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"I was delighted with the size, extra treats on arrival, and comfort of the entire place."
Only minor complaints….for such expensive and complete bathrooms, to have less than one roll of loo roll, and no holders for the loo paper seemed a little odd. Also there was a pod coffee machine but no pods? Was that in the description? The large dining table was great, but pads on the bottom of the chairs would reduce the screaming noise each tiny move of the chairs…on all that expensive floor tiling. All else fabulous!
Reviewed by Hannah4.7★Sep 2024
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"Beautiful spacious cottage in a lovely location finished to an extremely high standard."
Very well equipped.
Thank you for the welcome goodies we received on our arrival very much appreciated. Couldn't wish for anywhere better we will definitely visit again.
Reviewed by Tania5.0★Aug 2024
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"Fantastic place, great location."
Wouldn’t ask to change anything. Would defo book again.
Reviewed by Alison4.7★Jul 2024
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"The cottage is fabulous but would benefit from comfy chairs at the dining table these chairs are rock hard and very uncomfortable."
There is a problem with the built in microwave the on off switch is broken
it was really hot weather on our week 21st June and we would have benefited from a parasol outside the seating and table were great though.
beds very comfortable overall the cottage is stunning had a great stay
and look forward to returning next year.PS as dogs are allowed a hose outside would be great to hose the dogs down also our shoes saves trailing sand everywhere although we did use the vacuum occassionaly.
Thank you for your feedback and really pleased you enjoyed your stay. We will organise the parasol, hose and cushions for the dining chairs.
Thanks again for your feedback and look forward welcoming you back soon.
Property Owner
Reviewed by Alanna4.7★Jun 2024
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"I was at the cottage with my two sisters."
We all loved your beautiful cottage and I am hoping to rebook in the future with my family. Would definitely recommend it to family and friends. The only thing missing was a full length mirror. Hope to be back soon.
Reviewed by Linda4.7★Apr 2024
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"This is a great house, however, if we were to return we'd like to see some changes."
The downstairs en Suite is on a raised level and there's nothing to hold onto coming out of the shower, not easy for an elderly person. There's nowhere to hang towels in any of the bathrooms. Could do with a little chair in each of the bedrooms. There was only one very small hairdryer in the house and to add to that only very tiny freestanding mirrors in each upstairs bedroom. Only one shaver/toothbrush charger which was in the downstairs en Suite.
When taking plates out of the cupboard, there was at least 3 that had been used and not washed, they were dirty and greasy.
The welcome pack was lovely but unfortunately the eggs were out of date so we didn't use them.
We ruined a couple of things in the oven as it seemed to cook much quicker than it should despite being set at the right temperature. It also failed to go on one evening but the engineer came out the following day and fixed it although still cooked too quickly.
The beds were comfortable and the house had a great heating system so was very warm. The kitchen is spacious and has lots of cupboard space but all the other things would put us off booking again.
Reviewed by Suzanne3.1★Apr 2024
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"On arriving at the property our first impression was "Wow" !"
Everywhere looked shiny and clean and spacious! Our questions had been been addressed and implemented. There were bedside tables added, mirrors in the bathroom, albeit too high for myself, logs for the fire were supplied and ample pots pans, and cutlery. The only addition I would have liked is a small table for my drinks in the living room. Overall, it was very comfortable. warm and in an excellent position.
Reviewed by Gill5.0★Jan 2024
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"The cottage is a wonderful place to spend time with family and the welcome packages were a fantastic addition."
The rooms are spacious, clean and comfortable and we had a great time in the local area.
Areas of improvement
1. Communication - No response to my message
2. Fire - Provide wood for the fire as part of the package and details on the usage
3. Cleaning - Provide more cleaning supplies due to the size of the property and the amount of guests it would really help to have the following - Wet wipes, bin bags, cloths etc.
4. Dining - Needs to be larger... the house id for 6 guests, not 4!!
5. Showers - Review the pressure of the showers as they weren't the best
Reviewed by Adam4.7★Dec 2023
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"We were really looking forward to staying in this cottage but there were several instances of lack of maintenance together with simple furnishing details not provided that really lets an otherwise comfortable and pleasant property down."
Shower cubicle doors abandoned in the front garden (the 2 shower cubicles concerned had curtains held up with cable ties)
Poorly draining upstairs ensuite wash basin and both upstairs ensuite showers
Downstairs hand shower fitting not working
No shelving for cosmetics in upstairs ensuites. Everything had to be kept on the floor.
