The Old Barn

49 Customer Reviews

• "Wonderful place to stay for the 10 of us."

  It was exactly what we needed. Communication with host was also excellent. Thank you.

  Reviewed by Luke5.0★Sep 2024

• "The property was very spacious, nice and clean."

  We had young children with us so would have felt more secure if the gate could close. It looked like it hadn’t been closed in a while so was difficult to pull.

  Reviewed by Shafaq4.7★Jul 2024

• "Everything was OK with us lot of space to move around"

  Reviewed by Debra5.0★Jun 2024

• "A perfect girly getaway - Stayed over for the weekend with 7 of my girlies and had a fantastic time!"

  When we arrived there was a mini hamper box waiting for us which was a nice little touch. If someone has a disability issue there is a bedroom downstairs which was perfect for two of our guests with a bathroom just round the corner. There was another four rooms upstairs combing of double, twin and bunk beds. Also a bathroom upstairs. Each room had a small mirror for makeup etc and all the bedrooms were clean and tidy. The living room was a large space, penalty of seating as well as the kitchen. Plenty of cutlery, plates, mugs, pans etc. Three picnic benches outside which are ideal on a sunny day. Not too far was a pub called The Star I believe…it was the perfect place for a few cheeky bevvies!! You can walk there but be mindful there are no footpaths and some crazy bends in the road so just be careful! Sarah the owner - great communication, incredibly helpful and polite. Thank you so much for a wonderful stay!!! ONLY suggestion is a full length mirror - unless there was one and we missed it - sorry if we did!!

  Reviewed by Laura5.0★May 2024

• "Great location for Alton Towers - very convenient for a large family gathering of 10 comprising 5 adults and 5 children."

  Lounge comfortable. Kitchen fine and well equipped. Central heating and hot water fine. Beds reasonably comfortable but double duvets were on the small size. Only one shower produced hot water. The shower adjacent to the rear door had a shower heater but the shower ran cold. The kitchen draining board needs to be replaced. Parking was plentiful. Overall, very good. Thank you

  Reviewed by Martin4.1★Apr 2024

• "We stayed with a group of friends for New Years Eve."

  We were pleasantly surprised when we arrived because we felt like the pictures didn't do it justice. It was bigger than expected with a lovely countryside/homely vibe. The host was helpful over text, and even allowed us late check out. We had a lovely stay and would definitely recommend!

  Reviewed by Georgia4.7★Dec 2023

• "Stayed at the property for a family gathering for Christmas."

  Family members came from various parts of the UK so ideal location. Great location for property and had some good walks close by along the Churnet Valley cyclepath. Property was a good size, bedrooms all good for our visit - good to have linen and towels provided. Great large lounge area with wood burner fire which was lovely in the evening. Kitchen was a good space and large table for all to sit around. Kitchen chairs a little wobbly. Some general upkeep required: Bathroom door downstairs a little sticky - hard to open from the inside, Front door found difficult to lock when leaving property.

  Reviewed by Helen4.7★Dec 2023

• "Property was ideally situated for Alton Towers."

  Living room was spacious and very comfortable. Kitchen table was not in the least sturdy and the same goes for the kitchen chairs. Majority of mattresses had seen far better days. House needs a deep clean!

  Reviewed by Lorraine1.9★Oct 2023

• "Positives good location clean bedding and towels welcome pack Negatives Driveway was awkward to get in as there was a step of bricks covered over with gravel quite steep No ventilation in downstairs bedroom mould on curtains and it smelled of mould Kitchen boiler exhaust not venting out oil smell in kitchen Table and chairs broken Hoover full of rubbish so couldn’t use Upstairs windows not opening and smelled of mould When returned home informed owner who said as we didn’t inform her whilst we were there no compensation would be forth coming which we didn’t ask for but we did inform Sykes and asked if they inspected the places personally I don’t think they do as the pictures must have been taken when the placed was loved a long time ago."

  It’s such a shame as it’s in perfect location for Alton towers. Not worth the money even if Sykes says the price has been lowered

  Reviewed by Jane1.9★Aug 2023

• "Not worth the price when comparing to similar sized properties."

