Which Holiday Park Has The Cheapest Food and Drink?

We found that the Haven resorts with onsite Wetherspoons are cheaper than other restaurants

We love a price comparison at Holiday Park Guru.

I also love eating out whilst on holiday.

And so, we embarked on a journey to figure out the cost of a family meal at the big holiday park chains. 

For our comparison, we looked for the following meal:

• Two adult burger and chips plus two nuggets and chips or burger and chips for the kids
• A pint of draught beer and a glass of wine plus two drinks for kids (apple juice or milk)
• Two adult ice cream sundaes (or similar) plus a small ice cream for the children

We looked at the main restaurant prices at big holiday park brands including Haven, Parkdean Resorts, Center Parcs, Butlins, Hoburne Park Holidays UK and Cove.

​We included any obvious offers that were running when we searched (kids eat for £1 etc) but didn't search around for complicated offers that require coupons or standing on one leg whilst reciting a poem.

Here's how they ranked, followed by a breakdown of the bill:

• Haven (with Wetherspoons) - £54.52
• Away Resorts - £61.83
• Butlins - £66.31
• Haven (without Wetherspoons) - £67.40
• Park Holidays UK - £72.25
• Darwin Escapes - £75.15
• Cove - £77.65
• Parkdean Resorts - £86.27
• Hoburne - £86.65
• ​Center Parcs - £89.72

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The Red Rocks (Wetherspoons) at Haven Devon Cliffs - £54.52

Our winner - by some distance - is Haven. They started opening Wetherspoons at their holiday parks in 2024. The prices aren't quite as low as your average high street Wetherspoons, but they are still cheaper than typical holiday park prices.

American Burger - £14.05 x 2 (wine and beer included)
Five chicken nuggets - £5.47 x 2 (juice or milk included)
Warm cookie dough sandwich - £6.65 x 2
Children's ice cream pots - £1.09 x 2

​Total: £54.52

Wetherspoons has opened at several Haven holiday parks (this one is Primrose Valley)

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The Lakeside Bar and Eatery at Away Resorts The Lakes Rookley on the Isle of Wight - £61.83

Away Resorts came second in our comparison, mostly because of the Kids Eat For £1 offer that was running. Away Resorts has more than 20 holiday parks around the UK (read our guide).

Here's our comparison meal:

Classic Burger - £13.75 x 2
Millionaires Sunday - £7.59 x 2
Apple Juice - £2.30 x 2
Budweiser (bottle rather than pint) - £5.85
Red wine (175ml) - £6.70
Kids meal - £1 x 2 (includes Cheeky Cheeseburger and Chocolate and Oreo Sundae)

Total: £61.83

We visited the Lakeside Bar and Eatery in 2026

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The Beachcomber Inn at Butlins Skegness - £66.31

When we last visited Butlins, we went for a dining plan, which is an all-you-can-eat buffet. We found that the food was one of the highlights of our visit, although we did go for the Premium Dining Plan (not wanting to brag).

However, you can also turn up at the Beachcomber Inn onsite and just pick off the menu.

Here's our comparison meal:

Simple Burger - £12.49 x 2
Sweet shop sundae - £6.59 x 2
Junior Meal Deal - £7.15 x 2 (includes Classic Beef Burger, Ice Cream Sundaes)
Carling - £5.60 x 1
Red wine (175ml) - £5.75 x 1
Milk - £1.25 x 2

​Total: £66.31

We went for a meal plan at Butlins Skegness, but you can also pay as you go

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Coast Bar at Haven Perran Sands - £67.40

As mentioned earlier, Haven only has Wetherspoons at about a quarter of its holiday parks.

We also wanted to include a Haven holiday without a Wetherspoons onsite to see how they compared on price.

​Here's our bill at the Coast Bar at Haven Perran Sands:

Double Classic Burger - £12.59 x 2
Twix Brownie Sundae - £6.99 x 2
Carling - £5.59 x 1
Wine 175ml - £6.39 x 1
Kids burger - £3.67 x 2
Kids ice cream - £2.27 x 2
Kids juice - £2.19 x 2

Total bill: £67.40

It's worth mentioning that there were several offers when we searched, including Kids Eat For £1. However, they had restrictions around the times and dates that you could use the offer so we excluded it.

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Alberta Clubhouse at Alberta Holiday Park at Park Holidays UK - £72.25

Park Holidays UK is another big chain of holiday parks, with more than 30 resorts around the UK (read our guide).

House Cheeseburger - £15.95 x 2
Mega Chocolate Sundae (shareable for two) - £13.95 x 1
Kids Chicken goujons, ice cream and a Capri Sun - £7.45 x 2
We couldn't find beer and wine prices for Alberta Holiday Park, so we will take an average figure from the other parks of £5.75 per drink.

Total: £72.25

Park Holidays UK is one of the bigger holiday park chains

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The Bistro at Darwin Escapes Cheddar Woods Resorts and Spa - £75.15

We are big fans of the Darwin Escapes holiday park chain. They tend to offer spacious lodges rather than caravans and they have some excellent locations. Read our guide.

We've stayed at a few of their resorts, including the Cheddar Woods resort.

Here's our restaurant bill for comparison:

Classic Quarterpound Burger - £13.95 x 2
Chocolate Brownie with ice cream - £7.95 x 2
Kids Beef Burger - £7.95 x 2 (Includes a drink)
Kids Ice Cream - £1.95 x 2
Coors Beer - £5.50 x 1
Wine - £6.05 x 1 

Total: £75.15

Darwin Escapes scored mid-table in our price comparison of food at UK holiday parks

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Above The Bay at Cove Seal Bay Resort in Sussex - £77.65

Seal Bay Resort is run by Cove. It's one of the biggest holiday parks in the UK and sits alongside a beach. Read our guide to Seal Bay Resort, which includes an exclusive discount code.