No shelving in one of the upstairs bedrooms
No washing up liquid or hand soap provided anywhere
The oven and grill looked as though they had never been cleaned
The microwave door fitting was still broken despite several past mentions in reviews
There was a small "hamper" provided with biscuits and teas and coffees and they were very welcome as was the large American style fridge and freezer, but unusual and unwelcoming to have to buy fuel for the fire.
The property is overpriced but would be justified if all of the above were to be corrected.
Reviewed by Alice2.2★Sep 2023
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"Prior to going to The Old Stables for a 1 week holiday we read previous reviews and were quite anxious to see what we had paid for."
Expecting the worse we were in fact happy with what we found - comfy beds, very warm and cosy. We had no plans to cook while we were on holiday but we did notice the lack of certain items in the kitchen e.g. sharp knives, salad bowl and a bread knife. We also thought there should be toilet roll holders in all the bathrooms.
The welcome hamper was a nice touch but if we had a choice we would rather have had at least enough firewood for the first night and matches. The nearest shop is 8 miles away and given we could not get into the property till 4pm we would rather not head out to find and purchase logs.
We like to have the opportunity to wipe down surfaces, including the bathroom sink and would have liked to have even enough cleaning materials to address this. We thought this was also beneficial to the owners as the property was being maintained. I would also have likes a sweeping brush. I must add none of the above stopped us having a nice time.
Reviewed by Lorna4.4★Sep 2023
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"In theory the perfect cottage for 3 adult couples."
This Cottage has the potential to be superb, but isn’t. The rooms are spacious, plenty of sofas in the sitting area, very comfortable beds. The kitchen is huge with lots of empty cupboards and drawers. Large fridge freezer. It is clean. We had a lovely holiday here, but I would not return for the reasons given below.
The cottage had a surprisingly low review rating - noticed when I paid the final balance - thus requested Northumberland Coast & Country Cottages twice to ensure rather basic things were fixed before we arrived. This worked partly. A few hundred pounds expenditure is all that is required as this cottage will meet its potential.
What was fixed:
- 6 dining chairs with no protruding screws,
- 1 new roll per loo in the ensuite bathrooms.
- All light bulbs worked.
- New roasting trays.
What was not fixed by area:
Inadequate kitchen utensils - bring your own if you plan to cook.
- Poor quality knives, not sharp, and no sharpener provided.
- Mixing bowls - just one very small one.
- No salad bowl or any other bowl.
- No serving dishes.
- No non stick implements for the non-stick pans.
- No Casserole dish
- Nothing to make a pudding in.
- Insufficient crockery or cutlery - we were always washing up a few things, despite putting the dishwasher on daily.
- Bring your own washing up liquid - we bought some and left it for the next renters. You are given the smallest bottle known to man.
- Bring everything you require to cook (No oil, no pepper etc provided).
- Microwave button about to break - So on its last legs. This had not been mentioned in previous reviews.
Inadequate furniture:
- No chest of drawers in any room - you will keep your clothes on the floor, or suitcase. There is a small wardrobe in each room.
- No shelf in any bathroom. A simple glass one above the basin would be a huge improvement. We used the floor.
Windows
- Window catch broken in downstairs bathroom area so it won't stay open.
- No window locks, very basic security.
Bathrooms:
- The downstairs shower does not drain properly, so your feet will be in an inch of water.
Outside
- Dog poo from earlier renters by the washing line. We collected all ours and didn’t add to it.
- Gate is not dog proof for small dogs. You need to put pieces of wood and flagstones along the bottom. Could easily be fixed by putting wire netting along it. Luckily our dog, who was very happy here, wasn’t particularly adventurous, if yours is, it will get out.
- The upstairs shower doors have been replaced with curtains. The original shower doors have been dumped in the garden by the washing line.
Note:
1. The downstairs ensuite, is part of the bedroom, with no wall or door in between. Not what we wanted.
2. The parking is very tight for 2 cars, particularly in they are both large.
3. You are expected to strip the beds and put into a laundry bag.
4. Extractor fans in bathrooms unbelievably noisy - you can turn them off.
Reviewed by Nicky3.4★Sep 2023
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"After reading a lot of negative comments reviews about the cottage I felt I needed to write my own to put others at ease if thinking or have already booked."
