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"Lovely cottage, very clean with everything you need."
Great neighbour who popped over with wine and chocolates. Good location.
Would definitely use this again and recommend to friends.
Close to shops and all beaches.
Reviewed by Gavin5.0★Dec 2024
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"As listed this was a cosy let in a quiet area."
The furnishings and rooms were clean and tidy. Beds were comfortable bathroom very good. Everything was catered for beautifully and nice and warm.The garden for the first time was very very secure and I did not worry about the fencing it was solid and high with no gaps. We were close to shops and restaurants and had the perfect base to visit all the local attractions. We had a great time. Also a special thanks to Chris for being so welcoming.
Reviewed by Sarah4.1★Nov 2024
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"We had a brilliant stay in this cottage, we were greeted with a knock at the door with a bottle of wine, box of chocolates and coffee."
The accommodation its self was very clean and was perfect for us especially having dogs with us as it had a great sized garden.
Thank you
Reviewed by Dawn4.4★Oct 2024
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"We had a lovely few days at East Havers with our two labradors."
Cottage was comfortable and kitchen well equipped. Welcome pack was great, and the neighbours very friendly and helpful. Only improvement would be a stair gate to keep the dogs downstairs, and improved signposting / explanation of the correct set of bins for the cottage.
Reviewed by Jennifer5.0★Oct 2024
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"We had a thoroughly enjoyable stay at East Havers."
Friendly neighbours around the courtyard, the chap across the way gave us wine, chocolates and filter coffee on behalf of Chris the owner which was a kind and thoughtful touch. Thank you.
The cottage was cosy and comfortable and easily kept warm with the already set heating times on control panel. Hot water was plentiful.
There is a bus stop either side of the road at entrance to Greensfield Moor Farm with regular buses, we caught the Arriva x15, the timetable service we used was to and from Lionheart Enterprise Park, easily looked up on mobile phone. Halfway down the approach road to the cottage is a field with a track across to The Hog's Head which is very dog friendly and we ate there and had drinks on numerous occasions, just be sure to carry a torch if you are likely to be returning to accommodation after dark. Car parking in Alnwick is by way of display a disc and these can be purchased for £1. We bought ours from Northumbria Pet Shop but alternatively the Library at The Playhouse will sell them. We have no hesitation in recommending this property.
Reviewed by Alice5.0★Oct 2024
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"This was our second visit to East Havers and it was as good as before."
It was comfortable and a good size for two people and a dog. Had a lovely welcome gift on arrival from Chris which was very nice, we hope to be back again soon.
Reviewed by Tracey5.0★Aug 2024
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"Excellent location for exploring!"
Yes it is near A1 unless you sit out it won't affect you. Beautifully decorated and great facilities. The neighbour Chris was very friendly and helpful. Thank you for the lovely gifts and the home grown onions!
Reviewed by Ruth5.0★Aug 2024
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"We all thoroughly enjoyed our stay at East Havers."
The house itself was beautiful with lovely furnishings and made for a comfortable place to relax after days out exploring the surrounding areas, the smart TVs were amazing and allowed us to keep up with football and news and our Netflix programmes the location was perfect everything we needed.
The location was also perfect for travelling north or south - and it was easy to access local shops on foot and walking the dog.
The garden was large and spacious and a nice place to relax in weather permitting.
Shoutout to the amazing friendly neighbour Chris who welcomed us and made us aware he was around to help if needed.
Overall it was a 10 out of 10 stay and we wouldn’t hesitate to come back.
Reviewed by Jayne5.0★Jul 2024
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"Lovely week spent at at East Havers."
The cottage was beautifully furnished and finished to a high standard. It was lovely and comfortable and equipped with everything you needed for a relaxing break.
The thoughtful welcome gifts of wine, chocolates and coffee were a delightful touch.
Reviewed by Pamela5.0★Jun 2024
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"Really felt at home in the property and we were made welcome by the friend of the owner who lived in a neighbouring property."
The only reason I would not want to recommend it would be encouraging people to go when I might like to be going back there.
Very clean and well presented, good facilities, good enclosed garden for our dog to sit in.
Reviewed by Tim5.0★Jun 2024
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"One of the poorest, most disappointing holiday cottages I’ve stayed in - certainly with Sykes - which is a shame because almost all of the problems could be fixed at no or very little cost."
The property was dirty - the smell hit you immediately on walking inside and was pervasive. The floors were covered in bits, even the crockery had bits of food stuck to all the dishes and plates. The place was teeming with wildlife - cobwebs everywhere and daddy long legs crawling out when you moved anything. Basically needed a thorough clean - and clearly hadn’t had one for some time.
