“Excellent barn restoration, clearly benefiting from serious capital investment for the development.”
Set in an attractive scenic, apparently isolated, location yet within easy reach of supply shops at Porthmadoc. Lovely! The barn benefited from quality slate flooring throughout which ran into the patio area, accessed via bi-fold doors. Good outdoor seating and comfortable leather seating inside. Generally equipped to a high and comfortable standard. All in all an excellent property that few would feel unhappy with, however I do have a few small caveats that detract slightly:
1) Not really suited to 8 adults (well at least not 8 equally):
- Two double rooms were pretty good and two twin bedded rooms were really pretty poor by comparison - only suitable for the "poor relations"!
- The smaller twin rooms were really better suited to child accommodation and had VERY limited floor space.
- One twin room had no wardrobe and only a very small chest (wardrobe cupboard across hall) - this would be better fitted as a single room.
- Another twin had beds, end to end, and a very small, shabby wardrobe - quite out of keeping with remainder of barn furnishings.
2) Cleanliness and presentation not quite 5 star:
- Whilst by no means filthy or squalid (as some low rated accommodation can be) the cleaning turnaround team should try harder.
- It's churlish to suggest it's not a lovely property, but it's a little let down by minor issues detracting from it's 5 star potential.
- e.g. Corners hadn't been properly cleaned in bathrooms.
- e.g. One could easily find cob webs and a little dust via close inspection, suggesting only a superficial clean and a bedding/towel change.
- T towels (minimal supply, despite direct query and assurance there were plenty) looked grubby. Of the two, one was more like a red towel.
- Kitchen equipment was seemingly haphazardly arrayed in different cupboards, some proving hard to find.
- Some equipment possibly missing.
- I was glad I brought my own sharp knives and other kitchen kit (following kit query) so wasn't caught out - apart from T towels.
3) Technical kit / facilities generally good but a little variable:
- Good to have a shared games room (pool table, books, CDs, DVDs etc) only issue was key not available until 3rd/4th day.
- WiFi signal very poor and often unusable. Separate WiFi code advised during week - this was better, but still not great.
- Chopping board set provided after we rang to say we couldn't find any boards (we did later find in an isolated cupboard) but this demonstrates the owner/Sykes commitment to delivering quality, which we appreciate.
- Mugs were a little limited in number meaning regular re-cycling needed. Ideally there would be a few more. Plates probably OK. Glassware variable. We brought additional cookware to ensure we had that which we felt essential for self catering.
- Lighting set-up was very elaborate and a little hard to operate with themed zone modes alone, not always suiting our needs. Quite hard to ascertain how to override for multi zone use. Whilst we liked, we felt it was perhaps "a bit to clever for it's own good" and needed clearer programming.
Notwithstanding the above "niggles" the barn really is a quality property set in an ideal location and provides the basis for a most enjoyable stay. Provided one books, knowing that two small twin bed rooms are far below what the main two doubles offer then one won't be surprised. Don't expect the cleanliness of a daily serviced 5 star hotel and accept that all properties suffer from a little wear and tear and you will likely be delighted with this barn.
- Richard, September 2016
