timid to make too much noise.
Every now and then car tyres can be heard on the gravel. But rarely.
Those lucky enough to have snared a pitch here are not going anywhere. They, like us, are in for the night.
All of us getting our £60+ worth!
The facilities match the cost
Until now, we haven’t visited a campsite with showers better than we have at home. Camping isn’t supposed to be luxurious is it?
This is not an exaggeration. Our bathrooms at home are by no means inadequate.
But they do not have lights that come on automatically as you enter. Nor do they have neon decorative lights either.
Another speaker, like the ones in the bar area earlier, hums out Take That. It plays other likeable tracks, but some earworms as well.
Back at the van, I adjust the playlist on my phone for my mood. Unwittingly, Take That finds its way in there, thanks to the shower music.
It doesn’t last long though, and it is soon deleted when I regain my senses.
Max and mummy are off enjoying those showers, as I sit alone in the van, contemplating what is next. The sun has dropped down behind the privacy bushes.
Any warmth it was giving off is gone. The chill evening air reminding us English summer nights can still feel on the colder side.
Night is falling, and I set the camera up for a quick timelapse.
I end our only day here at Concierge Camping with these thoughts as we get ready to settle down.
We can see why it has such good reviews. And we can also see why the AA rates it so highly. And we can also agree you do get what you pay for.
Some will say £70, £80 even £100 a night is too much for a campsite. I would tend to agree. But if you want that little bit of luxury like Neon lit showers and perfectly manicured lawns.
Well, then you may just have to pay for it!
Video of our stay at Concierge Camping
Here is a quick video of our stay. More videos over on my YouTube Channel
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