Food in Youth Hostels

Not been to Youth Hostels for over 20 years but looking at them for Family
weekends in the Lakes. Can't seem to find anything on th YHA website re
food other than it mentions that some hostels do meals.

Last time I went, I seem to recall cooking my own meal once and also buying
meals. Do you still have to wash up afterwards ?

Any info gratefully received re meals, cost etc.

On Sat, 13 Jan 2007 18:11:21 -0000, "DavidKendall"
<david@kendadj.f2s.com> wrote:

>Not been to Youth Hostels for over 20 years but looking at them for Family
>weekends in the Lakes. Can't seem to find anything on th YHA website re
>food other than it mentions that some hostels do meals.
>
>Last time I went, I seem to recall cooking my own meal once and also buying
>meals. Do you still have to wash up afterwards ?
>
>Any info gratefully received re meals, cost etc.

Most Youth Hostels (in England and Wales) serve meals and also have,
what used to be called, a Members' Kitchen. I believe they call it a
Self-Catering Kitchen nowadays.

You have to wash-up your own dishes, and clear up any other mess you
make, but there are no "chores" as the staff wash the dishes from the
YHA-prepared meals.

One of the disappointing aspects of YHA hostels, in my opinion, is
that some people do treat them like hotels and expect everything to be
done for them. I believe that staying in a hostel is a more pleasant
experience if the hostellers feel a sense of belonging/ownership and,
therefore, responsibility for the cleanliness and smooth-running of
the hostel....... but that may just be me becoming a grumpy old woman!

YHA(E&W) have tried various meal-pricing regimes over the last few
years and I'm not sure what the current arrangment is but I'm sure
someone who does will be along shortly.

Judith

You need to bring up the details for the hostel on the website then
click on the "Facilities" tab. This will bring up some icons showing
whether meals are provided and whether there is a self-catering kitchen
(I can't think of a hostel which doesn't have one).

Meals generally have to be booked on arrival and menu choices made
before the staff start cooking.

It is very rare to have to wash up although you will have to clear your
plates away after eating. I have been asked to wash up (at Minehead)
when they were very short staffed. Obviously if you are self-catering
you do your own washing up.

Some hostels include breakfast in the overnight price (i.e. you can't
opt out) but it should say so on the website.

John.

In article <eob78l$sg4$1@news.freedom2surf.net>, DavidKendall
<david@kendadj.f2s.com> writes
>Not been to Youth Hostels for over 20 years but looking at them for Family
>weekends in the Lakes. Can't seem to find anything on th YHA website re
>food other than it mentions that some hostels do meals.
>
>Last time I went, I seem to recall cooking my own meal once and also buying
>meals. Do you still have to wash up afterwards ?
>
>Any info gratefully received re meals, cost etc.
>
>

--
**** john@evenlode.demon.co.uk ****
http://www.evenlode.demon.co.uk
John Mann -- Hook Norton -- Oxfordshire -- UK

On Sun, 14 Jan 2007 08:57:20 +0000, John Mann
<john@evenlode.demon.co.uk> wrote:

>You need to bring up the details for the hostel on the website then
>click on the "Facilities" tab. This will bring up some icons showing
>whether meals are provided and whether there is a self-catering kitchen
>(I can't think of a hostel which doesn't have one).
>
Just one in my experience - City of London

Nigel
replace SPAMHATER with n and t*sc*li with totalise

"John Mann" <john@evenlode.demon.co.uk> wrote in message
news:EkqrL0BwBfqFFwtI@evenlode.demon.co.uk...
>I have been asked to wash up (at Minehead)...
>

Hmmm... word with Andy then ;-) mind you, his sinks are in the middle of the
dining room so can;t have been too much of a chore.

"DavidKendall" <david@kendadj.f2s.com> wrote in message
news:eob78l$sg4$1@news.freedom2surf.net...
> Not been to Youth Hostels for over 20 years but looking at them for Family
> weekends in the Lakes. Can't seem to find anything on th YHA website re
> food other than it mentions that some hostels do meals.
>
> Last time I went, I seem to recall cooking my own meal once and also
buying
> meals. Do you still have to wash up afterwards ?
>
> Any info gratefully received re meals, cost etc.
>
>

In theory, you should be able to turn up at any hostel (other than those
that are shown as self catering only) and order anything from a quick snack
through to a 3 or more course meal. You *should* not have to pre-order and
you should not be expectd to wash up.

On Wednesday last week at YHA Manchester I indulged in potted shrimp
followed by fillet of brill with a bottle of half decent wine. I declined
desert as I couldn't cope but plumped for two cups of fresh coffee and
retired to the bar.

Last meal at River Dart was salad nicoise with BBQ seared fresh tuna and
local (4 landed miles away) cod with a black olive tapanade with a wild
rocket salad.

Gives you an idea of where things are heading.

TonyK said...
> Last meal at River Dart was salad nicoise with BBQ seared fresh tuna and
> local (4 landed miles away) cod with a black olive tapanade with a wild
> rocket salad.
>
> Gives you an idea of where things are heading.
>
Blimey Tony, no wonder there are never any beds available!

--
To reply see 'from' in headers; lose the domain, and insert dots and @
where common sense dictates.