When we arrived, we were pleasantly surprised. The cottage is large and has all the amenities you need (although an iron/ironing board would be good. Location is good but to get to for example to Bamburgh which is the closest village it’s a decent walk to the nearest pub on a main road which was a shame but easy to drive to. The beaches in the surrounding area where absolutely fantastic and we highly recommend a stay in Northumberland! Would stay at the cottage again
Reviewed by Louise3.4★Sep 2023
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"Although the house has some lovely features and the beds are amazingly comfy - there are some basic items missing which you would expect for the price paid."
We were very disappointed and frustrated at how much we had paid for the quality and amenities.
Nothing useful in the kitchen, the table does not seat more than four comfortably even though the property sleeps six. Not enough plugs in bedrooms. No drawers for clothes. No mirrors no hair dryers and the garden is tiny and the road noise is horrendous. I understand the garden and road cannot be changed.
The blinds are all dirty and very cheap. Chairs dirty. Carpet dirty.
Very disappointed for the price we paid.
Reviewed by Bryony2.2★Aug 2023
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"The Old Stables was lovely!"
Reviewed by Liz5.0★Aug 2023
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"Bedrooms - there were no chests of drawers or shelves in any of the 3 bedrooms, so we had to stack our clothes on the floor or leave them in suitcases."
Downstairs double bedroom - we didn't consider that this room was suitable for sharing, as there is no partition wall (i.e. privacy or smell and steam barrier) between the bedroom and the en-suite bathroom / toilet areas; also, the room is not fully accessible for wheelchair users as there is a small step up to the toilet and shower. It was just about OK for my 88 year old mother.
Bathrooms - there were no shelves to put our toiletries on, so we had to leave some on the basin edge and the rest on the floor. The mirrors were too high for most of our family. The shower curtain in one of the bedrooms needs replacing with a proper shower door.
Kitchen - several bowls (e.g. for salads and for microwaving food) are needed for food preparation.
Dining area - the square table has 4 chairs and 4 sets of table mats, even though the cottage sleeps 6 (or 5 - see above - depending on how you feel about sharing a toilet in your bedroom!). You really need a rectangular table that seats 6 people!! Also, the dining chairs have screws protruding through the seat pads and need fixing urgently before someone is hurt.
General - several light bulbs don't work. We found a few spares and swapped others from less critical areas, but some still need to be replaced.
The lounge area TV is too high to be watched comfortably from a sofa.
Although it's potentially a nice cottage in a great location, we would not return or recommend it due to the above issues.
Reviewed by David2.5★Jul 2023
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"The property itself really is beautiful."
The open plan living space works incredibly well and the property feels high end when you enter. The property is a great size, warm and plenty of hot water. The garden is neat and nice to sit out with a drink. Beds are very comfortable and linens are quality. Lovely hamper on arrival and useful box with some cleaning products for the kitchen to tide you over.
There are just some small Changes that could elevate this property and make it come where you would return. After several reviews and feedback in the guestbook, the owner doesn’t seem to be listening to simple requests to change the broken lightbulbs and leave some soap in the bathrooms.
The cushions on the sofa have barely any feathers left inside them so are flat and feel old. The pans and baking trays really have seen better days. Such a shame as this place could be amazing!
Reviewed by Faye3.8★Jul 2023
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"Good location."
Property has lots of internal space but very limited outside. Table and chairs for 4 but no sun shade. Artificial grass and walled area so enclosed garden area but very small. Room to park two cars inside the walled area. Lovely big kitchen but poorly equipped with basic essentials. No decent knives, limited cutlery, serving bowls etc but has an espresso coffee machine. Lounge a good size with 3 sofas. All cushions in lounge were feather filled which could be a problem for allergies. Lovely modern bathrooms but no soap or extras in bathrooms and only half rolls of toilet paper in each one! Overall a lovely property but let down by lack of welcoming/homely touches provided in other rental properties.
Reviewed by Phil3.1★Jun 2023
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"The old stables is an adequate property for a group of six (we were a 5) however we were disappointed with several aspects of the property."
