“The house itself was lovely overall, and there were some genuinely positive aspects to our stay.”
We were allowed an early arrival at the property, which was very much appreciated given it was Christmas Eve. There were some thoughtful items left out for us on arrival, which was a nice touch.
The location is a real highlight. The property benefits from splendid 360-degree views, and there is a lovely walk directly to the main bay. The nearby pub, The Bay Inn, was very welcoming and dog-friendly, which made it even more enjoyable.
That said, we did experience a number of issues during our stay. Firstly, the heating was set very low. We were advised it was on a timer, which is understandable; however, when it did come on, it only produced minimal heat. This wasn’t ideal for a December stay, and the house often felt cold both during the day and at night.
The games room was disappointing for the children. The pool table didn’t have enough balls to play properly, and the dartboard only had one usable dart. The beds weren’t the most comfortable, but having stayed in many similar properties, this is something I’ve come to expect, so it wasn’t a major issue for us.
I had read several negative reviews regarding cleanliness prior to our stay. While there were a few minor issues such as some cutlery needing further cleaning we found the house generally acceptable. It wasn’t spotless, but certainly not the worst we’ve stayed in.
There were however some safety and maintenance concerns. The kitchen table had a broken and poorly repaired leg which was dangerous and should be removed or replaced. The hot tub was not maintained at all during our stay which was extremely disappointing. Even though we stayed over Christmas, we would have expected at least one maintenance visit on Boxing Day or the 27th.
As this was a Christmas break, we were also surprised by the presentation of the property. There were two Christmas trees, both of which were in very poor barely dressed condition and detracted from the overall feel. Given the time of year, we would have expected the property to be dressed more thoughtfully, and in all honesty, it would have been better not to have put them up at all.
Finally, no fire logs were left out for the main living room fire. We eventually found some in the cellar, but it wasn’t clear whether guests were meant to access these.
Overall, a property with real potential in a fantastic location, but several comfort, maintenance, and presentation issues particularly for a winter and Christmas stay that detracted from what could otherwise have been a great experience.
Hi Darren, thank you for the detailed feedback you have provided. I'm so glad you enjoyed the welcome pack, the layout of the house, the brillaint location, the stunning views and the beautiful walk down to the Bay.
I appreciate the comments you have made. The heating is set at 22 degrees, so I will investigate as to why the house felt cold as this is the first I've heard of this happening. Regarding the games room, I will ensure the things you have mentioned will be recified by the time the next guests arrive. The kitchen leg will also be repaired and I accept your feedback regarding the xmas decs, which will be sorted in time for December.
Strange that you mention about the logs as there should have been some left out for you, I'll raise this with the cleaners to make sure this doesn't happen again, I'll also ask them to check the cutlery more carefully.
The comfiness of the beds is a tricky one - other guests have been happy and my family and I also stay there and the beds are fine for us, so I suppose it's down to personal preference.
Regarding the hot tub, this wouldn't normally have been serviced 2 days post your arrival as the chemicals are such that the hot tub is safe to use for longer than this.
Again, thank you for the positive feedback, the 3 star review and the suggestions for improvement.
We wish you and your family a very HNY!
Many thanks, George
Property Owner
