The Snug

We chose the accommodation because of its location where we have visited on other occasions and love, because it looked spacious for two, which it was, and was described as luxurious, and the furnishings were good quality.

We felt it did not live up to its billing. In parts it needed paintwork refreshing, the sealant in the shower cubicle was black in places, cleaning cloths absent, one small stained teatowel and inadequate supply of dishwasher tablets to last through the week. As regular self caterers, and happy to clean up as we go along, we do expect to be provided with the wherewithal to do that cleaning. From the discussion with a member of your staff in Seahouses, we gather our expectations are not considered by your company to be realistic following Covid and due to allergy restrictions, not even a travel bar of soap in the property. This is not what we receive from other properties we visit on a regular basis. For a cost of over £800 pounds, we do expect basic provision for cleaning. JIffy cloths cost 10 p or so each - 2 would suffice, , small bar of Simple Soap can be bought for under a pound, plus cleaning solutions are not ludicrously costly and one grubby teatowel along with inadequate supply of dishwasher tablets clearly make this property less than the luxury listed. We have relied on your company and its recommendations in the past but will not do so in future.

We really enjoyed our stay at The snug .

In a lovely quiet corner of the village . Well designed and well equipped . Comfortable, and really enjoyed the rezemee, the peace and quiet , a lovely relaxing area . Not a negative but a suggestion. You could provide more microwave Turin’s with lids , in order to use the microwave to its full potential.

The electric hot water system is poor otherwise everything was good

Great location and well equipped cottage.

We found the stairs up from the kitchen made it difficult to go up while carrying eg drinks, food for table in lounge area. The spiral staircase to the uppermost floor was uncomfortably narrow to the point that we did not use it. A couple of items not found in kitchen were quickly supplied. All in all we intend to return, now being fully aware of the facilities and situation.

Comfirtable, clean and cosy.

We lived the cottage, particularly the mezzanine with the cosy chairs and sea view.

Positives: Fantastic Location, easy access, huge space, very quaint, incredible sea views from the mezzanine floor - WOW!

Negatives: 1) Cleanliness was terrible - the cleaners clearly do a quick changeover, there were tufts of dust and hair in corners, pubic hair inside furniture drawers, kitchen cupboards marked and crockery badly washed. 2) Property is badly insulated, a few electric heaters on the wall, but they can't cope with the cold British winter. We wore many layers indoors. 3) Log burner lets too much air in, we bought a big bag of kiln-dried logs that only lasted 4 hours - in my same size woodturner at home you can regulate the air intake to stoke it to a minimum for a slow long burn. 4) Finally the shower was the worst shower I've ever experienced. The water pressure in the property is fantastic, but the electric shower output is extremely low, presumably because it can't quite heat a big flow of water quickly. I'm quite a small-frame person (5'5") and I had to keep moving side to side to be covered in the water flow across my shoulders, it's absurd and not what you need after a day out walking in the bracing cold. Conclusion: Many positives, charming and great location. Personally would not return, but equally would not discourage other people from booking as the location is fabulous

Another wonderful stay at the Snug.

A home from home with a fully equipped kitchen for cosy nights in. We also stayed in July. Perfect for us and our Labrador. We will be back!

Good bed.

We slept well. Always cosy. We arrived intending to light the stove but decided it would be too warm. Interesting layout. The mezzanine is a great place to sit quietly with a good book, once you’d mastered the knack of negotiating the narrow spiral staircase.

We loved The Snug!

We have stayed in Embleton several times, first time in this property, and we will definitely choose The Snug for future stays. It felt spacious and well laid out for 2 people and a labrador The decor was stylish and homely, a very cosy atmosphere. It was beautifully clean and well-equipped. Great location within the village. Access to the mezzanine by the spiral staircase is tricky but this was made clear in the description so was not unexpected - great views from up there. We would love to come here again.

Great place in an ideal location.

It was very clean after seeing previous reviews it was well stocked for cleaning items, loo roll etc. parking right outside with a contained front garden/yard - ideal if you have a dog. - 10/15 mins walk to the beach. You can than head North to Craster going past Dunstanburgh Castle or head South towards Low Newton calling into The Ship Inn. Embleton has 2 great pubs which serve decent food all within 2 mins walk to- both dog friendly. Also nice shop in the centre for food/snacks & booze with post office attached. Great place.

We’ve just returned from another amazing and restful stay at The Snug.

We came last year and have so looked forward to coming back. The accommodation is beautifully designed and decorated and has everything you need for a comfortable and relaxing stay. The Snug is very well maintained and we were left a lovely welcoming pack with biscuits and milk and tea and coffee which was very appreciated after a long drive. The Snug is very well situated in the village of Embleton with the beach only 10 minutes walk away and so beautiful. An absolute must if you have a dog. The Greys Inn is only a few minutes walk away and is a lovely friendly local pub serving good traditional food. Local places of interest are only a short drive from The Snug or just chill in this stunning part of rural Northumberland. To sum up a gorgeous place to visit and The Snug lives up to its name as being a snug base to enjoy this beautiful part of Northumberland. We can’t wait to return. Penny and Carl

Lovely cottage in a fab location.