	#1
DavidKendall	Food in Youth Hostels Not been to Youth Hostels for over 20 years but looking at them for Family weekends in the Lakes. Can't seem to find anything on th YHA website re food other than it mentions that some hostels do meals. Last time I went, I seem to recall cooking my own meal once and also buying meals. Do you still have to wash up afterwards ? Any info gratefully received re meals, cost etc.

	#2
Judith	Re: Food in Youth Hostels On Sat, 13 Jan 2007 18:11:21 -0000, "DavidKendall" <david@kendadj.f2s.com> wrote: >Not been to Youth Hostels for over 20 years but looking at them for Family >weekends in the Lakes. Can't seem to find anything on th YHA website re >food other than it mentions that some hostels do meals. > >Last time I went, I seem to recall cooking my own meal once and also buying >meals. Do you still have to wash up afterwards ? > >Any info gratefully received re meals, cost etc. Most Youth Hostels (in England and Wales) serve meals and also have, what used to be called, a Members' Kitchen. I believe they call it a Self-Catering Kitchen nowadays. You have to wash-up your own dishes, and clear up any other mess you make, but there are no "chores" as the staff wash the dishes from the YHA-prepared meals. One of the disappointing aspects of YHA hostels, in my opinion, is that some people do treat them like hotels and expect everything to be done for them. I believe that staying in a hostel is a more pleasant experience if the hostellers feel a sense of belonging/ownership and, therefore, responsibility for the cleanliness and smooth-running of the hostel....... but that may just be me becoming a grumpy old woman! YHA(E&W) have tried various meal-pricing regimes over the last few years and I'm not sure what the current arrangment is but I'm sure someone who does will be along shortly. Judith

	#3
John Mann	Re: Food in Youth Hostels You need to bring up the details for the hostel on the website then click on the "Facilities" tab. This will bring up some icons showing whether meals are provided and whether there is a self-catering kitchen (I can't think of a hostel which doesn't have one). Meals generally have to be booked on arrival and menu choices made before the staff start cooking. It is very rare to have to wash up although you will have to clear your plates away after eating. I have been asked to wash up (at Minehead) when they were very short staffed. Obviously if you are self-catering you do your own washing up. Some hostels include breakfast in the overnight price (i.e. you can't opt out) but it should say so on the website. John. In article <eob78l$sg4$1@news.freedom2surf.net>, DavidKendall <david@kendadj.f2s.com> writes >Not been to Youth Hostels for over 20 years but looking at them for Family >weekends in the Lakes. Can't seem to find anything on th YHA website re >food other than it mentions that some hostels do meals. > >Last time I went, I seem to recall cooking my own meal once and also buying >meals. Do you still have to wash up afterwards ? > >Any info gratefully received re meals, cost etc. > > -- ** john@evenlode.demon.co.uk ** http://www.evenlode.demon.co.uk John Mann -- Hook Norton -- Oxfordshire -- UK

	#4
SPAMHATERepper@tiscali.co.uk	Re: Food in Youth Hostels On Sun, 14 Jan 2007 08:57:20 +0000, John Mann <john@evenlode.demon.co.uk> wrote: >You need to bring up the details for the hostel on the website then >click on the "Facilities" tab. This will bring up some icons showing >whether meals are provided and whether there is a self-catering kitchen >(I can't think of a hostel which doesn't have one). > Just one in my experience - City of London Nigel replace SPAMHATER with n and tscli with totalise

	#5
TonyK	Re: Food in Youth Hostels "John Mann" <john@evenlode.demon.co.uk> wrote in message news:EkqrL0BwBfqFFwtI@evenlode.demon.co.uk... >I have been asked to wash up (at Minehead)... > Hmmm... word with Andy then ;-) mind you, his sinks are in the middle of the dining room so can;t have been too much of a chore.

	#6
TonyK	Re: Food in Youth Hostels "DavidKendall" <david@kendadj.f2s.com> wrote in message news:eob78l$sg4$1@news.freedom2surf.net... > Not been to Youth Hostels for over 20 years but looking at them for Family > weekends in the Lakes. Can't seem to find anything on th YHA website re > food other than it mentions that some hostels do meals. > > Last time I went, I seem to recall cooking my own meal once and also buying > meals. Do you still have to wash up afterwards ? > > Any info gratefully received re meals, cost etc. > > In theory, you should be able to turn up at any hostel (other than those that are shown as self catering only) and order anything from a quick snack through to a 3 or more course meal. You should not have to pre-order and you should not be expectd to wash up. On Wednesday last week at YHA Manchester I indulged in potted shrimp followed by fillet of brill with a bottle of half decent wine. I declined desert as I couldn't cope but plumped for two cups of fresh coffee and retired to the bar. Last meal at River Dart was salad nicoise with BBQ seared fresh tuna and local (4 landed miles away) cod with a black olive tapanade with a wild rocket salad. Gives you an idea of where things are heading.

	#7
Fran	Re: Food in Youth Hostels TonyK said... > Last meal at River Dart was salad nicoise with BBQ seared fresh tuna and > local (4 landed miles away) cod with a black olive tapanade with a wild > rocket salad. > > Gives you an idea of where things are heading. > Blimey Tony, no wonder there are never any beds available! -- To reply see 'from' in headers; lose the domain, and insert dots and @ where common sense dictates.