A few things seemed very basic - not even a bar of soap in the bathroom and only one poor quality loo roll to last the week (potentially between 3 people) - not up to Sykes’ usual standards and I would have much preferred a few basics to fancy wine and coffee.
Garden was overgrown and grass wasn’t cut all week, despite leaving the gate unlocked all week for the gardener (and apparently hadn’t been cut the previous week as the people staying there had locked the gate so the gardener couldn’t get in).
A pretty major downside was that it was blighted by road noise from the A1 which was about 50 yards from the rear of the property. You should state this in the property details as there is nothing to indicate this and the photos make it look as if it’s in the middle of the countryside.
Finally, my only request while I was away was where to find the key to the patio door in the lounge. I raised this as soon as I arrived and nobody got back to me by the time I left (even to say you’d been unable to find out where it was). Again, a pretty poor show.
So all in all very disappointing.
Reviewed by Sally1.6★Jun 2024
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"A beautiful comfy and spotless clean accommodation."
Great welcome pack of wine and chocolates. Would have had a perfect stay except it was very hard to find and very disappointing after a long drive. Small sign on the ground obscured by long grass which was cut the next day after we had to ring the agents after driving past numerous times.Pauline
Reviewed by Pauline4.7★Jun 2024
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"Lovely holiday cottage on the edge of Alnwick and walking distance to a lovely pub."
Very clean and comfortable accommodation. Enjoyed our stay.
Reviewed by Dawn5.0★May 2024
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"Lovely property with everything we could need."
The bed was comfy and the facilities were all good; efficient heating and hot water, good bedding and towels etc. The kitchen is really well appointed and the modern induction hob was a revelation for me, I loved it. Chris the neighbour was really friendly and helpful and the gifts were much appreciated. Location was great for exploring the area although just a little too far out not to have to use the car for Alnwick itself but no big issue. Parking right outside the property. The only negative for some people especially in summer may be the proximity to the A1 which is really close. No problem for us in early spring and it's quiet in the house due to huge thick walls. But with windows open in summer it would be noisier so bear in mind. Otherwise though, a lovely stay and we thoroughly enjoyed it.
Reviewed by Ted5.0★Apr 2024
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"We had a really lovely week."
Cottage was the perfect base for us to explore Northumberland. Thank you - we hope to come back soon!
Reviewed by Abigail5.0★Feb 2024
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"Lovely modern cottage very cosy and beautifully clean and comfortable."
Everything you need in the kitchen inc dishwasher and washing machine. Bed was lovely and comfy and bright clean modern bathroom Inc. Bath and shower. A good size well enclosed back garden for the dog. We really enjoyed being there and getting back to the cottage after long wet days out was a real pleasure . If your looking for fantastic views of rolling countryside this isn't for you but if you want a clean modern warm home as your base this is just right and very close by is an M and S food hall Mini Morrisons garage Lidle and Aldi and a great pub doing lovely food the Hogs Head. Great place for easy access to Bamburgh and Alnmouth the A1 and 5 minutes from Alnwick. Very happy with our stay .
Reviewed by Susan4.7★Oct 2023
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"Thoroughly enjoyed our return to this very comfortable, well equipped and, for us, excellently located cottage."
It has everything we and our dog could wish for to make for another relaxing stay in this beautiful area.
Shopping is a short distance away with M&S, Sainsbury's and the wonderful specialist food and butchers Turnbulls so close by.
Thanks to the owner and Chris our holiday neighbour (loved the chocolates) in presenting such welcoming accommodation and of course Sykes for their usual high standards and easy booking.
Bryan, Chris & Buddy
Reviewed by Bryan4.4★Oct 2023
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"This is a lovely cosy cottage."
Very clean and well appointed. The kitchen is very well equipped and has everything you need and the lounge area is very comfortable. We really appreciated having a safe and enclosed garden that we could let our dog out into and this is why we booked the cottage. The cottage is located just outside Alwnick and is adjacent to the A1 which is not immediately obvious when you book. This wasn't an issue for us as we didn't want to sit in the garden but I think it might be helpful to be a bit clearer about the location of the cottage. There wasn't an issue with road noise in the cottage so other than the garden the proximity to the road doesn't intrude. We appreciated the warm welcome and the chocolates. Thank you.
Reviewed by Susan4.4★Sep 2023
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"The cottage was ideal for both us and our two dogs."
The furniture and fixtures were all top notch in quality and made our stay very comfortable. The location was perfect as everything was so close to hand (especially an M&S food hall just around the corner - such a treat!