Great facilities and very well set up . Only negative was the pillows but otherwise 10/10 definitely be back

The Snug is an exceptionally pleasant place to stay.

The owners have provided everything you could need for a comfortable and enjoyable stay. The local farm shop is superb and we also enjoyed a meal at the Greys Inn. It was an easy walk down to the beach. The Golf club there provides a good choice of meals and snacks at lunchtime, open to all. We would absolutely love to return to the Snug and explore the area further. Four nights was too short for this beautiful part of the country.

We loved The Snug .

It had everything we needed for our short break and very cosy and comfortable. Our dog loved it too.

This is our second visit to The Snug and was just as lovely as last time Everything you need in a fabulous area great for walking even off your own doorstep Clean and cosy and comfy

We had a lovely long weekend at The Snug and the weather was amazing!

Overall the property was good for our needs. Fridge, cutlery drawer at super low level so found you had to bend down quite a lot! Bathroom good and warm. Mezzanine spiral staircase difficult to negotiate - feels narrower than normal. Bed could do with a regular check and tightening up. Otherwise a good outlook from the property. Woodburner great! Lounge area comfy. Highly recommend the Greys Inn a super doggy friendly pub. Jolly Fisherman at Craster also superb. Thank you we loved our stay

This was our 4th visit to the Snug - obviously we like it.

The location is very convenient for the beach and for the shop/hotel/pubs in the village as well as being within easy reach of other coastal places. We've always found the lounge area and bed very comfortable and were happy to find complimentary treats provided this time! We were also pleased to find that the bathroom is being cleaned to a better standard of cleanliness now ( although it's still cold, despite the heated towel rail) and appreciate the addition of a shower tidy. We enjoy relaxing up on the balcony before dinner, even if it is a narrow staircase that needs care. The property is always well-heated and although we always come in winter, we have never needed to use the stove - we'd be roasted. We noted the new fridge/freezer, quite a small area of fridge but adequate if you are only staying a few days. (I'd also recommend that people bring something more in the way of a handtowel/wiping cloths for the kitchen.) Perhaps a "boot tray", as provided by many hotels/b and bs for hikers would be an idea to save the floor around the entrance? We hope we'll be back before too long.

We love this accommodation, the location is perfect and the snug is lovely and the perfect base.

It’s truly home from home

This was my second stay at The Snug in Embleton, and I hope it won't be the last.

The accommodation offers all the comforts of home and serves as an excellent base for exploring the scenic Northumbrian coastline. I also appreciated the complimentary 'cleaning pack'—thank you!

We had a wonderful weeks stay in The Snug Embleton Lovely property and very nicely decorated and well maintained We really enjoyed our visit and will definitely be back again Very well situated for Embleton Bay and a 5 minute walk from the local pub Super friendly and welcoming and serving delicious food We loved every minute of our stay at The Snug Penny and Carl Worthing West Sussex

The cottage was absolutely beautiful - it is a perfect size for two people and a dog.

The bed and sofa are very comfy and the kitchen is perfect for our needs. The location is also exceptional - beautiful walks literally from the door, and the village shop and pubs 30s walk from the door are all brilliant. We particularly enjoyed Greys Inn Sunday lunch. The instructions were clear on how to find and get into the cottage. It is worth being aware that you need to provide your own firewood, handwash, toilet roll and washing up liquid/dishwasher tablets. There is 1 toilet roll for the week but we had to buy more. We were left 3 small logs as a starter pack but you are asked to leave the same amount at the end, so you essentially have to provide all of your own. You get a tiny vial of washing up liquid in the welcome pack and a few dishwasher tablets but you are likely to need more. Whilst I cannot fault the actual cottage itself or the location, which are perfect, we did find the amenities provided a bit skimpy, especially for £900ish a week. However, this was easily fixed with a supermarket trip to Alnwick. Overall we had a fantastic week and we highly recommend this cottage - just worth being aware of what you have to bring yourself.

Quirky, comfortable cottage.

Suited us and our dog perfectly for location for our weeks stay. It would benefit for a few extra items. Such as, more than half a toilet roll, toilet cleaner, washing up cloths, and at least 1 dish washer tablet per day. Having said that we thoroughly enjoyed our stay. Loved the beach. Thank you.

Toilet seat loose.

Shower small but worked well. No working plug for the wash basin. Could not work the key safe until the gardener next door showed me how to open it. Good location. Good local pub and reasonable priced local hotel restaurant. Also nice village farm shop for everything you would need for a short break. Spiral staircase to Mezzanine floor not easy for elderly clientele.

We’ve had a lovely relaxing weekend at The Snug.

The cottage was immaculate (despite recent comments regarding cleanliness, it was absolutely spotless when we arrived). The cottage offers a perfect getaway, with lovely walks on the beach, and 2 pubs within a very short walk (both friendly and made is very welcome). The village shop is perfect for breakfast! Would definitely recommend and would definitely book again; thank you.

Lovely homely place to stay.

