The Hemmel

Lovely accommodation.

Only suggestions would be to turn the heating on a little earlier so the property warms through,a mirror behind the door on main bedroom as there was no plug and mirror close enough to each other for me to use hair straighteners and at Christmas you go through a lot of crockery so a couple more small plates. Very nice property and we had a lovely stay.

Lovely stay at The Hemmel with our son and two dogs.

The cottage is quirky but well equipped and has a lovely big bath in the bedroom! Great location to visit surrounding towns and attractions and lots of pubs to eat at locally or a short drive away. The owner was super friendly to communicate with and helped us out after we left something behind.

Although The Hemel was a very quirky and unique cottage there were a few issues which we shared with the owners privately.

A beautiful area to stay if visiting The Cotswolds and would highly recommend The Eagle pub in the village of Little Coxwell (5 min walk) A bit underwhelmed with quality vs price Games room added bonus and good fun Being a very rural place to stay be aware of all sorts of creepy crawlies!!

Outstanding cottage with a great private games room and a magical wishing well in a fabulous environment.

Recommended.

Had an amazing stay at this cottage over Christmas, Was clean and had everything you could want, loved the wood fire.

We had a fantastic stay, great location and very cosy accommodation.

We would definitely return.

This is a beautiful place to stay.

Full of character and quirky features. We loved sitting in front of the log burner. We were only here two nights because we came for a friend’s wedding. Everyone enjoyed it. Unfortunately we didn’t have time to try out the games room. Would happily stay here again when visiting this area.

What a lovely property, beautifully done.

The games room in the garden was such a bonus, we had great fun. The location is good for exploring, the little village is beautiful, great for walking, wish we had brought better footwear. We really enjoyed our short stay.

We had a lovely stay, we were there for the air show.

The games room was a nice touch. The only negatives were lots of spiders on the property and a loose tile and cracked tile in the shower room.

Lovely cottage in a lovely area!

We enjoyed our stay. Good choice for travelling with your dog because there are some nice footpaths.

Hemel Cottage/Gorse House/Little Coxwell This is a list of equipment etc.

that we would have found useful on our visit General: Instructions on adjusting heating Bath/shower: Bath mat Towel rail Non-slip shower mat Shelf in shower for toiletries Bedrooms: Tables/shelves for possessions Windows easy to open and shut Kitchen: Cupboard/shelves for foodstuffs Vegetable dishes Colander Draining board into sink Handles on cupboard doors Kitchen cleaning equipment

Lovely property, super comfy and everything you could need is there.

having the games room was great fun, we could have stayed in the whole weekend but there are some lovely scenic walks around too.

Lovely quirky cottage within walking distance of a good dining pub.

The cottage was great for a quiet break but the Games Room means it would also be good for a family. The only thing I thought would be better would be a small guide to the premises on arrival. Having said that my couple of queries were answered quickly on WhatsApp.

Beautiful cottage and really helpful hosts.

Will definitely be returning.

Lovely, cosy place to stay and the bag of logs was appreciated as it was very cold weather.

Fun and quirky property that has everything you could want for a short stay.

Had a lovely long weekend catching up with our son. The games room is a wonderful addition to the property.

We had a lovely, relaxing break in this comfortable, stylish conversion and found it an ideal centre for touring Oxford, The Cotswolds, and surrounding areas.

Wonderful walks for the dogs - they had a great time but we had to be very careful with them around the well and feel that a good safety feature would be a finer metal mesh on top of the existing safety bars as the well goes so far down. Lovely to have Waitrose and the characterful market town of Faringdon so near

We has a wonderful time at the cottage, however a few things could be improved.

The cooker main oven was inoperative. None of the Apple devices could log on to the internet, apart from a laptop running on Windows 11. A rubber non-slip matt in the shower and bath would be a nice safety feature. A visitors book where guests could write appropriate comments. Other than above, the cottage fixtures were of a high quality and the various soaps and lotions were a nice touch.

Good property in a good location.

