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Thorpe Park has a range of options when it comes to eating and drinking during your day out. Almost all of Thorpe's establishments offer vegetarian food, children's portions, as well as designated "heathy eating" options. Here we review some of the different eateries the Park has to offer.
The 360 Bar and Grill is Thorpe's biggest restaurant, and its best. It offers affordable and tasty food in a location affording great views (almost 360°!) of the Park. On a sunny day, a seat here cannot be beaten for the scenery and atmosphere.
Food on offer includes steaks, ribs, burgers, sandwiches, curry and pasta. Puddings are served, including chocolate pie and banoffee cheesecake. Alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages are also available. Particularly impressive is the "2 for £12" deal on main meals - combine this with a 20% Annual Pass discount and you're getting a great plate of food for under a fiver!
The 360 Bar and Grill had a refurbishment in 2011 (formerly The Glasshouse), and we rate it as the best place to eat on Park. It's not especially fast food, but it's great value and the good range of simple food is very tasty.
Calypso BBQ and Bar's appeal is very weather dependent, being an outdoor restaurant. In the summer, the tent roof provide welcome shade from the sun, but in the winter, the lack of heating can make the Calypso BBQ and Bar a rather chilly place to eat.
Food is mainly confined to burgers or ribs, and will set you back around £7 - £8 for a main meal. Hot and cold drinks are also available. It's good fare, but it'd be good to see more choice here, as one of Thorpe's main eateries.
It's easy to like Desperados Mexican Cantina as a quick re-fuelling station. It offers fast Mexican food, from Old El Paso, at a great price. Options available include Nachos, Fajitas and Burritos, and there's a small selection of children's offerings. And as is the case with most Mexican food, it's very tasty indeed!
Individual servings cost around £4 - £5, with the meal deal (which includes spicy potato wedges and a drink) selling at around £5 - £6. Mexican beer (Corona) is also on offer at just over £3!
For fast food, we say Desperados Cantina is definitely a preferable option to some of the Park's chain outlets (such as the Burger King next door).
This Pizza Hut Buffet offers all-you-can-eat pizza and soft drinks. It's one of the Park's biggest eating spaces, and the restaurant is likely to be the busiest of all of Thorpe's around meal times. Expect queues out of the door on busy days.
Because of this, the prices here are on the more expensive side - expect to pay around £8 - £9 for an adult buffet. If you have an especially empty stomach, one might be able to gain exceptional value from this buffet, but for most, a similarly satisfying lunch can be found on Park for less. Having said this, Pizza Hut pizza is usually very tasty, and there's a good variety of pizzas on offer.
There are a plethora of other options when it comes to food at Thorpe. Worthy of particular mention include Battered Fish and Chips by Tidal Wave, which does great fish and sausage meals for just over £6. The Hot Dog Houses by Colossus (below) and Logger's Leap also do what they say on the tin, along with selling chili pots and nachos all for around £5 - £6. Comparable fare can be found from the Stealth Diner, by Stealth. Wild Wings Noodle Bar in Canada Creek offers simple oriental food for similar prices. Amity Kebab by Tidal Wave sells doner and shish kebabs made in authentic sauces. Roast and Relish by the entrance to The Swarm serves good British grub to go.
There are also chain fast food outlets scattered around the Park, including a KFC by Tidal Wave (you can spot this restaurant by the large shark that's crashed just above the entrance...) and 2 Burger Kings in Canada Creek and opposite Rumba Rapids.
This section wouldn't be complete without a brief mention of the weird and wonderful treats and snacks that guests can enjoy on Park. For drinks, our favourite is the Coffee Shack (below left) in the Dome, which offers paninis and cakes as well as a variety of coffees and hot drinks.
For treats, special mention goes to the Naughty but Nice stall (below right) in Canada Creek, which sells delicious fruit smothered in milk or white chocolate. For £2 - £3, these have to be some of the yummiest snacks available to buy at Thorpe! The Thorpe Mega Store by Storm Surge and Sweets and Souvenirs in the Dome are also good places to pick up treats and sweets, although beware of the inflated prices on some of the snacks on sale there.
Think our opinion on Thorpe's Food and Drink is wrong? Have you got a great suggestion for eating out on Park? Let us know by emailing us here!
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