If you want magical sleeps in a real forest it'll cost you a tenner a night at most Forestry Commission sites, and some of them are so deep in the New Forest that you'll struggle to see where you're walking after dark.
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- stargazing pods
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- Shambhala (PortAventura Park)
- Favourite Ride
- Shambhala (PortAventura Park)
Stargazing Pods
If you want magical sleeps in a real forest it'll cost you a tenner a night at most Forestry Commission sites, and some of them are so deep in the New Forest that you'll struggle to see where you're walking after dark.
408 guests and 16 toilets, (8 male 8 female) and 12 showers. Umm, yep thats gonna work perfectly fine especially when everyone wants the toilet and shower first thing in the morning and at 5.30 when everyone gets back after a day on park.
This is nearly as bonkers as the hotel pricing.
This is nearly as bonkers as the hotel pricing.
BarryZola
TS Member
Precisely why people would have benefitted from having a bit of space/privacy around their shed, instead of being packed in like sardines with their neighbouring hut.
djtruefitt
TS Team
Interesting to read about them using the tree top quest building for reception.
I know original plans had its own reception (which would probably be better) but we all know merlin love to cut costs where they can.
However it’s gonna be a bit odd, as you’ll park up and wonder towards the pods, only to have to go back in the other direction to check in.
If tree top quest does return then this will be even more confusing as there will be people checking in and people getting ready for tree top quest.
However I guess they could just use the crooked teaspoon counter for the pods, and for breakfast. Which I can’t see working well if 400 people all need to get breakfast before 10am from one counter.
The thing that still baffles me with the whole project is the lack of bars and restaurants. We all know the resort can’t cope at the best of times.
You try booking a table in the restaurants (or god help you if you turn up without a booking, even if the restaurants are empty they’ll turn you away) you are often left with rubbish times or no options. Or try and get a table in Margs or AHT during the summer, it’s just impossible.
Yet they are adding an extra 400 people, and all we are getting in a tipi, which by the looks of the latest plans won’t have a bar or food, where as the original plans did have a bar, food vans and a bit more entertainment space.
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I know original plans had its own reception (which would probably be better) but we all know merlin love to cut costs where they can.
However it’s gonna be a bit odd, as you’ll park up and wonder towards the pods, only to have to go back in the other direction to check in.
If tree top quest does return then this will be even more confusing as there will be people checking in and people getting ready for tree top quest.
However I guess they could just use the crooked teaspoon counter for the pods, and for breakfast. Which I can’t see working well if 400 people all need to get breakfast before 10am from one counter.
The thing that still baffles me with the whole project is the lack of bars and restaurants. We all know the resort can’t cope at the best of times.
You try booking a table in the restaurants (or god help you if you turn up without a booking, even if the restaurants are empty they’ll turn you away) you are often left with rubbish times or no options. Or try and get a table in Margs or AHT during the summer, it’s just impossible.
Yet they are adding an extra 400 people, and all we are getting in a tipi, which by the looks of the latest plans won’t have a bar or food, where as the original plans did have a bar, food vans and a bit more entertainment space.
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Matt N
TS Member
I reckon they might reopen Tree Top Quest and retheme it to something to do with the Stargazing Pods now that they're using the Tree Top Quest building as the reception. Maybe Stargazer's Quest or something along those lines?
I also reckon that the Crooked Teaspoon will function as this project's food and drink place; by the looks of it, they could definitely serve breakfast baps and some form of evening food there!
Out of interest, are the Stargazing Pods part of the Enchanted Village, or are they separate? As Alton seems to be implying that they're separate, but the TowersStreet page on the project still has the pods down as part of the Enchanted Village.
I also reckon that the Crooked Teaspoon will function as this project's food and drink place; by the looks of it, they could definitely serve breakfast baps and some form of evening food there!
Out of interest, are the Stargazing Pods part of the Enchanted Village, or are they separate? As Alton seems to be implying that they're separate, but the TowersStreet page on the project still has the pods down as part of the Enchanted Village.
Yeah im also shocked at the lack of places to eat and drink. Enchanted village is packed at peak times and has no bar meaning everyone after dinner goes over to ATH.
ATH is packed nearly all the time, the bar often has a queue out the entrance of the dragon bar. Not enough seats in the atrium. Poor entertainment. Secret garden full during peak times.
Splash Landings during peak times is full, unless you want to sit on the plastic seats outside the bar area. The food in Splash is now god awful and hence the restaurant is now not used as much.
Oh, and rollercoaster restaurant which you also have to book in advance to get a seat and rapidly approaching prices which people will refuse to pay.
What are they thinking???
Best thing they could do is to build an "old English pub" in Enchanted village offering some background music (doesnt have to be live), pool tables, comfy seating, log fire, and outdoor beer garden.
ATH is packed nearly all the time, the bar often has a queue out the entrance of the dragon bar. Not enough seats in the atrium. Poor entertainment. Secret garden full during peak times.
Splash Landings during peak times is full, unless you want to sit on the plastic seats outside the bar area. The food in Splash is now god awful and hence the restaurant is now not used as much.
Oh, and rollercoaster restaurant which you also have to book in advance to get a seat and rapidly approaching prices which people will refuse to pay.
