Chapters and Cravings

Seaside holidays have a funny way of making all my usual eating habits vanish into thin air. Suddenly, lunch is a late-afternoon affair, dinner is just as likely to be a double scoop of ice cream, and deep-fried Oreos? Well, they start to feel like the most natural thing in the world for a mid-afternoon treat.

We spent a week tucked away at Parkdean Resorts Manor Park in Hunstanton, where our days drifted by in a happy blur of sandy beach walks, the cheerful clatter of arcade machines, kids’ club adventures, and, naturally, more food than I’d ever admit to in polite company.

Not every meal was a winner, but we did stumble across a few gems I’d go back to in a heartbeat. And, in true family holiday fashion, I spent most of the week handing out coins and notes like some sort of walking, talking ATM for the boys. Honestly, it wouldn’t have felt right any other way.

We rolled into Hunstanton just after 11, the kind of morning where the sky feels a little too bright for how tired you are. Check-in at Manor Park wasn’t until 1, so with two hours to fill and three rumbling stomachs, our first mission was clear: find lunch before anyone got too grumpy.

No photos this time—I was running on travel fumes and honestly, my only goal was to get the boys fed before any hangry meltdowns could begin.

It wasn’t exactly the dream start to our Hunstanton food adventure. Everything was a bit pricier than I’d hoped, and the food itself was just… there. Nothing to write home about, unless you count a note to say we probably won’t be back.

By 1, we made our way to Manor Park and finally got the keys to our caravan. The very first thing we always do? The grand tour, of course. Every cupboard gets opened, every room gets a little inspection, and there’s a lot of enthusiastic discussion about the layout.

I had to video call my mum for the full walkthrough, too—she’s just as invested in caravan layouts as I am. Describing it over the phone would never do; she needs to see every bedroom, every bit of storage, and the living area in real time.

Once we’d finished our little inspection ritual, it was off to Tesco for the big stock-up. I made sure to grab a 24-pack of Pepsi Max for myself—priorities, right?h was definitely going to be cheaper than buying individual drinks on-site every day.

Saturday lunch was one of those quietly perfect caravan moments: just us, some Tesco Finest Cumberland sausages, and the kind of sausage sandwiches that make you pause and appreciate the simple things.

No photos this time—sometimes the best lunches are the ones you’re too busy enjoying to capture. These sausages were exactly what we needed: easy, satisfying, and just right before another round of adventures.

Dinner was a little outing to The Boathouse at Manor Park, which already felt like a treat before we’d even looked at the menu.

Caravan park restaurants are never exactly a bargain, so I’d already made peace with the prices. But honestly, the food was so good it made the bill feel like less of a sting—worth every penny for a meal that actually felt special.

My chicken was properly juicy (always a small victory, since chicken can be a bit of a gamble) and the ribs just fell off the bone in that dreamy, no-effort-needed way. The onion rings could have used a bit more crunch, but honestly, it was the kind of meal that leaves you quietly happy.

Big Boy’s burger review? A single grunt and a nod when I checked in—honestly, that’s practically a standing ovation in teenage language.

My Spud, who takes his role as our resident macaroni cheese expert very seriously, went straight for the kids’ mac and cheese. His official verdict (and where it lands on the ever-important Mac & Cheese Ranking list) will be revealed soon—because even on holiday, the judging never stops.

Each meal came with a generous helping of fries (always a win in my book), and we added a bottle of Coke and a bottle of Fanta to the mix. The whole feast came to £32, which felt pretty fair for a day by the sea.

Honestly, those hotdogs were so big they could have doubled as a small raft, so the price felt surprisingly reasonable for a seaside spot. And when it came to cheese and bacon, they definitely didn’t hold back.

We perched on the wall with the sea stretching out in front of us, salty breeze and all, and it really did feel like the kind of lunch you hope for at the coast.

Pizza in the Showbar

Later that evening, we shared a freshly made Margherita pizza in the showbar, tucking in while the evening’s entertainment played out around us.

It was far too dark for a photo (the pizza deserved better, honestly), but it tasted just fine. £14.99 felt a bit steep for a Margherita, but that’s just holiday park life for you.