  Positives: 5mins walk to Alton Towers. The beds and sofas are comfy. Negatives: Very unclean and dust everywhere. It is apparent the cleaners are not doing their job properly and the property itself needs a deep clean (I've seen this mentioned on prebious reviews). Mould around windows, sinks and showers. One of the bathrooms has its windows sealed shut and hence any smells or condensation cannot be let out. Property itself needs redecorating and renovation including new kitchen furniture. Windows and front door do not lock properly and some can't be opened properly. Cupboards and furniture misaligned or falling e.g. kitchen cupboards and dining table. Unclean utensils in kitchen cupboards e.g. an oven baking tray was covered in grease and clearly not washed properly. Dining chairs do not fit the dining table properly i.e. too low down Lack of small things like washing up cleaning sponge, soaps, etc. When stripping the bed, noticed a boot mark on an underlying sheet and yellowing pillows. Shower doors were loose and had to complain as they could have fallen off if our children were not careful with them. Unsure how the property passes safety checks for example, light switch close to the shower, loose boiler cover. No proper front drive. The front drive is a step covered by gravel which makes driving up it very difficult as the opening is narrow. As mentioend, not worth the price compared to other similar sized properties I've rented. The owners clearly show no pride in maintaining the property and will definitely not be using this company again for rentals.

  Reviewed by Adrian1.6★Aug 2023

• "Very nice house, the kids loved it."

  Lots of seating space, nice outdoor space, nice pictures on the walls, nice and spacious kitchen. Coming from London is a strange place where you need the car to go everywhere, the roads don’t have space for people walking. It’s perfect if you go to Alton towers. The only 3 things I would improve: internet (very slow and weak signal from anywhere in the house), sockets ( not a single usb, we had to go and buy the full plug to charge our phones) and the main bed upstairs next to the bathroom had a very noise frame (we woke up everytime we turned in our sleep). Everything else was perfect and a lovely house, very clean, tidy and with lots of space.

  Reviewed by Rosa4.1★Jul 2023

• "This property for location can’t be beaten absolutely as explained across the road from the gates of Alton towers, was so handy for taking the younger ones back when they’d had enough."

  Cleanliness this house could do with a deep clean it felt dusty and sticky with cobwebs in almost at every room. Dining table was wobbly and not very stable, a few wobbly chairs, as mentioned by others mattresses were uncomfortable. The house is massive livingroom had lots of seating for all the family. The bedrooms were great sizes with plenty of space for all. Two showers and a large bath plenty for all and lovely fresh towels for arriving.

  Reviewed by Michaela3.1★Jun 2023

• "Excellent location , house in need of a little love"

  Reviewed by Liz3.8★May 2023

• "The house was easy to find from the directions given, very spacious and ideally situated for Alton Towers."

  Unfortunately to mirror some of the previous reviews, there are a number of areas that could do with improvement and some TLC. It would have been useful to have a bit more information regarding local pubs, takeaways, days out etc. as well as household information. When we arrived the heating was on and it was stifling hot but we couldn’t find the thermostat so ended up turning radiators down or off completely. The house felt quite dusty upon arrival and there were a lot of cobwebs. Some of the kitchen utensils and cutlery needed to be washed before use. The upstairs bathroom window is broken so has been sealed shut. Not enough hand towels, only one in each bathroom for a 4 night stay isn’t enough for everyone. The mattresses were very uncomfortable and could do with being replaced too. Lots of minor issues that need attention too; toilet seats were loose, broken curtain hooks, leaky shower etc. And the driveway was a real issue for one of our party who has a sporty car. But, the house does have the potential to be a really lovely place to stay.

  Reviewed by Clare3.4★Apr 2023

• "We stayed at the property in April 2023, three families- 6 adults and 6 kids."

