“First impressions were great - fantastic size and layout with nice decor - perfect for our growing family - children and grandchildren.”
We felt instantly relaxed and there were plenty of breakout spaces. The owner quickly responded to our request for firelighters for the hot tub.
Unfortunately there were lots of things that let it down which would be quick to remedy. It's noted that some of these things have been stated in the property guestbook, and in online reviews about another property onsite - these things have either not been addressed or have been rebuked by the owner.
In no particular order -
*the toaster is ...
We felt instantly relaxed and there were plenty of breakout spaces. The owner quickly responded to our request for firelighters for the hot tub.
Unfortunately there were lots of things that let it down which would be quick to remedy. It's noted that some of these things have been stated in the property guestbook, and in online reviews about another property onsite - these things have either not been addressed or have been rebuked by the owner.
In no particular order -
*the toaster is damaged and therefore dangerous
*the saucepans and frying pans, whilst plentiful, need replacing - we had no choice but to use them but the surfaces on every one of them are scratched and are peeling away - they also weren't clean
*the freezer needs a thorough defrost as is it is thick with discoloured ice
*the kitchen sink stinks and is surrounded by black mould
*the washing machine had contained lots of blue bits which ended up on our clothes
*the tumble drier was a fire hazard - the lint had not been cleaned for a very long time - I cleaned some but it needs a thorough clean
*the floors had lots of dirt bits on them, especially in the kitchen area - they needed a good clean; however,
*no vacuum cleaner
*lots of cobwebs in the showers, and from ceilings, just giving it an air of not having been cleaned properly for a good while (I do appreciate that houses get these, but there were a lot)
*showers had lots of limescale
*lots of dust under the beds in the twin room - a layer about 2 inches thick came away on the broom
*hairs on the bed protectors
*loose bathroom door handle on the first bedroom by the games room
*stains on the sofas - doesn't matter if they are from the cleaners or not - they look horrible
*pool table was very dirty and took ages to clean with sticky tape as there was no vacuum cleaner
*damage to paintwork, especially near the fireplace in the kitchen just gave an air of the place not being looked after properly
These are my honest thoughts based on fact. I do not need the owner coming back to me and justifying them in the manner that they have done to at least one other reviewer. Great space - yes, needs a deep clean - yes. Value for money - given the above - poor.
The reviewer mentioned they did not require a response from the owner and expressed concern about my “manner”. Sadly, both a response and my particular brand of charm and eccentric humour appear unavoidable.
Thank you for your comments regarding the size and layout of the house, which was designed for large family gatherings such as yours.
As you discovered when requesting additional firelighters, we live on site and are always happy to help during a stay. If guests need anything – whether that’s firelighters, extra equipment or even a vacuum cleaner – we are very happy to provide it. It is usually far easier to deal with things at the time rather than saving them up for a list at the end of the holiday for an online review.
The house is vacuumed and mopped at every changeover as part of the normal cleaning routine, with deeper cleans scheduled periodically. As with any house, if guests start pulling furniture away from the walls in search of cardinal sins, they are quite likely to find them between scheduled deeper cleans.
The property also has large vaulted ceilings with timber beams which unfortunately are something of a magnet for the occasional cobweb. Being an organic farm however, we like to think any resident spiders are of the finest organic variety.
A number of the points raised are not consistent with the experience of the many other families who stay here and leave very positive feedback. The house is a large, well-used home rather than a showroom property and it is maintained and refreshed on an ongoing basis. Decorating is carried out periodically as part of that programme – although I’m afraid I’m not up a ladder every week whitewashing the place between guests.
Likewise, we do not discard perfectly serviceable items simply because they are no longer brand new. Things are replaced when they reach the end of their useful life. For example, the sofas are now beginning their fourth season – they remain clean, comfortable and well used by many happy family groups.
For the dates in question the stay worked out at roughly £40 per person per night for a property of this size, which most guests tend to regard as very good value.
This remains a rural farmhouse on a working farm – straightforward, friendly and occasionally a little rough around the edges – and most guests tend to enjoy it for exactly that reason.
Martin
Property Owner