“Had a fantastic day on the broads thanks to Barnes Brinkcraft. I hired a picnic boat for the day. Boat was well equipped for our needs and the I received all of the instructions I needed. I’m already looking forward to going back next year!”
“We had a great time aboard Rhapsody in the October half term. The Boat was very clean upon pick up and fully equiped with good bedding and all kitchen utensils in a very clean state.
We called the yard once at the very beginning of our 5 day trip as we were cocerned that we had no heating and they explained what we needed to switch on and that it could take up to 15 minutes and sure enough it was pumping out lovely warm air which was needed for the October evenings. We had no issues with either toilets and the boat ran very smoothly both in Hybrid and generator mode when needed to charge up the battery. Staff were great on check in and boat handover. I would sugest that if you are not sure on anything mechanical whilst cruising then phone the engineers as that is what they are there for and dont wait to complain when you arrive back and its too late for them to reciify. Thankfiully we had no such issues but its reasuring to know that if needed they will drive to where you are moored to fix.”
“love this cottage it was very clean and tidy with plentyof kitchen equipment only negative thing was the over the bath shower it was not good .My grandchildren loved the boat and made full use of. it great base to explore norfolk and with Roys just a short distance from the cottage was great for fresh food”
“We really enjoyed our half term break in Crested Grebe. The boat was a fantastic bonus, as was the hamper for a returuning customer.
Everything was clean, well organised and having a shower room each was great.
Highly recommended”
“Our family of 4 have just returned home from a fantastic few days staying in Greylag Goose Cottage and have had such a lovely stay. The accommodation has everything you could possibly need and it’s perfectly located in a beautiful spot. All local amenities are within a few minutes yet it is peaceful and quiet with beautiful views of the marina. Our boys tried fishing right outside the cottage and we made full use of the boat that was included with the booking, easily navigating the local waterways and visiting the pub in nearby Horning. We 100% will book again, easy booking in, very clean well maintained property and an all round perfect experience. Loved the enclosed patio area, making it even safer for our children and small dog! Thank you Barnes Brinkcraft and all your lovely team!”
“Communication prior to the trip was positive. The car park was water logged and my car was moved from a dry space into a space completely waterlogged, requiring the driver to get in and out with his soaking wet wellies! That said there wasn’t any visible signs of water or mess in the car thank god! I wasn’t aware I had to leave my car keys which I wasn’t keen to do!
We travelled in October so we were expecting to get wet throughout, but we didn’t expect this to be in our own beds! Significant leaks, which we agreed was like water torture throughout the night! The tap water on board wasn’t working, and after a phone call and a visit from the mechanic that evening got everything back working again.
We did have an absolute laugh, with 8 of us on Symphony 1, and expected the “no thrills” experience however the water dripping, stained sheets, smells, coffin style bedroom (single) and damp means we will look for alternatives when we go again! We did get a discounted price but it was still £1000.
We did experience significant high tides and we returned a day early to the yard, unfortunately due to the high water levels we could not get out of the grounds without waders. That’s said two staff members were monitoring the site even though they weren’t supposed to be operating on the Sunday so they were able to give us access to our vehicles so we could leave the site to get something to eat.
All in all we did laugh a lot, but being honest I would hesitate before booking again with this company. Maybe it was just a one off!”
Thank you for taking the time to share such detailed feedback — we really do appreciate it.
Storm Benjamin brought some very challenging weather to the Broads, with unusually high tides and relentless rain causing flooding across much of Norfolk. Our team did their best to move vehicles and assist customers safely wherever possible, so I’m glad to hear that you were able to access your car and that our staff were on hand, even on Sunday when the yard is normally closed.
You’re quite right — Symphony 1 is one of our “no frills” budget boats, and the smaller forward cabin is described as such in our listing. That said, no one should have to put up with leaks or damp bedding. Boats do flex and move with the wind and tide, which can occasionally cause seals to shift, but we always have engineers available 24/7 to respond and replace bedding or carry out repairs as needed. I’m sorry that you experienced discomfort before this could be sorted.