Fairly well kitted out with quality items. Games room is great fun. I'd disagree with previous reviews that the shower is feeble, it seemed fine to us. Only minor criticisms are that there was nowhere to store food in the kitchen and minimal clothes storage space in the bedrooms. The bath is a nice touch but it does not have the view promised in the description (also it had a small leak in the outlet pipe). But overall a great base for our holiday.

We booked 11 nights at the Hemmel in July prior to the May/June reviews publishing, so we were reasonably alarmed by the description of unhygienic and unsafe conditions that later followed.

We rang Sykes as soon as we saw the reviews and were informed we needed to speak to their sister company Manor Properties. After some chasing up on our behalf we were finally able to speak with someone who advised some of the issues had already been resolved and took my outstanding queries back to the owner. However, no one followed this up with us again prior to the holiday which was disappointing. Given we were unable to cancel without losing our payment we decided to take a chance and continue with the holiday as planned. We will start with the positives: The location of the property was fantastic, we were able to visit lots of areas of natural beauty, National Trust properties and even Oxford city centre. The house was very private, despite proximity to the second holiday cottage and owners home. In addition, it is worth noting The Hemmel is attached to another cottage (belonging to a separate owner?) but we were not disturbed by anyone in any of the other properties. The most we saw / heard was the occasional car driving in/out. The front garden we thought was delightful with lots of flowers, and it was peaceful enough to enjoy the bench without being overlooked. Little Coxwell was literally over the road from the property and cannot recommend The Eagle pub enough – fantastic food, but do make sure you book! We were very comfortable in the property, slept well on the four poster bed and had everything we needed for a pleasant enough stay. The downside to the property: Our biggest issue (and really does need addressing) is the very poor quality shower. It looks pretty and has good temperature settings but has no power to it at all and takes ages to wash/rinse. Don’t be fooled into thinking you will be able to use the shower over the bath as this does not work – the handle moves but you can only get water out of the bath tap. The bath itself was fine, although doesn’t drain fully (tilted back slightly) so beware of standing water. Also, a little trading standards discretion needed with the promise of “you can laze in the glorious roll top bath in the corner of the bedroom and admire the Oxfordshire countryside in the fields surrounding the cottage”. You can see next doors lawn and hot tub (where a fence panel has now been moved to one side) but only if you crane your neck over the taps, otherwise you really are looking at a brown fence. The hot tub belonging to the other property we were attached to is literally outside the living room window – thankfully no one used it during our break but this could impact your stay. Generally the house is like a show home – looks really beautiful but not always functional, which is a shame. We are glad we went but would not look to return to this property and wish we had been more informed prior to booking.

Cottage was well appointed and very pretty.

It was clean but there were bits that had got left behind a lot of cobwebs in corners and just bits that were missed. Did not find any sort of welcome guide and had to chase up to find out the Wi-Fi code. Access is tight but going out was harder than it needed to be due long grass in the verges. That said it was a lovely little place to stay and we had a good holiday.

We are going to start with the positives….