The only down side for me was the lack of attention to the kitchen. I always take the kitchen sink but after having so many Sykes holiday cottages holidays and finding the facilities in the past so impressive that I let my guard down with this one and this is the reason I had to knock off a star.
There was an extremely limited welcome pack and next to nothing to help with the day to day household chores required. There was the tiniest bottle of washing up liquid (enough for one bowl of washing up). Two bin liners for two very small bins, No dishwasher tablets or washing powder for the washing machine and the only two containers for spray cleaning under the sink were both empty. Therefore we had to do a big shop immediately as we were booked in for two weeks. Maybe we have been spoilt in the past but this is the first time I had come across this inconvenience.
Thank you for your helpful feedback. We are glad that your stay was very comfortable and that the location was perfect, but we are sorry that the welcome pack and items to help with kitchen chores were limited. These issues have now been rectified.
Property Owner
Reviewed by Lesley5.0★Aug 2023
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"The property was lovely and as described, comfy and welcoming and the residents around the similar properties were very helpful."
It was a good base to explore Alnwick and the surrounding areas. The only thing we would say was a little disappointing, is there was dog slobber on the lounge windows, and some of the cutlery and mugs were dirty when we arrived, and lots of cobwebs around the stairs and windows. But lay out was ideal for 3 people/small family.
Thank you for your positive feedback. However, we are sorry to hear about the cleaning issues. These have been rectified – we now have a new cleaner.
Property Owner
Reviewed by Caroline3.4★Aug 2023
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"Enjoyed our stay very much, well equipped and nicely furnished."
Large tree in rear blocked out sunlight, understand it is being cut back substantially.
Front and rear timber doors not easily opened and closed, adjustment required. Location handy for town and shopping, will be very happy to return to this cottage
Thank you for your feedback. The large tree has already been cut back substantially. We have replaced the front and rear timber doors with new modern well-insulated doors.
Property Owner
Reviewed by Alan5.0★Jul 2023
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"The property was clean, comfortable, well furnished and well equipped."
The bathroom was good and the shower system was great!
The packs of dishwashing items and the tea, coffee etc. were welcome.
The negatives were -
It was impossible to sit in the garden because of the volume of noise from the traffic on the A1 and the garden itself is in need of attention.
The recycling instructions need updating - it was not clear which bin to use for the property.
We struggled with the directions and when we used the post code on sat nav it took us way out of the way.
Having said that, if you don't want to sit in the garden we would recommend this property.
Thank you for your feedback. The gardener was off sick just before you arrived; he sorted out the garden when he returned. The garden fence has now been extended, which has helped reduce the traffic. The recycling instructions have been updated .
Property Owner
Reviewed by Margaret4.4★Jul 2023
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"The barn conversion was excellent,clean, well equipped with plenty of hot water."
Fenced garden but noisy to sit in due to traffic. I have no complaints with accommodation . However, the location was so disappointing. No where did I see the close proximity to the A1, the adjacent caravan site or industrial site mentioned. It was an ideal spot if you were traveling on the A1 but not as a holiday location. That is the reason I would not recommend it.
Thank you for your feedback. The fence has been extended, which has helped reduce the traffic noise. The caravan side has now been closed. The approximate location of the property in relation to the A1 is shown on the map, for which there is a link on the webpage.
Property Owner
Reviewed by Laraine4.1★Jun 2023
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"We had a fabulous week at East Havers, fabulous weather and our dog Ozzie loved the garden."
Fabulous base to travel the coast which was beautiful and the beaches were absolutely amazing. We wouldn’t hesitate to recommend the cottage to others and we will hope to visit again sometime. Thanks so much for the chocolate’s.
Reviewed by Carol5.0★Jun 2023
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"This is a lovely cottage."
Very clean and comfortable. We appreciated the lovely box of chocolates too.
Reviewed by Kathryn5.0★May 2023
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"Lovely cottage Lovely and clean Lovely and warm Lovely clean linen Lovely safe ..."
Lovely cottage Lovely and clean Lovely and warm Lovely clean linen Lovely safe garden, To quote Arnie We will be back Many Thanks Sykes Cottages Paul Sheila and Doggy Grace
Reviewed by Sheila5.0★Apr 2023
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"This is a mixed review…read on!"
