“The cottage was a great location for exploring all Northumberland has to offer including the fabulous beach at Bamburgh, with eateries & watering holes a very short walk away.”
The cottage itself was a good size and comfortable on the whole. If you stay here bring a decent corkscrew because theirs is flimsy and we couldn’t get into the wine! Also fetch oil, salt, pepper etc as no condiments are left. I appreciate some self catering places do and some don’t leave them from previous guests. We also had to buy loo roll on day one as we were only left one full roll between us with some smaller part rolls, this is no drama but makes it easier to come prepared but there is 3 loos. This was fine but just meant running to the shops earlier than planned. There’s a good size Co op in Seahouses.
The house has some good quality kitchen appliances and furniture making for a comfortable stay with plenty of crockery and pans. It also Includes a nespresso coffee machine and there had been a few pods left. All the beds were comfortable although the master & one of the twin beds squeaked badly when you turned/moved.
We booked as a dog friendly stay but in the end didn’t take the dogs for various reasons. There was no spare dog bowls/towels as I’ve experienced in other dog friendly places but there’s a secure yard at the back & the garden at the front is secure if gate is fastened.
On arrival there was a small welcome gift of 50ml of milk, a small jam, chutney and a packet of biscuits. There was also a small package of local tea & coffee.
A few negatives that if rectified would make it 5 stars:
- cobwebs, very dusty cobwebs everywhere and lots of thick surface dust on tops of picture frames and in tops of rads with clumps of hair in odd places clearly only having had a quick hoover/surface wipe round. We understand a few cobwebs but these were down the side of all furniture, ceilings & bathroom & hadn’t happened between guests.
- The bedspreads on 3 of the beds were filthy, stained & a bit whiffy. Clearly not changed In between guests - we didn’t check the others so I would vote checking these before use. Could have done with a couple of spare extra blankets for winter as only had the bedspreads & the bath towels were of a small size but we managed.
- Front door could do with a door mat inside & some coat hooks near the front door as we were walking through the house with wet coats to the rear porch.
- No fuel starter pack was provided despite being in the listing advertisement, in the guest book & on the email confirmation.
- carpets could do with a shampoo as had dirty marks on them.
- this house is right next to a hotel & therefore every delivery you hear from 6am ish as they deliver down the side of the house.
- downstairs toilet smelled badly of drains for the whole week.
- master bed has been repaired at some time and needs tightening as squeaks and creaks when you move and the headboard wobbles.
Overall would possibly stay again due to its location, but there’s plenty of other cottages to explore in Bamburgh.
Hi Adele,
That you for your review . I am pleased that you generally had a nice stay and that you found the location perfect and the house to be comfortable, However please accept our apologies that the Hollies was not perfect for you . We pride ourselves on our Cleanliness so to hear that you were not happy with certain aspects is upsetting to us. As it happens the deep clean was booked in for the week after you had stayed so all future guests will not have any issues. We have also organised for the bedspreads to be replaced and the drains to be checked and cleared . Our cleaners are also instructed to leave a starter pack for the log burner , which we are sorry if they had missed.
It is a self catering cottage so there is only basic provisions provided such as toilet roll etc. The downside of the location being so central is that it there will not be perfect silence , however the hollies is down a quiet street and this is the first time we have had any complaints about noise so it shouldn't have been too overbearing for you.
Thanks again for your review and for staying with us at the Hollies.
Ross and Ceri.
Property Owner