With Friday’s chippy disappointment still lingering, we found ourselves quietly rooting for Vegas Fish Bar to come through for us. I’ll admit, I was secretly hoping for a portion of chips that felt a bit more like a treat this time.

I barely managed a quick snap of my kebab before we all dove in, but honestly, you could taste the glow-up. I’d never tried kebab with chips and cheese before, so I was feeling a bit adventurous—and wow, it was a revelation. The chips went in first, then a generous sprinkle of grated cheese, and finally the hot doner meat on top so the cheese melted into everything. My only tiny complaint? I could have done with a bit more sweet chilli sauce. The chips themselves were in a whole different league compared to Five Frying Fish, and as a little cherry on top, the whole meal was about £10 easier on my purse.

Lunch gently stretched into the late afternoon, somewhere in that soft space between 2 and 2:30, and by the time evening tiptoed in, not one of us even considered dinner. Those generous portions had us well and truly sorted.

Lunch on Tuesday was one of those easy caravan moments: just a couple of frozen pizzas from Tesco, popped in the oven while everyone was still in their pyjamas.

Nothing fancy, but honestly, it’s a relief to have something simple in the freezer for those days when you’d rather not venture out (or spend another penny).

The real fun started after lunch, when we wandered into Hunstanton in search of proper seaside treats.

Deep-Fried Oreos

My Spud chose five deep-fried Oreos from P.S. I Love Food for £6.

The Oreos came wrapped in a doughnut-style batter and fried until golden. I’ll admit, I was a bit sceptical, but they turned out to be a very happy surprise.

Warm, sweet, and soft in the middle, with the Oreo tucked right inside the fluffy batter. Easily one of our most successful deep-fried experiments this week.

A Battered Mars Bar

Big Boy went for a battered Mars bar from Vegas Fish Bar for £3.50.

This one was wrapped in proper chippy batter, the kind you’d usually find around fish or a battered sausage—not exactly what you expect with chocolate.

It was definitely an experience, but I have to say, chocolate and chippy batter is a combination my tastebuds are still trying to figure out.

Still, I gave it a go. Big Boy, on the other hand, was a fan and immediately started plotting a return visit.

Essential Seaside Doughnuts

I went for something a bit more classic: six warm doughnuts from Kay’s, all for me (and maybe a little bit for sharing) for £5.

Could I give you a detailed review? Not really.

They were fresh, sugary seaside doughnuts and, honestly, that’s all you need to know. Sometimes the simple things are the best.

The Meltiest Ice Cream in Hunstanton

Later that evening, after the kids’ entertainment, we wandered back into town for a gentle stroll and found ourselves at Kay’s again—this time, lured in by their twisty ice creams.

We went all in with the large chocolate-and-vanilla twist, complete with a Flake on top. £4.50 each, but worth every drippy bite.

The soft serve was, well, very soft. It melted faster than we could keep up, and poor My Spud ended up with ice cream all over his hand and halfway up his arm.

So our peaceful evening walk turned into a bit of a race against the melting clock. 😂

Wednesday handed me one of those little holiday surprises I secretly hope for: stumbling across Mr Bun the Baker.

Everything here is made by hand, baked right in the shop, and you can taste the care in every bite. The prices made me do a cheerful double-take, especially when you see just how generous and tempting everything looks.

The owner serves everyone himself, chatting away as he puts your order together. He even noticed my nails and told me they looked amazing, then joked that a man would be lucky to have me scratch his back. (First, I’ll need to find the man, but details, details.) That kind of genuine, friendly service just made the whole visit feel like a treat. You don’t see it as much these days, and it left me smiling all afternoon.

For lunch, the boys went straight for sausage rolls, while I couldn’t resist a cheese and bacon turnover.

These weren’t the usual tiny, mass-produced bakery snacks. They were big, properly filled, and tasted like they’d just come out of the oven.

Of course, we couldn’t leave without picking up some cakes for later.

The Cakes

Big Boy picked out a Belgian bun that was honestly bigger than my hand.

He declared it buttery and lovely, not at all doughy, which is exactly what you hope for in a bun that size.

My Spud went for a chocolate rocky road, piled high with marshmallows and colourful sprinkles.

It was chocolate and it had sprinkles. What more could you want?

I couldn’t resist the millionaire’s slice for myself.