What are they thinking???
Best thing they could do is to build an "old English pub" in Enchanted village offering some background music (doesnt have to be live), pool tables, comfy seating, log fire, and outdoor beer garden.
Matt N
TS Member
They do kind of have that in the form of the Crooked Spoon, though. There is outdoor seating out the front of that, and there is some nice background IMAscore music when you're inside. I personally think that the Crooked Spoon is a lovely environment!
Not really, i cant say ive been in a pub which is like the Crooked Spoon. The CS is more like a canteen. Table after table which you have to squeeze past to get anywhere, and high noise levels caused by the echoes inside the large open area. There isnt anywhere to sit if you just want a drink, or chill. As for seating outside, yeah thats fine in the summer, but what about winter, or when its raining?
Benzin
TS Member
I know I bang on about Bosrijk a lot (and Efteling in general), but they really push the self-catering aspect of their lodges/rooms, so far as to offer a shop (with fresh bread every morning) on top of the restaurant AND take-away which is delivered to your door...
The options available are not suitable for the number of people they expect to be using them... Starting to wonder if Chris Grayling is operating Merlin products at the rate things are developing...
I agree with the idea of a old-fashioned country pub style eatery as what Crooked Spoon should've been... At the very least a lot bigger than what's been built...
The options available are not suitable for the number of people they expect to be using them... Starting to wonder if Chris Grayling is operating Merlin products at the rate things are developing...
I agree with the idea of a old-fashioned country pub style eatery as what Crooked Spoon should've been... At the very least a lot bigger than what's been built...
ChristmasPud
TS Member
The Crooked Spoon is an old English inn for someone whose never been in an old English inn, much like most of Merlin's idea of themed accomodation.
It's not a mistake it's so cheap, they know they can get away with design this stingy and prices this disproportionate, if they vamp it up enough with exaggerated adverts and posters. People should stop being so easily misled and paying so much for mediocrity
It's not a mistake it's so cheap, they know they can get away with design this stingy and prices this disproportionate, if they vamp it up enough with exaggerated adverts and posters. People should stop being so easily misled and paying so much for mediocrity
djtruefitt
TS Team
The crooked spoon could have been so much better.
If I built it I would have had a large restaurant area and then a large pub and bar, even if that just serves bar snacks and doesn’t have entertainment, just somewhere to sit and have a drink or two, with a nice beer garden.
Biggest problem with crooked spoon is you can only have food in there and no drinks, then you can have drinks outside but now you can’t have food (despite being able to when it opened, but now it’s far too much effort for then to do).
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If I built it I would have had a large restaurant area and then a large pub and bar, even if that just serves bar snacks and doesn’t have entertainment, just somewhere to sit and have a drink or two, with a nice beer garden.
Biggest problem with crooked spoon is you can only have food in there and no drinks, then you can have drinks outside but now you can’t have food (despite being able to when it opened, but now it’s far too much effort for then to do).
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Stuie
TS Member
That is actually true! How awful.
djtruefitt
TS Team
There is that really old cottage building in the middle of tree top quest. At the time tree top quest was being built the plans did have it done as future development, and in sure it was for food or a bar. However having looking at the building before tree top quest was there it was in a very bad state. No idea if they did anything whilst they build tree top quest. But would take a lot of money to do anything with it.
I know there are also plans to extend crooked spoon, but it’s hardly by much, and I imagine that will just be for a bigger restaurant and not for a bar area unfortunately.
I know there are also plans to extend crooked spoon, but it’s hardly by much, and I imagine that will just be for a bigger restaurant and not for a bar area unfortunately.
jon81uk
TS Member
I really don't get how they have worked out the number of toilets and showers as being suitable. They need another 2-3 blocks of the same size surely? Although to be fair, when in the Scouts as a teenager I could go a whole weekend camping without showering, so maybe a lot of people who are just staying one night won't bother.
Also as others have said, as there is no self-catering facility they need to ensure there is suitable space to feed 200 guests each night (not all cabins will be occupied or at full occupancy, so don't need space for 400 and some guests eat at 6pm, others at 8pm etc). Or I wonder if you will be able to cook on a camping stove outside your pod, for some people who regularly go camping I could see them being OK doing their own food on a stove they have brought with them, but I assume this won't be permitted.
I can see the TripAdvisor ratings on these being awful, as even if you are expecting a camping experience, they haven't given the facilities required.
Also as others have said, as there is no self-catering facility they need to ensure there is suitable space to feed 200 guests each night (not all cabins will be occupied or at full occupancy, so don't need space for 400 and some guests eat at 6pm, others at 8pm etc). Or I wonder if you will be able to cook on a camping stove outside your pod, for some people who regularly go camping I could see them being OK doing their own food on a stove they have brought with them, but I assume this won't be permitted.
I can see the TripAdvisor ratings on these being awful, as even if you are expecting a camping experience, they haven't given the facilities required.
Poopoohead
TS Member
If the cooking your own food on a stove outside was to be expected the price should be around £50 per pod per night.
Regular campers would probably just use the arguably better and much cheaper star down the road
Regular campers would probably just use the arguably better and much cheaper star down the road