The Willows

47 Customer Reviews

• "Not very comfortable place to stay."

  Upstairs kept hitting our heads on the slanting ceiling so decided to sleep down stairs. Glass shelf protruding from over the hob and glass shelf in bathroom could prove a hazard. Both DVD’s did not work nor did the towel rail in the bathroom, some plates were chipped and did not use the frying pans because they were soiled. Had to clean out the microwave because it was dirty and smelt of curry. No washing up bowl so went out and purchased one. Having said all that, this was a good place to visit the excellent attractions in that area of Kent.

  We are sorry to hear you did not have a comfortable stay we take all our guests feedback seriously and try our best to rectify any issues as we are very proud of our "Outstanding rating". The upstairs as shown on the Sykes website at time of booking has ashlar walls with slanting ceilings with a steep roof pitch. The room has a height of 8 feet in the centre. We have not had this issue raised before of people hitting their heads and the building complies with all building regulations. The glass shelf over the hob is in fact an extractor fan at usual working height as you would find in any domestic home and is made of tempered toughened glass. The glass shelf in the bathroom is also made of tempered toughened glass and is part of the lit heated mirror. This proves useful for placing toiletries and both the concerns you highlighted have never been raised before or been a hazard. We are sorry you could not work the DVD players we are always on hand if guests have any issues with working appliances. In this instance it would simply have been changing the source input on the remote control. The issues with the towel rail have been rectified as this required the heating system to be full drained down which could only be done when you vacated the property. We have checked all equipment in the kitchen so thank you highlighting the chipped plate. We do ask guest to report any damages they make so we can replace anything that is damaged which we have now done. The frying pan was not soiled but did have signs of wear on the bottom as one might expect with usage. However, to avoid future complaints this has been replaced too. Our cleaner has very high standards and the microwave is cleaned after guests have left but we understand residual smells of strong-smelling foods like curry can occasionally linger. We do not supply a washing up bowl but do provide a week's supply of the best quality dishwasher tablets. This is because we advocate guests use the dishwasher. This is because then future guests can be assured that all kitchen equipment is efficiently cleaned and washed at a high temperature that would not be possible by hand. Thank you for highlighting what a great area our property is located in with access to excellent attractions in the area. Best Wishes Matt & Debbie Property Owner

  Reviewed by David2.2★Oct 2024

• "An excellent property with all the facilities provided for a very comfortable stay, set in a location with some lovely countryside views."

  Also a good base for getting to many places in the surrounding area.

  Reviewed by Brian4.7★Sep 2024

• "I really enjoyed the peace and quiet, it was just what I needed."

  Debbie was a fantastic host, and especially for sorting out the WiFi for me on the Sunday as I needed it for work. If I need to visit Kent in the future I will definitely book The Willows again.

  Reviewed by Julie4.4★Jul 2024

• "Everything was great."

  From beginning until the end. :) Our workers who have stayed here were really happy and enjoyed their stay. We will certainly come back!

  Reviewed by Anna5.0★May 2024

• "Everything was great."

  The team answered on my questions and was very helpful.

  Reviewed by Anna5.0★Apr 2024

• "Quiet location, nice house, friendly host."

  Reviewed by G.4.4★Sep 2022

• "Very comfortable - was exactly as advertised."

  Reviewed by Michelle5.0★Oct 2021

• "Let's get the few negatives over first- when we first arrived the property smelled awful."

  A mixture of fry up and damp dogs

  Dear Mrs Thomason, Thank you for your comment which appears to drop off in-completed. Upon further investigation the smell was nothing to do with the property it was due to the farmers field directly opposite having been muck spread the morning of your arrival. This is carried out once every 2 years and the breeze was blowing in the properties direction which is unusual in its own right. I am always on hand to help with any issues that arise and if you had mentioned it upon your arrival a odour neutraliser could have been used as the smell disappears after several hours. No pets are allowed at the property to avoid such smells as you described. Fortunately in the 7 years of marketing The Willows we have never had issues raised regarding smells and strive to ensure guests have a pleasant experience . We hope this clarifies the situation and provides assurances to future guests. Best wishes Matt Property Owner

  Reviewed by Louise3.4★Oct 2021

• "Lovely location, really quiet."

  Well appointed cottage. Owner really helpful with recommendations of things to do locally that weren't so obvious - kayaking on the river and repatriation of forgotten items!

