sorry if im misreading this post !
£224 to replace the cam cover GASKETS ?
Couple of hours, plus parts plus Vat... Not to mention the 12 month guarantee on the parts AND labour... Actually pretty reasonable all things considered.
People are all too quick to bitch and moan about the cost of things without actually considering how the price of things are calculated.
Serek may well be able to do it for £150, but throw in the tank of fuel to get there and back, and you're easily looking at £240. Not cost effective. Not even close.
Not saying that dealers are better or worse, but if summat goes wrong, they aren't another £80+ away.
And if something crops up as a result whilst the OP is on holiday, his recovery can take it straight back to the dealer to resolve it, which is presumably more convenient than East Anglia or finding yet another garage to fix it.