I’m pleased that our engineer was able to get your water supply back up and running that evening, and that despite the conditions you still managed to enjoy your time on board and make the best of it with a few laughs along the way.
We really appreciate your understanding — it certainly was an exceptional weekend of weather — and we’ll continue working hard to make sure future stays are as dry and comfortable as possible, whatever the Broads throws at us.
Kind regards,
Sara
Barnes Brinkcraft
“Booking process very easy, was a little disappointed that we had to return to the boat yard to get more gas, only hired the Belmore for 3 days so I’m guessing this should have not happened, lost few hours in doing so as we were up against the clock with darkness beconing,”
“We stayed in the 'Main Sail' for 4 nights and absolutely loved it!! Thank you guys for a beautiful stay! Views magical, facilities perfect.
7 of us and plenty of room!
Would 100% reccomend, we will be back!”
“Chorus. Very comfortable boat. Only two slight problems. A few blind spots whilst mooring. Particularly mooring stern on. Very drafty and cold salon when sliding roof closed. Big gaps allowing cold drafts. Even when heating on. The staff were very friendly and helpful. In the main we enjoyed our holiday as we always have during our many visits to the broads.”
“Having done boating holidays before, I knew what kind of craft I wanted. The details of the boats with floorplans and plenty of pictures made it easy to find the right one. The online booking process was easy to navigate. Pretty happy.
One fly in the ointment, having mooring spikes as an extra is at odds with my experience on the Broads and other inland waterways where many casual boaters seek out quiet spots rather than busy public moorings.”
Hi Richard
Many thanks for your review
The spikes (or rhond anchors) are always on the boat - we do, however, charge a refundable deposit for the mallets .... that way we have some left at the end of the season !!
All the best,
The Team at Barnes Brinkcraft
“Been with BarnesBrinkscraft on numerous occasions.Online booking process very easy.
When i have had to contact Barnesbrinkcraft while on holiday ,any issues were dealt with quickly.
Found they would try to accommadate any special requests, not always possible , but you appreciate them trying.
For Broads holidays ,whether boating or in a cottage ,find them to be highly competitive pricing, and there cottages do come with a dayboat outside school holidays ;which is an extra bous”
Hi Peter
Many thanks for the lovely and detailed review - its very kind of you
We hope to see you again soon
All the best,
The Team at Barnes Brinkcraft
“we really struggled to lift my 98 year old father off the boat, eventually helped by two passing ladies whilst Barnes Brinkcraft staff who were within sight did not come to help, the feeling felt like 'we have got your money, now go away', the poorest example of customer service I have ever witnessed”
“This is the 4th time we have stay at apartments at barnes brinkcraft. This time we stayed at Heron. Has previous stays the customer service is excellent and friendly, all encounters with members of staff has been of the same standard. Heron was very clean inside and outside the lodge. The interior and garden space very spacious. The bed was comfortable has were the sofas. The kitchen full equipped. The views over daisy broad and basin is so chilled, watching the world go by, seeing people come and go both staff working in the boat yard and holiday makers a like. There plenty of outside seating. First night we wanted to use the oven but the oven door didn’t close properly and didn’t heat up. The following morning we reported it and within 5 minutes somebody had come and fixed it. That was the only minor issue but there responds was excellent. We love coming here, it’s relaxed with everything you need. Unfortunately this time we didn’t use the day boat has I had fractured my collarbone and my wife had injured her knee, but the day boat is a big bonus, which we’ve made use of in the past. Again another great holiday with barnes brinkcraft. We booked heron again for next June.
Thank you from the Fletchers and the very noisy beagle”
Thank you Alan
That is a really kind and lovely review - we look forward to seeing you all inc your beagle in the near future
All the best,
The Team at Barnes Brinkcraft
