“A lovely few days spent in Sam’s cosy little studio flat. She even went to great trouble to find us non- alcoholic wine to welcome us.
Whatever you do, don’t follow the instructions on the Sykes website - we ended up having to reverse back up a single track hill in the dark and pouring rain. For some reason the instructions are if you’re on foot! Ask for Sam’s video”
“The property is marketed and rated as 4-star accommodation. In its current condition, this rating is wholly unjustified.
From arrival, the property fell significantly below the standard reasonably expected.
Upon entry, the internal temperature of the property was 9°C. No heating had been left on prior to our arrival. In February, this is unacceptable. The heating system is controlled via a Kindle device operating an app. Whilst we were eventually able to navigate this, it was not straightforward, and several written comments in the guest book confirm that previous guests have also struggled with the heating controls.
Given that the system is app-controlled, it would be entirely reasonable for the property to be pre-heated remotely prior to guest arrival to ensure a comfortable and habitable temperature. Arriving to a property at 9°C does not reflect a 4-star welcome standard.
In addition, we encountered the following issues:
• Broken exterior fencing lying detached on the lawn, creating a clear safety risk and unsecured boundary.
• Extensive mould growth around multiple window frames, including in bedroom areas.
• Cracked and blown plaster consistent with ongoing damp issues.
• Rotting/damaged skirting and cabinetry.
• Heavy dust and debris behind and beneath furniture.
• Heavily soiled shower frame and bathroom fittings.
• What appeared to be rodent droppings beneath the bedside cabinet in the main bedroom, which I discovered when accessing a socket hidden behind the unit. I felt compelled to vacuum this myself on arrival.
The mould in sleeping areas and suspected rodent droppings raise serious hygiene concerns. These are not minor cosmetic defects but indicators of poor maintenance and inadequate cleaning standards.
More broadly, the property appears tired and in need of repair and deep cleaning throughout. While we appreciate that coastal properties can experience wear, this does not excuse the condition presented to paying guests under a 4-star classification.”
“Lovely little cottage, perfect for a Feb half term get away with the children. Perfect walking distance to the local shops and a good base to explore more of the Lake District”
“The cottage is beautifully furnished and finished to a high standard. We love the location, being a short walk to a hidden gem of a beach. This is our third time staying here and we will be back soon. Thanks so much for a lovely week.”
“We have used Sykes many times across the UK and their properties are always of a very high standard. Our most recent trip in Snowdonia was great, though the cottage did not have an emergency contact number and when we tried calling Sykes we could not get through the automated system. Overall, Sykes offer great properties at fair prices and we will continue to use them for our UK breaks.”
“Sykes cottage's have a vast array of lovely cottage's to suit everyone's taste and budget. Bargains are there for the taking. Personally I have picked and stayed in some fantastic cottage's”
“Wonderful cottage just a short walk from the beach. We all enjoyed the hot tub and table tennis and the new padel court close by. Truly a fabulous week in a well equipped, spacious cottage. We will definitely be back”
“We had a lovely stay at The Coach House in February. The house was a great size for four adults, four kids and a dog. The kitchen is well stocked and equipped. We loved how close the house is to the beach and the local amenities. Would definitely recommend!”
“The whole experience of staying at Doe Lodge was amazing, the booking, the cooomunication from the owner, the actual cabin itself was absolutely stunning. I was warm, clean, cosy and peaceful. What a stunning location and stay.”
“Very extensive choice of properties, on the whole accurate listings. As dog owners a must is a secure garden, some properties state this but it is not always the case.
Would prefer if the site could be viewed in landscape as it used to be and if you could view property searches without having to put dates in.”
“This is such a cosy comfortable cottage, perfect for two people and a dog. Beautifully kitted out and a perfect location for exploring the White Peak.”
“They don’t answer a phone, I tried calling to check whether the dog had been included on the booking as the app said it had however when I got the formal booking receipt through it should zero pets. 50 mins on hold, I gave up in the end”