  Reviewed by Helen3.8★Aug 2021

• "The only reason I can say that it just met my expectations is that Matt has listed the cottage so well, that there were no surprises - good or bad."

  Comfortable, spacious and so well equipped. We had the most wonderful week, the cottage is so well situated for touring Kent. Matt was an incredible host making sure we were well settled, and checking in on us after the first night to make sure that everything was as we expected. It worked perfectly for our family to have the upstairs space for evenings when our daughter was asleep. Thank you for having us for our holiday this year :)

  Reviewed by Natalie5.0★Jul 2021

• "The Willows is an excellent base to explore Kent."

  Matt, the owner, was very helpful. The cottage was well equipped with everything that we needed for a week's stay. Use of the gym was a bonus. We did a lovely walk to Goodnestone Park which is definitely worth a visit and there is an excellent farm shop just down the road. We would stay here again.

  Reviewed by Emma5.0★Jul 2021

• "The Willows ?"

  Is the perfect location to explore the South East of England, the accommodation was really nice, the owner Matt was more than welcoming and couldn’t do enough to make our stay totally stress free, nothing was to much trouble. We travelled as a couple but The Willows would equally suit a family of four.

  Reviewed by Dawn4.1★Jun 2021

• "The Willows location is perfect for exploring kent, Whitstable, Herne Bay, Deal and Sandwich are all worth visiting and so many pretty villages to explore."

  The Willows is modern, contemporary design and very well equipped with great views over looking fields. The gardens and accommodation of a very high standard and Matt the owner very friendly and helpful.

  Reviewed by Heather4.7★Sep 2020

• "Lovely comfortable cottage in fantastic location rural enough for peace and quiet yet close to all main attractions of the county."

  Matt was a really helpful host his advice and help with fishing locations took our holiday to another level we will definately be back.

  Reviewed by Paul5.0★Sep 2020

• "The Willows was one of the best equipped holiday cottages we have ever stayed in."

  No danger of running out of mugs because the few provided are in the dishwasher here! The cottage is in a quiet location, but is just a couple of miles off the A2, with easy access to Canterbury and Dover. The owner is very friendly and approachable, but respects his guests' privacy once the welcome is over. He was very quick to help some minor problems with the WiFi.

  Reviewed by Janet4.7★Aug 2020

• "A great place to stay, both for location and for the house itself."

  The owner was very friendly and helpful.

  Reviewed by Philip5.0★Aug 2020

• "Exceptional property."

  Family friendly, safe, clean and comfortable. Perfect!

  Reviewed by Rhiannon5.0★Feb 2020

• "The only negative would would say about this property is that it could do with a tv in the downstairs comunual area."

  It was very strange all of us having to be upstairs trying to watch tv while one of our group is trying to sleep in the same room. Other than that a really lovey place very modern and clean!

  Reviewed by Chris4.1★Nov 2019

• "The willows is a great place to stay and has lots of things to do in the surrounding areas for kids and adults alike."

  The scenery around the willows is beautiful and provides a very tranquil place to stay. The owner couldn't have been more helpful and their pets are very friendly. I would thoroughly recommend staying there.

  Reviewed by Iain5.0★Jul 2019

• "Was surprised that one of the twin beds was broken and supported by breeze blocks underneath!"

  Also TV in bedroom not working and DVD upstairs. There was no welcome pack. There were no instructions on remote control of windows upstairs and blinds, spent a while trying to sort it out. Otherwise nice location very peaceful

  Reviewed by Linda3.1★Jun 2019

• "THE WELCOME FROM THE PROPRIETOR WAS VERY INFORMATIVE AND HELPFUL."

  THE COTTAGE WAS MORE THAN WE THOUGHT IT WOULD BE.ABSOLUTELY SPOTLESS ALL THE FACILITIES AND MORE.THE OUTSIDE WAS EQUALLY IMPRESSIVE AND AN IDEAL SPOT TO VISIT ALL THAT KENT HAS TO OFFER.THANK YOU FOR LETTING US STAY IN SUCH AN EXCELLENT PLACE.

  Reviewed by Judy5.0★Jun 2019

• "Finding the Willows was like finding KENTS best kept secret ,The Willows was ..."