. Great location. It’s a characterful and quirky property, which on the surface looks great. There were some lovely touches, like bubbles and chocolate in the fridge and smellies for the bath. Sadly, over our stay, we picked up on more and more issues. The frustration we had was a lot of them had been picked up by previous guests so we had expected them to have been addressed but they weren’t…… The main shower is not fit for purpose. It looks great, but the water trickles out of the rainfall head. You can’t shower properly, and certainly can’t use it to wash your hair. Also, the water struggles to flow down the drain so what water you do have stands; when it does go down slowly there is a problem with the drain and you get a load of debris coming back up, making the shower floor dirty. This issue was picked up in June ‘21, July and Nov ‘22, yet not been rectified. Shower sealant needs replacing. Kitchen doors are difficult to open; one of us lost a finger nail! Need fixing or door handles putting on. Picked up previously. The dishwasher had been left with standing water in it….owner came and put it on a 3hour cycle which we then had to live with - it’s open plan and very noisy….if you use it, put it on when you go out! WiFi password not provided, so we had to ask for it…..so simple to leave this somewhere, along with instructions for heating, oven etc….nothing provided. Picked up previously Nov ‘22. No plug by a mirror …picked up previously. The beam in the main bedroom is low and a hazard. It’s mentioned in particulars but doesn’t say it’s low….beware. I am 5’10” and have a photo to show it coming to just above my eyes and it’s between the bed and bath/loo. I’m guessing I am not the only person to walk into it in the middle of the night. Previously mentioned in Aug ‘21. It says you can laze in the bath and admire the countryside in the fields surrounding the cottage. It’s a lovely bath but I have a photo of the view and it’s of a fence immediately outside the window. We found dirty and stained crockery in the cupboard. We stripped the beds when we left and were disgusted by the state of the pillows. They were very poor quality, had no protectors on them and had LOADS of stains….made us feel sick. They need replacing and protecting. Thankfully the beds had protectors but they also badly need washing, Main bed squeaks with every move you make….loud enough to wake someone if you are sharing. The garden is in need of lots of TLC…..loads of weeding, pruning and the brickwork needs cleaning. As previously mentioned in 2021, the metal furniture is very rusty….wouldn’t sit on them…the pictures of it are obviously years old and not a true reflection of the furniture or garden in the current state. Also the garden is not very private as it is on the front so other guests and owners can be around. The pictures make the garden look much bigger than it is. We had wood for the log burner but no kindling so had to get some before we could use it. There are lots of things that need addressing but most have been mentioned previously so not sure if anything would be done; it’s such a shame as the style is great but the issues make this a disappointment and not worth what you pay. Also, be aware that it is actually smaller than you may think from the photos….great size for 2 adults, or with 2 children, but too small for 4 adults. We didn’t mention all the issues as they arose, as whilst owners on site, they were not really engaged with us….there was no welcome either face to face or text; they did pop in to switch on the dishwasher but we saw one on departure but they didn’t even acknowledge us. Also, we had a power cut…nothing from them to check we were ok or offer us candles…we text them and we just got a one line text back to confirm it was a power cut. This, with most issues having previously been raised, we saw no value in trying to pick up with them when there. In summary, this place could be a delight, but the issues that are recurring need to be addressed and some care and attention made to the maintenance both inside and out.

Great location, quiet and peaceful stay

We had a great stay at the hemmel .

very warm and cosy .The owners were on hand to help . Great location and a lovely village. Dogs loved it too. Would recommend. Thanks...

Would definitely book again.

Shower had been missed and not cleaned but spoke to Donna at Sykes Cottages and she resolved the issue with the owner straight away and they sent a cleaner round (genuine mistake). Notified them that the waste pipe on the bath was leaking at the end of our stay and the staff were very easy to deal with. Would definitely use again

A pleasant place to stay.

Lots to see in the area. Would recommend the following 1. More mugs need to be provided. 2. WiFi password needs to be displayed in the cottage. 3. Shower pressure needs boosting.

A lovely property in a really beautiful part of the country.

We loved the quirkyness of the place and the comfort was excellent. We were also very grateful for the helpfulness of the owner.

Great place good area to make your base as all most all places of interest are with in an hours drive With a dog must to go are cotswold wild life park and bourton on the water were dogs can go into motor museum birdlife park and model village.

Would use again

We had a fantastic time.

The holiday cottage was lovely... and we will definitely use again.. Positive..... well equipped with most things... Good outside space and great games room. Plenty of parking...fab log burner with logs for the cold weather. Big walk in shower. Fabulous bath. Comfy sofa and beds. Towel we're provided, given more when I asked... Has WiFi, ask owner for code... Negative Just to make you aware, there is plenty of spiders in the cottage, we put most back outside, but rest got sucked up in hoover... Needs a clothes airer. Washing line outside. Like I said we loved our holiday here and I would definitely recommend. Xxxx

It all looks very nice upon arrival but it needed a really good clean!