The dishwasher did not work, the fridge ice maker did not work and was turned off due to a leak, the ?overflow from the sink leaked, these were all reported and Mike from Sykes came out to investigate but impossible to correct during our stay. Northumbria water also came to dig a hole at the entrance to the property due to a leaking underground pipe and this was also unfortunately disruptive for our holiday, noise, water turned off for a short period with no warning. Lights and toaster also not working adequately, bulbs replaced just to fuse again? Cause. Toaster only one two slice side working. Oven burnt everything? Thermostat issues and inaccurate. Carpet in downstairs bedroom had stains. Pots and pans dirty and old non stick lining all gone and therefore food ingrained, off putting. No black out blinds in bedrooms therefore awake early everyday. Proximity of cottage to the road made it noisy at times. Parking only just adequate for two cars. Only a general waste bin on site, no recycling facility. We did enjoy our break to Northumberland, enjoyed Bamburgh, the beach is second to none. Alnwick gardens and Lindisfarne very tranquil and beautiful. The potted lobster and several other restaurants in the area were wonderful. Seahouses had some nice independent shops. Lovely walks, beautiful scenery but unfortunately we will not be back to The old Stables. Disappointing accommodation.
Reviewed by Caroline2.5★Jun 2023
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"Lovely cottage - great location but reading previous reviews and the visitors book it seemed to us that reported issues had still not been addressed."
Such as:
Toaster only working on 2 slots ( delayed breakfast for 3 of us)
Spotlights- some were not working ( previously reported)
Lights - some working some not
Poor quality kitchenware - dreadful knives for example
No soap in any bathroom! It may be your policy but it is poor service quite frankly
Instructions about when bins collected was wrong ( but they may be out of anyone’s control)
Nowhere to put products in bathroom! Had to drag side tables into bathrooms upstairs- very annoying.
Internet very slow
No hooks on the back of the doors - again just annoying
All of this detracted from the whole experience. I would think twice about booking a Sykes Cottage again as this list is so long! But on good side the beds were amazingly comfortable- that was heavenly after long walks each day.
Reviewed by Marion3.8★May 2023
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"Really lovely place, quiet, peaceful and as per listing."
The only thing that would recommend as a possible future addition would be if there was an outdoor bbq space for summer months. All in all the best stay in this country (uk) thank you
Reviewed by Nicola5.0★Apr 2023
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"The property is lovely!"
However does need some tlc, light bulbs are out, no batteries in remotes, a broken temperature gauge on a radiator, no logs left for the fire or hand wash in the bathroom.
Reviewed by Thomas4.1★Mar 2023
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"States Enclosed garden which it is but not dog or child safe a small child and dogs can get out through the gate could possibly put up some chicken wire or something else so dogs or small child can’t get through I had to have my dogs on lead in garden as they got out through gate and is very close to main road ."
Otherwise a nice cottage to visit
Reviewed by Linda4.7★Mar 2023
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"The house was lovely and clean."
Rooms were a good size.
Water was nice and hot and unlike the two previous guests the house was lovely and warm with no problem regarding heating.
It is in a great location near all the wonderful sights.
The sofas and beds were comfortable.
My biggest disappointment was the lack of and cooking dishes. There was one sole Pyrex dish! How is anyone meant to manage cooking with that! No baking trays, nothing. It posed a bug problem for us in terms of self catering.
With everything else the owners "got right" this was one niggle that shouldn’t happen.
The only other issue was having a toilet that the door opens up straight into the kitchen.
We did put the bins out as advised on the Monday night but they were not collected on Tuesday and we did the same again for Tuesday night and Wednesday night, still the bins were not collected so maybe the advice I. The I do needs to be amended.
Beautiful cottage with a few niggles but definitely worth staying in as I. A perfect location.
As I said it’s a beautiful cottage
Reviewed by Penny3.8★Feb 2023
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"Arrived at 4pm in February Heating not working…."
Oil had run out….this is careless to say the least….who is supposed to check these things!
No starter pack of logs as stated so had to try and source some very quickly…24 hours without heat or hot water in February. I note the description has now been changed to say no logs included….bit mean considering this isnt a cheap property.
Style over substance….no drawers in any of the bedrooms…despite plenty of room. Feel that it may have been designed by man, as no mirrors next to any sockets. No iron or ironing board. Ample crockery but pans, baking trays etc in short supply and not very good quality.
Booked this property as it looked very high spec, and some of it was, but don’t think I would recommend it or return to it.
Reviewed by Angela2.5★Feb 2023
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