The Gatehouse

12 Customer Reviews

• "The cottage was comfortable and clean but felt more attention should be given to maintenance ."

  Windows needed a good clean and the rear lawn mowed . One particular niggle was that the bathroom mirror was set too low for any average height person to use , very irritating . Pleased to see being a thatched cottage great importance was made to the risk of fire with 6 extinguishers placed throughout the cottage . Cottage was in a quiet location which suited us well .

  Reviewed by Trevor3.4★Oct 2024

• "Lovely old cottage, ideal spot to explore Devon, the best of both worlds the peace of the country side with the beach 5 mins away."

  Had a lovely stay.

  Reviewed by Stuart4.7★Sep 2024

• "We had a lovely stay at the cottage, it was equipped with everything that we needed and the owner also went above and beyond by providing fresh milk."

  We liked that there was a washing machine as we travelled with one 7 month old baby and it meant we could wash the vast amount of bibs and cloths she goes through a day! Garden was a good size and our dogs loved running around it. Driveway was big enough to fit one Ford estate AND one Volkswagen ID3 no problem. The only slight hiccup that we had was that the Wi-Fi password on the little card was wrong, but one call to Sykes cottage on the number provided on the confirmation email solved this.

  Reviewed by Shanshan5.0★Aug 2024

• "A dishwasher instead of washing machine would have been nice."

  6 bath towels instead of 5. One garden chair broken and maybe a parasol? Kitchen floor didn’t look particularly clean. Oil smell was quite over powering in downstairs toilet which filtered through to the lounge. Flowers , biscuits and milk a lovely, welcome touch. Thank you!

  Reviewed by Maria3.8★Jul 2024

• "A real gem!"

  We were looking for somewhere to chill for a few days and this ticked all the boxes. Just a short drive from Seaton and Lyme Regis it was an ideal location for our break. The cottage is well equipped and comfortable. I noted on an earlier review that someone said there was only room for a small car where in reality if you park sensibly you can easily fit two cars. Two great pubs close by, both dog friendly, with the Harbour Inn being our favourite. Would certainly recommend this location to anyone looking for a break!

  Reviewed by Tom4.7★Sep 2023

• "Wir haben uns in dem sauberen und gemütlichen Häuschen sehr wohl gefühlt."

  Der Ort ist ein guter Ausgangspunkt für Wanderungen an der Küste. Als Familie mit 3 Jungs (15, 12, 8) konnten wir auch gut einen Regentag in dem Häuschen verbringen.

  Reviewed by Georg4.4★Aug 2023

• "The cottage is in a lovely rural location with the manor house opposite and fields just up the road."

  Directions to the property were clear for us although we knew the area as had stayed in different properties in the area over the years. The one parking space is tricky as its on an incline which makes it difficult to park and really only enough room for a small to medium car. As stated there is parking further down the road, the right hand side is private and allocated to other houses. The left there is a bay which can fit two cars in, although these spaces were taken the whole time we were there, one car didn't move. Therefore unfortunately parking is very tricky as the road is a single lane track. Inside the cottage is cosy, however there is a musty smell to it considering age its to be expected. Also the heating is oil fired and there is a smell of oil especially in the downstairs toilet. It was fine for us as it adds to the character of the property however those with health conditions it could be a problem. Kitchen area fairly small but had everything you need, it also has a small round dining table. The back room has a large dining table which leads to the stairs just bear in mind the stairs are winding. Upstairs there are three good sized bedrooms as previous reviewers have said there is only a small wardrobe for clothing, no chest of drawers etc to put clothes in. Bathroom we felt was quite narrow especially to the toilet however the shower was good and bath adequate. As said in other reviews the rugs in the lounge keep bunching up which causes a trip hazard. There is nowhere to put shoes or coats just adding a coat rack and shoe storage would be very beneficial. Wifi is intermittent as location is rural. There are two pubs on the main street in Axmouth The Ship Inn and The Harbour Inn. The walk is roughly 15 minutes from cottage to The Ship. I highly recommend The Ship the staff are welcoming and the food was excellent we went back a few times as we enjoyed it that much! We walked to Seaton from the cottage which was roughly 40 minutes but a nice walk where you can see the estuary and Axmouth harbour. The nearest food store is Tesco which is 24 hour, only a 10 minute drive. Overall we had a pleasant stay at The Gatehouse, beautiful countryside, relaxing and comfortable.