The shortbread base had the perfect crunch and maybe even a hint of almond. Whatever the secret was, I could have happily eaten a few more.

All of that—sausage rolls, a turnover, and three enormous cakes—came to £20.50, which felt like a bit of a bargain for handmade treats that size.

Mr Bun the Baker turned out to be one of those hidden gems that makes a food adventure feel extra special.

An Easy Caravan Dinner

Dinner was another simple caravan classic: frozen Greggs sausage and bean bakes with potato waffles, all courtesy of Tesco.

I completely forgot to take a photo, but honestly, sometimes you just need an easy freezer dinner, especially after a day of bakery treats.

Thursday rolled around, and with it came that bittersweet feeling of a last full day by the sea. After our first taste of Vegas Fish Bar earlier in the week, it just felt right to wander back for one more lunch with a view of the waves.

Big Boy was still dreaming about Monday’s quarter-pounder, so this time he went all in and ordered the half-pounder. Go big or go home, right?

As for me, I couldn’t resist the battered sausage, chips, and a generous ladle of curry sauce. Sometimes you just have to follow your cravings.

Honestly, this was miles better than my earlier attempt at battered sausage from Five Frying Fish. The batter was actually crunchy, the chips had that perfect golden bite, and even the curry sauce looked inviting and tasted like it had a bit of sunshine in it. No pale, sad sauces here.

Vegas Fish Bar, you’ve officially restored my faith in seaside chippies. Consider the Hunstanton fish and chip experience well and truly redeemed.

Dinner that night? Just chocolate spread sandwiches, eaten between bursts of packing and trying to remember where on earth the boys had hidden their socks. We were still so full from lunch that anything more ambitious would have been wishful thinking.

Not exactly a glamorous final-night feast, but honestly, when you’re corralling stray toys and socks while packing up a caravan, simple is sometimes the only way.

Our meals might have been a bit of a lucky dip, but there was one little holiday ritual that always managed to sneak in and make itself at home.

Each evening, I’d find myself in the showbar, settling in with a Memories on the Beach cocktail (they had to get a bit creative with the name, for reasons that probably don’t need spelling out) and a little pot of Sahara’s Hot Nuts. The two together set me back £12.40, but honestly, it felt like a small price for a slice of holiday magic.

The boys had their own little tradition too: a nightly Dr Pepper, which felt like a big deal when you’re usually on water or cordial duty at home.

There’s something quietly wonderful about stumbling into a holiday routine. Mine, it turns out, was a cocktail, a pot of hot nuts, and the gentle realisation that I was probably funding the showbar’s snack supply single-handedly.

Back at the caravan, we had our trusty stash of 24 Pepsi Max cans from Tesco, ready and waiting for those quieter moments in between adventures.

If I’m being completely honest, the food was my own personal highlight of our little escape. But for the boys, I wanted to make sure they soaked up every bit of that classic caravan holiday magic. Think arcades quietly nibbling away at your spare change, kids’ clubs humming with excitement, sandy seaside adventures, and all those little in-between moments that somehow become the ones you treasure most.

We took a wander through SEA LIFE Hunstanton, exploring all the underwater exhibits and pausing to watch the otters at feeding time (always a crowd-pleaser). We also learned about the seal sanctuary on site, where injured seals are gently cared for and given a second chance before heading back out into the wild.

We wandered along the beach, breathing in that fresh sea air and collecting a little bottle of Hunstanton sand to tuck into our suitcase for home—because sometimes you just need a tiny reminder of the seaside waiting on your shelf.

We had daily visits from ducks and their impossibly tiny ducklings, who quickly decided we were the best snack providers around. Feeding them became one of those gentle little rituals that made the week feel extra special.

Of course, the arcade called to us more than once. My Spud managed to hit the jackpot on the prize tickets a couple of times, and let’s just say his grin could have powered the whole place.

I mostly found myself playing the very glamorous role of personal cash machine for the boys.

My Spud has officially confirmed he’s a true caravan holiday park kid at heart. He threw himself into the kids’ entertainment club, even winning a few times, and absolutely soaked up every bit of the games, excitement, and general buzz of being on site.

We were treated to one of those sunsets that makes you stop in your tracks and just breathe it all in—a perfect little full stop to the week.