  Finding the Willows was like finding KENTS best kept secret ,The Willows was built to a very high standard ,fixtures and fitting were very special , Matt the owner has gone that Extra mile to make sure the standard is as high as it is ,the Willows has everything you will need and more ,Matt is on hand to answer any Questions ant point you in the right direction ,regards to pubs and Restaurants in the are , in fact there are help sheets for everything you want to know , The week we had there was very special so much to see and places to visit a week is not long enough ,as I said Kents best kept secret , having stayed at lots places over the uk , this property goes above what you would expect ,hope to go back again in the future still so much there to see

  Reviewed by Terry5.0★Jun 2019

• "Excellent communication with Matt the owner about finding the cottage easily and places to explore around the area."

  Very clean and well presented. It had everything we needed. Beautiful views from upstairs windows, lovely garden area and large parking area. I place we will definitely go back to.

  Reviewed by Sally5.0★May 2019

• "This bungalow is situated in the country so that you have a quiet retreat to go back to at night."

  It is ideally situated for visiting anywhere in Kent with the coast from Whistable round to Hythe all within easy drives. The bungalow itself is modern with top class facilities and is well looked after by the owner who is on hand to help, guide or see to your needs. Hope to return in the future as we had a great week all round.

  Reviewed by John4.7★Mar 2019

• "The area was very nice."

  The owner of the cottage Matt was great. He also gave us good recommendations of where to go and was. Wet helpful when arranging keys etc. I would highly recommend this cottage we went as two couples and it was much better than we expected. A proper quality and modern finish on the property.

  Reviewed by Daniel5.0★Mar 2019

• "Matt the owner was extremely helpful and very friendly."

  The cottage is lovely, very quiet and the surroundings are very peaceful. Every cinque port is in easy reach from Adisham too. Altogether I would certainly recommend this cottage. The one next door which we were shown on our arrival was brilliant - may be next time I will book this one. On a personal note re the Comfort - I would have liked the mattress to be a bit firmer as I have a bad back - other than that I would have given the Comfort box the 4th one along.

  Reviewed by Hazel4.7★Oct 2018

• "Immaculate,comfortable house with everything needed for our weeks holiday."

  Matt could not have been more helpful even getting milk from the shop for us when we arrived! We loved our stay and will certainly return.

  Reviewed by Carol5.0★Sep 2018

• "Great host."

  Great clean property. Wi-fi was poor. But other than that can't fault the place At all. Would thoroughly recommend to others to go. Matt the owner is a Top man. !

  Reviewed by David5.0★Sep 2018

• "In all honesty we had a brilliant holiday."

  The holiday cottage itself was perfect. Set in a beautiful secluded setting. The owner Matt was a perfect gentleman throughout our stay and nothing was to much trouble for him. This location and cottage is certainly one that we would love to return to.

  Reviewed by Lynne5.0★Jul 2018

• "Lovely holiday - great host and location for touring Dover to Canterbury!"

  Well equipped modern house - lovely and airy with roof windows to open and balcony double doors upstairs and outdoor patio areas to sit outside and relax! Close to shops and main links for exploring wonderful Kent!

  Reviewed by Felicity5.0★Jun 2018

• "Enjoyed our stay, very nice reception by the owner."

  Perfect house.

  Reviewed by Marc5.0★Apr 2018

• "Very nice landlord."

  Cottage super.

  Reviewed by Thomas4.7★Mar 2018

• "We stayed at Willow Lodge in January this year and needed to re-visit the area."

  We are really glad we chose The Willows as it is just as terrific as Willow Lodge. We found the heating system very easy to adjust during the very cold and snowy weather (-4 C). We were very warm and very comfortable and really enjoyed the excellent cooking and dining facilities. We were snowed in for a coupe of days and made good use of the TV, DVD and satelite systems and the boards games. Matt, the host, is a very friendly, helpful person - all you need to do ask. I would highly recommend this property and hope it is not the last time we visit the area as I would choose either of Matt's property again.

  Reviewed by Colin5.0★Feb 2018

• "There were issues with the cottage with the following: - first night the heating had gone off by 8pm and did not come back on until 7:30am the following morning."