  Reviewed by Alison Sullivan3.8★Nov 2022

• "The reviews currently listed for The Gatehouse made us double check all the details."

  In some cases we were not unduly concerned for example wi fi is always patchy in rural areas and we don't generally need TV while on holiday. We did find that the property lacked basic facilities and was very "tired" The roman blinds to front and back doors are both broken. No towel rail of hand towel provided in the cloakroom. Nowhere for shoes boots or coats - a few hooks in the cloakroom and a shoe rack would be so useful. None of the bedrooms have drawer units so we lived out of cases for a week. The kitchen pots etc are minimal, for six people we struggled with enough pots and pans to cook a meal. Curtains in 2nd bedroom kept falling off the track as the stoppers are missing from the ends of the tracks. The chicken wire under the gate has a bit missing large enough for a dog to get through. The shower screen seal is broken and hanging off and there is no shelf in the bathroom for makeup or toiletries. On the plus side the cottage has character and is in a pretty location

  Reviewed by Joanne1.6★Oct 2022

• "If you are looking for a country break with coast close by this is ideal."

  There are two village pubs 20 and 30 minutes stroll away in which we had enjoyable meals. The drawback with this venue is the wifi. In this day and age when we are so reliant on technology it is not acceptable. You can send and receive emails, but that is about all. The steps to the garden are steep, but not insurmountable. The rooms are a good size with ample room for everyone. The beds were comfortable and we slept well, which is important when you are taking a break. The kitchen had everything needed, except a dishwasher, but I took my own, my husband. One point which we feel should be addressed urgently are the rugs in the lounge and dining room, they kept bunching up when walked on and are a dangerous trip hazzard, but all we had a very pleasant holiday.

  Reviewed by Lyndsey3.8★Sep 2022

• "The property is nicely situated on a country lane and close to both Seaton and Lyme Regis."

  Parking is at the side of the property on a slope up to the garden. The surface is solid concrete but would only accommodate a small to medium sized car. The slope is quite steep but fine. We had an estate so needed to open the large garden gate and have the front of the car over the grass. This avoided any issues with blocking or restricting access to the neighbouring property. The garden is large and was newly attended to by gardeners. Obviously given the weather it wasn’t particularly colourful or inviting. The garden furniture is need of some TLC and can't really be used. The downstairs inside is nicely appointed with everything you need. The only concerns we had (and have raised) are the WiFi and the Smart TV. Internet access is via a 4G ‘mobile’ router so not strictly broadband. This means that you are unlikely to get any better connection than via your phone and in our experience it was considerably worse. We got 0.5mbs download and completely failed uploads. No streaming services work and the Smart TV is not smart at all. It reports it’s not connected the internet. Neither issue is fixable. Disappointing and not as advertised. The downstairs toilet is useful. Upstairs is fine though the bathroom is a little tired and could do with a facelift. The shower works reliably but don’t expect a power shower. Be careful going downstairs. The stairs are lethal and 3 out of the 4 of us fell going around the corner. Nothing broken though(!) Also mind your head on the stairs doorway and the front door. Very low. The pub is not 0.4 miles away, more like 0.75. It takes approx 20-25 mins walk. Its easier going (downhill) than returning(!) The nearest decent shop is Tesco in Seaton, 3.5 miles. The property sleeps 6 but not sure how you would reasonably accommodate these numbers. Parking for 2 cars is impossible and the single bathroom would mean queues. It’s just about manageable with 4 in one car but not if you want internet or a Smart TV in bad weather. Overall the property was slightly below what we expected. It’s BASIC BUT FUNCTIONAL. Don’t expect luxury but it’s quaint and a great base. Watch the parking and the stairs, don’t rely on the internet and allow extra time for the bathroom.