Dishwasher was disgusting, hadn't been cleaned at all. I put it on a long hot wash which is all I could do really. The fridge looks great (Smeg bright orange) but the seal is mouldy on the freezer compartment and the fridge didn't even keep the butter cold! We had to throw out our food when we left. The shower was grimed with dirt aroud the seals and was filthy! Plus the shower had such low pressure , it simply didnt work! Water just dribbled out it was impossible to rinse yourself clean. I would like the owner to spend one night in there and see what they think. I have photos if anyone would like to see before they book this property.

A lovely place to stay and the property was as we expected.

Thank you to the owner for a pleasant stay. I would just say that it would be good to provide a mirror near a plug to be able to use the hairdryer. The only mirror near a plug was over the dining table which was slightly impractical. Overall however, a lovely property and a very pleasant stay, thank you.

Lovely property credit to the owners Unfortunately we were there for work not pleasure but would certainly under either circumstances.

Nice property and very helpful owner.

Sykes team very good too

The cottage was well dressed, its surface appearance looked great, all style, no substance.

But it was soon obvious the owners had never done a trial run in the place. In the kitchen, the doors are not easy to open. The main oven didn't work, we struggled to cook our meal on the last evening, in the small top oven. No cafetiere, or any way of making fresh coffee. No instruction leaflets for any of the appliances, apart from the boiler. In the main bedroom, the bed squeaked and groaned loudly on every small movement, waking not only the couple sleeping in it, but also me in the next bedroom.The walls are incredibly thin with no soundproofing. The bedside tables were scratched and stained beyond the label of shabby chic. The tap on the bath didn't work, had to fill the bath up using the shower attachment. The small bedroom the foil is peeling off the chest of drawers leaving sharp edges. No light you could turn off from the bed, had to stumble back in the darkness. Not even a basic hairdryer supplied (that is a first). The building work was noisy, you wouldn't have wanted to sit out during the day. But saying that, the patio furniture is metal and going rusty, so I wouldn't have wanted to sit on it in light coloured clothes anyway. It was a lot of little niggles that marred the holiday, all things that for the money they were charging should not have happened. I have stayed in much cheaper cottages that have offered a far better experience.

The location is ideal, but the cottage itself was disappointing.

Made the most of the games room which was great! Had to wait over an hour to get in as cleaners had only started at 6pm.cottage only had a quick clean, had cobwebs everywhere- I would expect some in an old cottage but not around the kitchen area/extractor. The bedding and towels smelt musty. The kitchen bin was full when we arrived and had to empty this and also the cottage bins, into the main bin area. We were made aware of building work on site, but noisy if we returned at during the day. The bed looked lovely, but not practical as squeaked with the slightest movement!! Not ideal for a relaxing week away! Might be worth adding on the cottage specifications how low the beams in the bedroom are, as don't appreciate it in the pictures.

The Hemmel is a pretty cottage in a fantastic location.

The cottage is a good size for couples, or families with smaller children (however the twin room is next to the living area and walls are very thin, so noise could be an issue). It’s not suitable for 4 adults. The master bedroom has a few very low beams, that need negotiating if your anywhere over 5ft! The games room is brilliant, a WiFi extender would be a good idea, so then it can act as a second reception room. I have given a three star rating, because I felt that although the Hemmel looks great, but there are a few key issues: 1. The living room area needs more comfortable / better seating for relaxing. The sofa is so uncomfortable, not suitable for relaxing. Same goes for the small chair. Fine as a seat, but you wouldn’t use it to read or watch TV, not comfortable enough. This may sound petty, but it meant we couldn’t relax comfortably and that’s what holidays are for!! 2. Cleanliness - the cottage was clean, BUT there were cobwebs everywhere, not only at high levels. In addition, the towels were clean, but smelt very musty. On leaving I found out why, the laundry at changeover is dried in a small outhouse/ shed. 3. There were a few things missing: - more cutlery. Four settings is skimpy - oven gloves - iron - new / better outside seating. - access to hose for dogs muddy paws - handle on the kitchen cupboard with the bin in….very difficult to open! For me, the cottage was style over substance. With a few simple but important tweaks, it could be so much better, instead it left me a bit irritated and not relaxed!