  The property has some very good points but also some bad points so I hope to provide a balanced review here. The good points: the property is in a cracking location. Not only for Alton Towers but also for Churnet Valley Railway, Peak Wildlife Park, Leek Town, Rudyard Lake and much more. The house is spacious, you never feel like you’re on top of one another. It has lovely big gardens for the kids to play in and there is ample parking space. The house is also really well equipped for a large number of people including plenty of dinner, cooking and drink ware, lovely fluffy towels and we were provided with a highchair, stair gate and travel cot. The biscuits and crisps on arrival were a nice touch. There are also plenty of options for local takeaways and pubs. The directions provided to the property made it really easy to find and clear instruction was provided by the owner before arrival. The bad points: sadly the overall maintenance of this property lets its down; it clearly hasn’t been given any TLC for a long time. My husband had to fix a drawer in the kitchen- the same issue had been highlighted in a review a year previous which was disappointing. There were also lots of other minor fixings needed, broken windows, rickety fixtures etc…. You can forgive one or two but these have all clearly built up over time with no attention given. Some of the radiators were thick with cobwebs and we had to clean out some of the wardrobes and drawers before we could put our clothes in. Of the two shower rooms downstairs only one was useable as the second had the shower directly facing a window that had no blinds or frosted glass. The most disappointing element was the dreadful mattresses. They were so uncomfortable and clearly need replacing. This being the most disappointing; paying money for a holiday to rest and relax, and these mattresses did not facilitate that need. With some minor improvements and TLC this property could be absolutely amazing and worth the money we paid. But we felt disappointed for what we paid vs what we received in its current state. We asked ourselves if we would stay here again and decided if the mattresses were replaced then that would tip the pros in favour of the cons and we would return.

  Reviewed by Amy2.2★Apr 2023

• "The location of the property is amazing and exactly as described."

  The house itself is lovely and very homely especially the sitting room which has plenty of sofas to seat everyone comfortably and the log burner is a very nice touch. The kitchen is really well equipped and certainly caters for large parties which is the same with the house having 3 bathrooms. The only reoccurring comments from everyone in our party including myself was that the mattresses we very uncomfortable, a new matress in each room would really help the place. Overall though, a great house, great location and we will certainly be booking again.

  Reviewed by Adam3.8★Nov 2022

• "A wonderful cottage with a lovely large lounge and wood burner fire, great for relaxing and socialising, and literally a stones throw from Alton towers."

  The kitchen was well equipped and the table extends to accommodate a larger group. Two showers, a bath and three toilets were ample, and the beds were very comfortable.

  Reviewed by Nicole5.0★Oct 2022

• "This property is fabulous."

  Two families of 6 shared the house and it felt really spacious with a beautiful garden and plenty of room to play outside...the kitchen has everything you could want for cooking for a large group. The decor is gorgeous and the beds are very comfy with sparkling white sheets. And there isnt a better location to be found for Alton Towers - it's literally right outside the entrance!

  Reviewed by Lisa5.0★Jul 2022

• "Needs a good refurbishment, pictures are a bit of a catfish."

  I would also recommend adding some condiments on arrival as this is the 1st cottage i have been to that did not have much of a welcome package.

  Reviewed by Aliasgar2.2★Jul 2022

• "There was a smell of diesel in the kitchen that was fairly strong when we ..."

  There was a smell of diesel in the kitchen that was fairly strong when we arrived but really the place was lovely and we were very happy with our stay

  Reviewed by Aaron4.7★Jun 2022

• "What a great place ."

  Wasnt pristine but had a family friendly feel . We had an absolute ball. Kids loved playing hide and seek

  Reviewed by Kenny3.8★Apr 2022

• "The property was perfectly located for our purposes."

  The owner was responsive when we had an issue with one of the bedroom windows not shutting properly. The property was more than adequately stocked with all manner of utensil’s, crockery and cutlery. However, we felt that the property could use a little TLC, some time spent fixing minor issues (drawer to cutlery draw was almost hanging off) luckily we had a screwdriver and tightened it up. Given the storms across the country it wasn’t the best weather, but it still came as a little shock to see water pouring in through the small nook windows in the living room. As a space the property is great for meeting up with friends and has the space needed so that you don’t feel like you’re on top of each other.

  Reviewed by Paul4.1★Feb 2022

• "We had a lovely time there for my daughters 30th nice and spacious and very ..."