  Thank you for taking the time to leave feedback and I am so sorry you were disappointed with the property – we are very proud of it. As you will be aware, it is listed with one parking space and additional on road parking 20 yards from the cottage. We are looking at the feasibility of improving this situation but with the age and positioning of the property this is not straight forward. The garden furniture is due to be assessed following your comments. The WiFi is on a ‘Tenda’ router and we will also review the coverage of this as we want our guests to have the best experience we can provide. Although the property is not large, as it’s a cottage, it sleeps and dines 6 and has 3 reception rooms, as indicated on the floor plan on our website. We do try to describe our properties honestly and highlighting any quirks of note, in order that you know what to expect from the accommodation. We welcome and appreciate your feedback as it enables us to improve the service that we offer guests and the standard of properties we let. Team LBH Property Owner

  Reviewed by Niall2.8★Aug 2022

• "I've waited 2 weeks before leaving feedback on the website, giving time for the listing to be amended after providing feedback via email about the height of the only entry and exit doorway, which is a health and safety issue if you are over 5ft 6."

  The padding provided is inadequate, we all bumped heads and would not have booked if the height had been pointed out as 3 out of 4 are over 6ft and I'm 5ft 8. Other comments include; beds are trip hazards due to layout of rooms in 2 bedrooms. Wi-fi signal poor outside the lounge and master bedroom. Inadequate storage in 2/3 bedrooms unless you want clothes on display rather than in chest of drawers or wardrobes. Bathroom pokey, no place to hang coats or store shoes downstairs, lounge furniture uncomfortable for tall people. Parking on the slope is very difficult due to gravel and difficulty to get traction. Hopefully some of the other issues not mentioned here will have been dealt with by now. Cutlery, plates, linen all nice, very clean. Location quiet with nice rural walks close by. Other places we've stayed in, within the price bracket have offered a more comfortable holiday experience. We won't be booking again.

  We are sorry to read that your holiday accommodation did not meet your expectations, The Gatehouse is a period cottage and as such, boasts a wealth of period features and charm including ceiling beams, wooden wall panelling and inglenooks, as well as low doorways. We do try to describe our properties honourably and try to consider our guests needs whether its age, mobility or customs. We respect that everyone’s needs are different and we try to note characteristics that may make the property unsuitable for some. We also take an abundance of photographs to present the property as it is. We thank you for your feedback and can confirm we have made two new notes to the listing which we hope will help people choose the right property for them. We hope to welcome you to another property in the future. Team LBH Property Owner

  Reviewed by Louise3.1★Jul 2022

• "Unfortunately the parking provided and recommended to use is NOT suitable."

  Broken concrete mixed with gravel on a very steep incline, is unsafe!! The car slid down numerous times. Considering that the folder within the property asked not to park on the street! So had no choice but to park close to the hedge which led to my car getting damaged as the area is used as a turning point! Neighbour also complained abruptly and wanted us to park on street. Explained that there was specific instructions left for us NOT to do this. The maintenance of the back garden is also not as pictured it is run down overgrown and although advertised as dog friendly, our dog was able to walk straight through onto the busy road through holes in the hedge. Facilities within the property in the lounge area were lacking considering the amount paid, sofa uncomfortable and lacked tables etc, although fresh strawberries etc were left this does not make up for it. The shower is also temperamental with the heat! Other properties we have had in this price bracket have way exceeded what we have had.

  We are sorry to read that you had difficulties with the parking. Unfortunately, due to the age and rural situation of the cottage parking is a bit tricky, we are looking at the feasibility of improving this. The garden has had a good tidy up recently after the lively growing season and there is a schedule of ongoing groundskeeping. The property is advertised as pet friendly as the owners allow pets to come on holidays with their owners, we do always advise supervision of pets. We are sorry the sofa wasn’t to your liking we will review the furnishings in the property. Whilst the majority of guests will have an enjoyable holiday in the properties we let, this isn’t always the case, so we welcome and appreciate your feedback as it enables us to improve the service we offer and the standard of properties we let. Team LBH Property Owner

  Reviewed by Renee2.5★Jun 2022

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