The holiday cottage is beautiful and looks just as the photos in the advert .

we used the games room most evenings which we enjoyed very much, Unfortunately there are a lot of negatives , main bed was comfy but made load creeks everytime you moved which kept me awake my partner had ear plugs so didnt effect him .Not enough storage for clothes especially in the small bedroom far to small for two beds , ok for two small children but not two teenagers. Shower was terrible most of the water holes were blocked so only got a trickle, the shower tray kept over flowing but the cottage owners came across within ten minutes of me informing them and fixed it .Our first few night was ok as it was the weekend then the rest of the week the field behind the cottage turned into a building site so no more relaxation or sleeping for us

lovely setting for a charming cottage which has been furnished and designed with charm and wit.

Owners are on hand should they be needed but do not interfere. Many places of interest within a short drive and the local pub has a small menu with good starters and average mains, Great for a quiet break

Lovely cottage and nice touches from the host.

It's child friendly but no high chair and we took a travel cot. There was no hot water for showers on our last morning which was a disappointing end to a otherwise wonderful mini break.

Outstanding property with great attention to detail.

Great location for exploring the area.

The Hemel was the perfect place for our honeymoon!

Such a beautiful cottage, the decor so cool and funky. It is very very comfortable, the bath wonderful and the whole place just so cosy. Sonia was brilliant, helpful but just left us to it. We would 100% recommend this place to anyone and are definitely planning on coming back!

We really enjoyed our stay at The Hemmel.

The cottage itself, was very clean, tidy and first impressions from us all on entering the accommodation, was 'wow'. We loved the style and decor of the cottage, which was unique and one of the nicest we have stayed in. The central heating was more than adequate, but we also used the log burner on the cold nights to give that warm, cosy feeling. The four poster bed, in the main ensuite room with the standalone bath was great. It was so quiet in the surrounding area, that we slept solidly all night through on each of the 4 nights. Our own parking right outside the gate, made it easy to unpack. Ample cooking utensils, as we ate in on a few nights and cooked breakfast before going out daily to different locations. The Hemmel is ideally situated to visit the small surrounding towns, which have small markets worth visiting and for the bigger cities such as Oxford. The attached games room, was an added bonus and was also well used by us. All in all, a perfect stay.

After rearranging our Easter week to a week in August, due to Covid, we stayed during one of the hottest weeks.

The cottage was lovely with high end stuff. Upon arrival we were met with the owner who presented us with some lovely pink fizz and chocolates for the children. The cottage was clean and we had fresh eggs waiting for us in the kitchen. The children enjoyed the games room, which felt a little cooler when it’s was very warm in the hot weather.

The cottage was in a perfect location and all appliances were high specification.

It must have been stunning when it was first done, however it is now looking tired. For a high end cottage that wasn’t cheap for January we didn’t expect to find peeling wallpaper, lifted wooden flooring and a very rocky sofa. Seeing as we’d been told the property was free the week before we would have expected it to be cleaner. Cobwebs, dirty skirting boards and a used tissue in the lounge. We expected to be wowed by the property but were a little disappointed. With a little TLC and some new furnishings it could be amazing.

The Hemel was a fantastic, cosy place to stay, a great base from which to explore the surrounding area.

The games room was a definite hit with the kids. The only thing missing was recycling facilities.

Signage to the property is very discreet, we missed it the first time as did our friends coming from the opposite direction.

It is a "get away from it all" location the owner lives on site and had delightful pets that greeted us, looking we suspect for the odd treat? There is a good games room and place to relax.

The Hemmel is really comfortable place to stay and we will have happy memories of our short time there; a really stylish place.

The cottage is delightful.

The decor is creative and high-quality. The area is quiet and picturesque.

The Hemmel was more than perfect.

We have really enjoyed our stay. The cottage is well equiped, very stylish and situated beautifully near the Cotswolds, Oxford and Chiltern Hills. The perfect venue for our holidays