  I was freezing and had to huddle up in a duvet on the sofa in the morning. I worked it out that the timer must be set for bad times and eventually got the owner to reset it. The timing of the heating was not checked when I arrived and I was not asked about it. It was impossible to change it myself as it needed remote control which was not there and would need instructions as it was a high tech thing - the cooker hob did not work at all - no gas coming to it. Plus it was difficult to work out how to use the over and it was a high tech thing and there were no instructions. Owner did not know how to work it! - the room upstairs is a small sitting area and double bed. It has a big window but there were no coverings like curtain or blinds for that window. So you had to sleep in a room with no curtains so there was an issue with light coming in and also it felt wrong - the bath was covered in hairs, small ones like eyelash & eyebrow hairs - there were a LOT of these hairs like 20-30. Like the cleaner was using a filthy old cloth to clean it - There were no new pan scrubbers etc in the kitchen, only used ones (disgusting)

  Reviewed by Louise1.9★Jan 2018

• "Very friendly owner, very quiet area and lots of activities in the vicinity."

  Enjoyed every moment of it and it snowed on the last day :)

  Reviewed by Brwa5.0★Dec 2017

• "Excellent accommodation in a lovely area."

  Very good location for exploring Kent. The owner was extremely friendly and helpful. We would definitely recommend this cottage

  Reviewed by Susan5.0★Sep 2017

• "Great home, super host and in a great location."

  Lovely surroundings, great for walks and pub lunches, only 2 train stops from Canterbury and near lots of interesting villages. Kent is wonderful and this is a great base to explore.

  Reviewed by Mary5.0★Apr 2017

• "This was a first rate cottage which made for a relaxing and comfortable stay."

  It had the added advantage of being close to the coast and many places of interest. The host was very friendly and helpful

  Reviewed by Maria4.8★Mar 2017

• "A very welcoming host offering a very comfortable property, offering everything we needed for our stay over the New Year weekend."

  Very pleasant rural views and surroundings and less than half an hour from Dover and Canterbury. Highly recommended

  Reviewed by Andrew5.0★Dec 2016

• "What a hidden gem!"

  ! Had a wonderful time, fantastic walks in the area and a great host who couldn't do enough for you. Would go back again.

  Reviewed by Carolyn4.6★Nov 2016

• "The accommodation was first rate and of a high standard."

  It was clean and comfortable. Everything we needed was available. Location was perfect for us, it being quiet and peaceful, and yet not too far to visit Canterbury and surrounding areas. Would highly recommend booking a visit.

  Reviewed by Joyce5.0★Oct 2016

• "An absolutely gorgeous place to stay!"

  Simply couldn't fault anything. The location was perfect for anyone who likes peace and quiet and the owner couldn't have done more to make us feel welcome.

  Reviewed by Adrian5.0★Oct 2016

• "What an excellent property!"

  Matt could not have done more to make us feel welcome , he even came to collect us when we got lost on our way to the house! The cottage was beautiful, clean,very high spec yet at the same time comfortable . The views were amazing. Our only disappointment was that we had not booked for two weeks as there is so much to see and do in the vicinity. We will certainly return!

  Reviewed by Ann-Marie5.0★Oct 2016

• "We were both made very welcome by Matt the owner."

  Nothing was to much trouble. Lovely accommodation in a stunning location for most places within Kent. Very impressed with what Kent has to offer & visited thoroughly most places within the county. Wanted an active two weeks so what with the Gym, Bikes & all the walking we found what we were looking for. Would highly recommend either of the two rentals at this property but the following needs to be addressed. Nobody can find the property from the directions given. The Willows is down a different lane on the left off of Rattling Road. Half a mile from the Railway Station junction & only 2 hundred metres after the black farm barn which is on the left of the right hand bend. The junction upon the left has a gate saying Rattling Farm. Take this lane & find the Willows upon the left 200 metres further on.

  Reviewed by Ken4.8★Sep 2016

• "It was a fabulous property in a quiet rural setting, but within a few miles of all the major attractions and footpaths on the doorstep."

  A well equiped property with levels of luxury we did not expect. The views from upstairs were lovely over the open fields and the grounds of the property are very well maintained by the owner. Who went out of his way to ensure we had a brilliant stay. We would not hesitate to return to the property - one of the best we have ever stayed in.

  Reviewed by Geoffrey5.0★Sep 2016

• "We thoroughly enjoyed our week in a property that was central to all of the Kent attractions."

  Our holiday home had everything we needed to relax and enjoy our holiday - and the host couldn't have been more friendly and helpful. Our teenagers definitely appreciated the reliable WiFi!! Highly recommended - especially for that wonderful view from the upstairs bedroom! xx

  Reviewed by Sarah4.8★Aug 2016

• "We had a lovely time."

  Accommodation was brilliant. Had everything we needed. Matt is a great host. The children loved it.

  Reviewed by Beth5.0★Jul 2016

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