Good things: lovely fluffy bath towels, comfy sitting room with smart TV. Warm and cozy. Shower very powerful and hot though needed the shower head connected to the bath taps rather than the electric shower which was pitiful, as they often are. Shops and pub close by (though see below on this!) However, there are some significant downsides. The property backs right on to the dual carriageway A1. It is VERY noisy. We had super weather but sitting out in the garden was not possible, for us at least, if you don’t mind noise and traffic fumes then it won’t be a problem. It is also right on the edge of an enterprise park/industrial estate. Again, if you need something from Screwfix or a new kitchen from Howdens it could be for you! None of this is mentioned in the property details and it needs to be. ok, we could see on the map that there was an A road nearby but never having been to the area before we’d assumed it would be a reasonably quiet one. We certainly hadn’t noticed an industrial estate. The pub that is referred to in the guide to this property is a large road pub not the cosy country pub we had imagined. Inside the property was basically equipped in the cheapest way possible. The bedding was very poor quality, cheap flat pillows and synthetic duvet, the covers were a horrid poly cotton. Hot and sweaty to sleep in. The kitchen was poorly equipped. The plates were scratched and chipped and the poor selection of glassware had cracks in it. There were plenty of wine glasses but no pint glasses at all. No teapot. I get that this is a business but we stay in a lot of holiday properties, at least five a year. We spent nearly £700 on this for an out of season week in April. I’d expect it to be better equipped and with higher quality linen etc. we usually find a welcome pack of coffee, tea, milk, often a bottle of wine and some local delicacy (Welsh cakes in Wales a few weeks ago) All that was provided were a couple of sachets of coffee and squeeze tubes of UHT milk. There were no basics like cling film or foil. Just not encountered this before. Overall, we loved Northumberland and will be back. We’ll just avoid this property.
Reviewed by Helen2.5★Apr 2023
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"I never managed to complete a full hot bath/shower due to insufficient hot water supply and ended up washing my hair in cold water."
The house was clean enough for our visit however it’s obvious some areas are ready for a deep clean. There’s also a slight smell; it wasn’t a huge put off but I was aware of it. I did love the big private back garden for the dogs to be safe and secure. The location was ideal for us due to being close to multiple small villages and amenities.
I’m glad that you loved the big private back garden for your dogs and that you found the location was ideal. However, I’m very surprised that to read that you didn’t ‘complete a full hot bath/shower due to insufficient hot water supply’ - this has never previously happened. The heating and hot water guidelines (in two places in the cottage) clearly state that 1/ hot water can be obtained at any time by pressing the Boost button on the control unit + 2/ guests who have any problems with the hot water could contact my neighbour; he was not contacted, nor were NCCC. The cottage was checked for cleanliness before you arrived and found to be clean; it has again been double-checked. It is in farmland and so occasionally there is a slight smell; for this reason, there is a can of air freshener in the cupboard.
Property Owner
Reviewed by Michelle3.8★Apr 2023
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"Absolutely loved it here."
Beautiful property and excellent location. Near to all large supermarkets in Alnwick but so close to beautiful beaches. The cottage had everything we needed and was really comfortable. Cannot fault, would recommend and return!
JoanneJul 2021
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"Perfect for a small family with a dog."
Garden was perfect for the dog too. Perfectly placed for the NE coast and very close to great amenities like supermarkets etc. Very clean and the equipment was excellent. Very clear instructions on how to leave the property too. Really liked the Friday night to Friday too. Overall an amazing holiday and we will return very soon hopefully.
Erik NJun 2021
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"Ideally located, spotlessly clean and was perfect for our requirements."
We would definitely stay at this property again without hesitation.
PaulaOct 2020
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"This is a lovely property with everything provided for our arrival."
It is immaculate and cosy and was central to all amenities.
Olivia WDec 2019
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"The cottage had all the amenities needed, the mattresses were comfortable, the bathroom was clean with a very good shower and the garden was well kept."
Location was perfect to visit Alnwick and the coast.
Mrs & Mrs MistriAug 2019
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"Location excellent for inland or coastal travelling, various shops nearby for provisions."
Enclosed garden private and safe for dog or child.
JennetteJul 2019
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"The cottage is lovely, great enclosed garden for the dog!"
The cottage is in a great position to visit the coast and Cheviots. The living room and beds are so comfy. Really well equipped and really clean.
EstelleAug 2018
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"This is a clean functional property."
Very comfortable with all amenities. Garden was enclosed and brilliant for dogs. It’s a really fab property. We have family in the area and if it’s available we will definitely use again.
HarrisonJul 2018
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"Good size enclosed garden."
Property was home from home.
JulesJul 2018
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"Fabulous cottage with everything you could want and in really good condition."
Garden was perfect for the dog.
Linda FJun 2018
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"A lovely cottage very comfortable very clean everything you need nice enclosed garden for dogs."
May 2018
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