  We had a lovely time there for my daughters 30th nice and spacious and very comfy in the summer months it would be nicer as the garden is big with plenty of outdoor space with bbq to sit out and enjoy the evening

  Reviewed by Julie5.0★Jan 2022

• "Really enjoyed our stay here, we had 9 adults and 3 children and had plenty of room."

  Loads of off road parking, my only issue was with my slightly sporty car if I had a car load of people in it I would bottom out my car on the exit from the property, I had to get everyone to get in and out of my car on the road outside. Would most definitely book again.

  Reviewed by Antony5.0★Dec 2021

• "Fantastic location if you're visiting Alton Towers and Peak District."

  We had a good time.

  Reviewed by Anish3.8★Sep 2021

• "Fantastic local for visiting Alton Towers, less than a 10min walk to the park entrance."

  As a party of 8 the house gave us plenty of room and we never felt on top of one another. We felt a little TLC would enhance the property but overall we loved our stay. The entrance to the property is steep and quite narrow with a couple of holes and a drop as you leave the property, which lower models of car will hit.

  Reviewed by Jacky3.8★Aug 2021

• "Our stay in the barn was not pleasant."

  There was a strong damp musty smell throughout. The upstairs bathroom smelt of sewage. The kitchen was grimy and I refused to cook in it. The WiFi was very poor. There were spiders in every room, broken hooks, broken handles, smashed windows. Basically the barn is in a very sorry state and needs a total deep clean throughout. We left a day earlier as a result. The one positive point to make is its close proximity to Alton Towers. This is not an outstanding property as you suggest; but it could be!

  Thanks for taking the time to leave your comments. We’re sorry to hear the issues you experienced during your stay. We can’t guarantee the Wifi speed, but we were pleased to be able to provide you with a personal hotspot as soon as you notified us and we’re glad that helped, along with the blind hook that was repaired at the start of your stay. We supervise the cleaning team personally so we’re sorry to hear the comments about this and take this very seriously; had you notified us of any cleanliness or maintenance issues during your stay we would have been happy to address them. We do clear any cobwebs at every changeover but being in a rural setting we do get some spiders. We have ordered a replacement for the window with a crack but couldn't locate the broken handles you mentioned. The kitchen is very traditional in keeping with the farmhouse style of the cottage, which we understand may differ to the contemporary kitchens and interiors you may be used to at home; however, the appliances are all fairly new with the new oven being installed the day of your arrival and all crockery, cutlery and utensils are thoroughly cleaned at every changeover. We have had other reviews recently which praise the cleanliness and comfort at the cottage, but we’re sorry it didn’t meet your expectations on this occasion. Property Owner

  Reviewed by Helen1.3★Jul 2021

• "A really lovely home with plenty of space - we never felt that we were stepping on each others toes and we stayed for 7 nights."

  Bedrooms were super spacious with extremely comfy beds. Everything incredibly clean. The outside space is lovely as well. We had many meals sitting in the sunshine. Thanks for a great stay!

  Reviewed by Sarah5.0★Jul 2021

• "I stayed 10 years ago at this property and was looking forward to the holiday given our previous experience."

  I have to say I was very disappointed. The property has literally not changed in that time. The place is run down, with broken furniture, windows that don't open, cobwebs and dust everywhere. Dirty walls and paintwork, sticky, mucky handles, black mould in showers etc etc. Every time you tried to use the grill it fused the electrics. One of the showers couldn't be used because the drain was blocked and the other shower door was broken. There were cobwebs and spiders all over the bathrooms. The leather suite has seen better days so much so that you didn't actually want to sit on it. The place smelled as soon as you opened the front door. I definitely wouldn't go back again and actually considered leaving before the week was up. I have never stayed in such a dirty property and it's a shame as it has so much potential.

  Reviewed by Amanda1.3★Jul 2021

• "Cottage was spacious, clean and well equipped."

  Lovely sunny garden is great (Although would be even better with a bbq) Great location for visiting Alton Towers, we just walked to the park. Some lovely walks from nearby as well. Would happily come back.

  Reviewed by Laura4.4★May 2021

• "Lovely house and we had a brilliant time."