Cheese and Bacon Burger - £14.95 x 2
Children's Meals - £7.95 x 2 (includes beef burger and Fruit Shoot).
Baked Alaska Ice Cream Sundae - £8.95 x 2
Child's Ice Cream - £1.65 x 2
Carling - £5.15 x 1
Chardonnay 175ml - £5.50 x 1

Total bill: £77.65

Cove Seal Bay Resort in Sussex is one of the biggest holiday parks in the UK

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The Boathouse at Parkdean Resorts Trecco Bay - £86.27

Parkdean Resorts has more holiday parks than any other brand in the UK. Here's how much our bill came to at Trecco Bay in Wales, which is their biggest holiday park. See our Parkdean Resorts top 10.

Bacon and Cheese Burger - £16.99 x 2
Starland Burger - £8.79 x 2
Carling - £6 x 1
175ml Pinot Grigio - £5.75 x 1
Kids milk - 50p x 2
Berry Cherry Sundae - £7.99 x 2
Ice cream - £2.99 x 2

Total: £86.27

The Boathouse brand can be found at several Parkdean Resorts (this one is Southview in Skegness)

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The Coast House at Hoburne Naish Holiday Park - £86.65

Hoburne is a relatively small chain of holiday parks, but it has an excellent reputation. Read our Hoburne guide here. Here's how much our bill came to at Hoburne:

Aberdeen Angus Bacon Cheeseburger - £17.50 x 2
Sammy Squad Kids Beef Burger - £7.50 x 2 
Kids Ice Cream - £3 x 2 
Chocolate Brownie with Ice Cream - £7.95 x 2
Glass of milk - £1.95 x 2
Beer - £5.65
​Wine - £5.20

Total bill: £86.65

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Bella Italia at Center Parcs Sherwood Forest - £89.72

We've had some great holidays at Center Parcs - but they do tend to be more expensive than other brands for accommodation, activities and eating out. Here's our bill for a meal at Bella Italia:

Cheeseburger - £18.39 x 2
Chocolate Brownie Sundae - £8.99 x 2
Wine 175ml - £7.49
Birra Moretti Draught - £7.49
Kids meal - £9.99 x 2 (Starter Chicken Crunchies, Dessert, Drink)

Total bill: £89.72

Center Parcs Sherwood has Bella Italia, Café Rouge and Hucks

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So, which is the cheapest holiday park for eating out?

We found that Haven was the cheapest option for eating out at the UK's major holiday park brands. It was about 35% - 40% cheaper than Center Parcs and Parkdean Resorts or a couple of pounds cheaper per head than second-placed Away Resorts.

However, it's worth remembering that Haven don't have Wetherspoons at all of its holiday parks. At the time of typing, there are nine Haven resorts with Wetherspoons, but this may well increase if it proves successful.

We also included a non-Wetherspoons pub in our comparison and found that it was somewhere nearer the middle in our ranking.

If you plan to eat out a lot then and want to stay with Haven then you might consider picking one with an onsite Wetherspoons. 

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Which Haven holiday parks have Wetherspoons onsite?

So, we've established that Haven is the cheapest holiday park for eating out - but only if you stay at one of their holiday parks with an onsite Wetherspoons.

That currently gives you a choice of nine parks including:

• Primrose Valley in Yorkshire, which is one of the biggest Haven holiday parks. It is jam-packed with activities and has a large swimming pool onsite. Some caravans have sea views and it's walking distance to a large sandy beach. Read our review.
  
  

• Devon Cliffs, Devon is another huge Haven holiday park, with more than 1600 caravans. Haven calls it their biggest park, but we reckon it is second biggest by the number of accommodation units. It has loads of activities and a great beach on the doorstep. Read our guide. It tends to be one of the more expensive Haven resorts.
  
  
• Cleethorpes Beach in Lincolnshire was previously called Haven Thorpe Park and is the biggest Haven, with more than 1800 caravans. It also overlooks a beach, although it's not quite as scenic at Primrose Valley or Devon Cliffs in my opinion. Read our review.
  
  
• Kent Coast in Kent is a great choice if you're coming from London. It's not as big as the resorts mentioned above and it overlooks an estuary rather than a beach, but it's still got a lot going for it.
  
  
• Haggerston Castle in Northumberland is one of the best value Haven holiday parks. It often scores very well in our price comparisons, particularly when compared to big resorts in Devon and Cornwall. 
  
  
• Cala Gran in Blackpool isn't right on the beach but it's quite convenient for visiting Blackpool. It's a mid-sized park.
  
  
• Hopton in Norfolk is one of our favourite Haven resorts. It is mid-sized and its location gives it some of the best sea views of any Haven park. Read our review.
  
  
• Lakeland in Cumbria is just outside of the Lake District. It's near a beach but it's not as scenic a coastal location as some Haven resorts. Its main appeal is that you can drive into the Lake District for walks.
  
  
• Riviere Sands in Cornwall is unusual in that it doesn't allow dogs. It overlooks a great beach but it tends to be one of the more expensive Haven resorts.

Cleethorpes Beach is one of nine Haven holiday parks with a Wetherspoons

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What about tipping and service charges?

One other factor to consider is whether you'll feel obliged to leave a tip - and what this can add to your bill. Perhaps this makes me sound like a real penny pincher, but it can make a big difference to your total bill.

Personally, I leave a tip of around 10% when we've had decent table service. I never add on a tip when I've ordered for myself through an app, since a) I don't feel I've received much of a service and b) it's much less awkward!

You can order through an app with Parkdean Resorts, Haven and Butlins so you may feel you don't need to tip at those places without feeling like the worst person on the planet.

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