  Owners flexible and good communication. We would stay again. Just a couple of useful tips; Towels are not included (as pictured) A welcome book would be useful - local takeaways, WiFi details, where to find the boiler etc.(in a cupboard in kitchen near sink) the drive is steep and a tight turn, a lowered car would struggle. No tree swing as pictured. Soooo close to Alton Towers, perfect of you are spending the day there and if not plenty of other things around. We found the chained old oak tree.

  We're so glad you had a great holiday. Thank you for your feedback. Much of this relates to the changes we had to make during the pandemic; we're pleased to say that we're now able to provide towels for all guests and our welcome book with all the info you need about the property and local area has been returned. The drive isn't on a steep slope and we've not heard of anyone having trouble before. We have taken the opportunity to refresh the photos so our guests have a really clear view of the property and the facilities. We hope to see you again soon. Property Owner

  Reviewed by N4.7★Sep 2020

• "The property listed is not luxury or 5 star."

  It was filthy, substandard, and not as listed on your website. I will be contacting your complaints department with full details.

  We're sorry to hear your comments and note that this has since been resolved to your satisfaction. The property has undergone a full maintenance review and deep clean. We have also taken the opportunity to work with Sykes Cottages update the photographs and description to ensure the information on the website accurately reflects the fantastic facilities at The Old Barn. Property Owner

  Reviewed by Catherine1.3★Aug 2020

• "Fantastic property."

  Our booking was for 9 guests and everyone commented on how much space we had and that we weren’t ever on top of each other. The lounge has enough seats for everyone to sit in all at the same time, as did the kitchen. There was plenty of storage and fridge space too. Also, even though we knew we would be close to Alton Towers we were still taken a back by just how close the property is! You can see the welcome sign from the house and we were at the turn stiles within minutes as you don’t have to make the long walk from the car park. The property is also very reasonably priced. Our host was on hand with any questions and we would definitely book again to stay here with a large group.

  Thank you for taking the time to leave such lovely comments. We're so pleased that you enjoyed the property and had such a lovely stay. We hope to see you all again very soon Property Owner

  Reviewed by Hannah5.0★Aug 2020

• "Oh where to start?"

  ? What r the main things I should mention? General Lack of kitchen equipment- no chopping board, no mats for the floor in bathrooms, furniture falling apart especially in the ground floor bedroom, no ventilation in the ground floor bedroom( no opening window and patio door locked shut with no handle) blinds didn’t all work, filthy in between cushions on sofa, windows filthy esp in the main bedroom, outside benches on their last legs, the tv in one of the bedrooms didn’t work, kitchen doors were hanging off, shower door was loose, toilet seat came off, the general cleanliness was poor. Positives - it could be a lovely cottage if the above issues were improved, it was a good size and the outside space was lovely and an excellent location. We felt that for almost £2000 for a weeks stay that the standards would have been higher. We would not stay here again. We did request a fan when we arrived for the ground floor bedroom and the owner brought 2 over which was appreciated. Alton towers is literally on the door step and lots of places within a 30-40 min drive, we loved Matlock bath and Cannock chase.

  Thank you for your comments. We’re sorry to hear that you found some issues during your stay. We’re pleased to say that all of these points have been addressed as part of our recent and very thorough maintenance review and the property has also been deep cleaned throughout. Chopping board and bath-mats are provided and all blinds and TVs have been tested and are in full working order. Please note that the window in the downstairs bedroom is a floor to ceiling static window and not an opening patio door. Many thanks again for taking the time to leave your review. Property Owner

  Reviewed by Paula1.9★Aug 2020

• "We have just arrived back from a lovely weekend break at The Old Barn."

  We visited as a group of old school friends and our families to spend a day at Alton Towers. The property was very well suited to large groups and had plenty of space for 9 adults and 3 children. The property was very well equipped with a lovely kitchen and plenty of bath/shower rooms. The whole house was kept to an excellent standard and was ideal for a get away with friends. This property is in a prime location for visiting Alton Towers - we walked to the park gates in less than 10minutes! We also had some lovely finishing touches by the property owners with some lovely flowers and a few snacks left for us. Thank you Sarah & Nick for a lovely home from home for the weekend!

  Reviewed by Rebecca5.0★Mar 2020

• "Great location for visits to Alton Towers the house provides a welcome sanctuary after a full day on the rides."

  Loved the large kitchen and spacious living room. We were a party of 4 adults with 5 children aged 12 to 8 and the house provided space for each member of the party 2 downsides, the electric shower in the small wc did not work and the WiFi connection was poor

  Reviewed by Robert4.7★Jun 2019

• "Lovely cottage - very expensive though for what it was."

  No hot tub etc, but still beautiful and great for a big group sharing the cost. Right next to Alton Towers too. Would stay again.

  Reviewed by Joanna3.8★Jun 2019

• "Good location for the Peak District"

  Reviewed by Richard3.8★Feb 2019

• "There was 12 of us staying and not once did we feel like we was on top of one another all weekend loved how close it was to Alton Towers."

  We didn’t go but stayed at the cottage to watch the fireworks was brill good view. There was nothing we need everything was there even more games so fun was had by all

  Reviewed by Rebecca5.0★Nov 2018

• "Great stay :) nice cottage and so convenient placement for exploring Peak District"

  Reviewed by Hamza5.0★Sep 2018

• "When we arrived the house hadn’t been left in good condition, the floor was dirty and the oven was filthy, the sofa was falling apart in the living room."

  The lack of basic amenities were also dissatisfactory: no toilet roll, no bin liners, nothing to wash up with so we had to go out and buy everything ourselves. The temperature of the showers weren’t able to be controlled and not enough towels were provided. Overall the house needs a huge amount of TLC and a proper clean, We left the house in a better condition than we found it in. Very dissapointting.

  Reviewed by Tanisha1.9★Sep 2018

• "The old barn was as it says, but requires a refurbishment."

  The position next to Alton towers will not be beaten its so close. The only problems we had was the hot water boiler was not working, and out of 3 showers only the electric one in the back was in operation for the 12 of us! The barn is comfortable, and met our needs for the 3 night stay. If it is refurbished i am sure anyone visiting it will not be disappointed.

  Reviewed by Garry4.1★Jul 2018

• "The cottage was absolutely lovely and is the perfect place to stay for a trip to Alton Towers."

  It's actually closer to the gates than the car park!! Thoroughly reccomend!

  Reviewed by Gibran4.7★Jun 2018

• "Between 11 of us only one shower room was working."

  Saucepans were dated. Mop was very dirty. The beds were squeaking. The bath stopper wasn't working. There were hardly any mirrors in the bedrooms. The dining table and chairs were all rattling. Overall very poor accommodation.

  Reviewed by Pana1.3★May 2018

• "Kitchen floor was sticky Coffee blender was dirty Neighbours were very very ..."

  Kitchen floor was sticky Coffee blender was dirty Neighbours were very very noisey (plus overlooked) Bbq was rusty, old and unusable Wifi didn’t work

  Reviewed by Gary2.5★May 2018

• "Had an amazing weekend."

  Perfect location if you want to visit Alton towers as it is literally a stones store away (no exaggeration)

  Reviewed by Edward4.8★Oct 2017

• "The house was in a great location and had all the family facilities we nended."

  Reviewed by Poppy4.0★Jun 2017

• "Fantastic place to stay."

  Could've sat in that living room for the whole three days we were there!! So comfy!!

  Reviewed by Daniel5.0★Mar 2017

• "For anyone that is looking to spend time at Alton Towers, this property is ideal."

  It is right on the doorstep of the theme park. The Old Barn was perfect for our needs on this trip in terms of property size, location and facilities. One or two minor points that I would like to make: - The hot water was not easy to control. The note in the hallway shower room advises guests not to change the temperature dial as it is at a comfortable level. All of the guests in our party found it to be far too hot. In the upstairs bathroom, the hot water didn't run consistently in the bath so we could never get it much hotter than lukewarm. - The stairway is completely open on one side (no handrail), so it was difficult to prevent the kids from playing on the status by putting up a stair gate or barrier. - There is no WiFi at the property, which was slightly disappointing. All in all, however, we had a comfortable and enjoyable weekend break.

  Reviewed by Lee4.4★Nov 2016

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