Nice mezzanine to chill and read. Front of the property is a sunny place to catch some rays. Loved the location being within walking distance of a shop and a few pubs/places to eat. Nice walk to the stunning Embleton Bay - amazing beach. The only teeny downside was the dog hairs/smell but a quick sweep and a spray of fabric freshener and it was fine. Perhaps could do with a house sign on the front for first time visitors. We'll definitely be booking for next summer.

The cottage looked good on photos but very different once we arrived.

It needed a really good clean . Needed painting. The cooker wasn't very clean . The fridge light not working and freezer door broken . Also needed an update or at least painting. The bathroom also dirty. Especially the shower. The log burner also needed a good clean inside and out.. and if you are going to take your own wood, as not much provided, you will need another to fill it. For what we paid I feel totally ripped off. No attention to detail at all. I wasn't surprised about why the cottage hasn't been kept nice as we found out it's up for sale.... Other reviews said similar about not being clean and replies said the matter had been dealt with.

Overall a fabulous place to stay and have already recommended to family and friends.

The Snug had everything you could possibly wish for, from cooking facilities to wine glasses! The stair case may be a little awkward for some but once on the mezzanine, the views are beyond worth the effort. We found the shower cubicle tray is a little slippery so a bit more care should be take when showering. A perfect getaway, local facilities are great, especially the Village Farm Shop which stocks everything. Nowhere is very far away and there's a bus service that will get you to just about anywhere. Enjoyed every minute and will return, thank you

I thought the Snug needed a really good deep clean especially in the kitchen and bathroom.

There were cobwebs and the sweeping brush was sitting on the floor with tons of hair in it. The kitchen area needs some tlc. The kitchen cupboard where the glasses and crockery were kept was in absolutely no order so i took the time to re-arrange all the cups on the same shelf neatly, same for glasses etc. We still really liked it and would stay again if the house behind was not available.

There is no extractor over the cooker or in the shower room.

The cleaning cupboard was just behind a curtain in the shower room, which could have done with a wash. No clothes horse or anywhere to put wet clothes from using the beach. Also the utensils in the utensil pot on the side weren't clean, very dusty, could have quite easily written clean me on them. There was a dirty tissue/kitchen paper on the lounge floor and several dead flies under the bed and sofas.

The property has electric heating rather than electric storage heating as Sykes listed.

We found this preferable. The booklet for the heating was irrelevant as notices in the property stated that we were not to adjust the heating. A simple notice to say, just switch the radiators on individually at the power switch would have been helpful. The toilet seat was loose and regularly slid forward until we fathomed out how to secure it. The power switch for the shower is at the opposite end of the bathroom from the shower itself and was not obvious. There is no shelving or cupboard in the bathroom for storing toiletries. The edges of the shower base were very dirty. The bathroom sink plug constantly popped up so the water drained. There was no non stick fish slice to use with the non stick frying pan. We found the seating in the lounge uncomfortable. It would be nice to have a bedside mat to step onto, rather than the cold hard floor. Other than these niggles, we did like the property and location and very much enjoyed our visit. We would consider returning in the future.

We had a really nice few days staying at the Snug.

Embleton is a lovely village with a shop and public houses. The Snug is perfectly adequate for a short stay but does require some TLC in some areas. Our biggest concern was the need for a really good clean. The cooker/kitchen area and the shower room the main areas of concern. My wife ran her hand across surfices in the main room and her hand was black. A really good clean and a little bit of maintenance and we would score the Snug with top marks.

Beautiful place.

Beautiful location. Clean and tidy. The area is fantastic although it is like driving on the moon in places due to the massive potholes on the Northumberland coast roads. Only negatives would be that it was very windy during our stay and it would appear that something was loose on the roof which kept banging through the night, keeping us awake. Small gripe and not something that will impact many people. The weather was extreme during our stay. Which was unlucky for us.

Cold bathroom, hair in the shower, cobwebs around the property, dust and hair under the bed, stained pillows and the duvet itself was torn in several places, dresser dusty on top, visible from mezzanine, prior water ingress in several places has not been properly repaired, kitchen equipment lacking and miss matched, pitiful amount of fuel for log burner, bottom step in to the kitchen split and unstable, garden furniture flimsy and garden area unkempt and full of weeds.

Overall specifications was not worthy of the cost of the accommodation . We have no complaints about the size or location of the accommodation and it is a great base for exploring Northumberland beautiful coastline, a little TLC could make this property it perfect.

Might be helpful to have ‘oven instructions for idiots!

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The Snug was the perfect place for a winter break by the sea in February.

The location is great, the gorgeous sandy beach of Embleton Bay just a brisk 10 minute walk away. The accommodation was clean and comfortable, and had a cosy feel though definitely spacious enough for a couple. The mezzanine level was a lovely place to sit and read, with views to the sea in the distance. The village shop is just across the road and has a good selection of essentials and treats. Maybe the kitchen could do with a few improvements to utensils (a better potato peeler!) but was fine for our needs. We would be very happy to return to stay again in the future.

A FANTASTIC PLACE TO STAY AND WAS AN AMAZING PLACE TO RELAX AFTER A DAY OUT EXPLORING !

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Loved our stay at The Snug in January, beautifully decorated and furnished property, very cosy and warm, located within minutes walk from the beach/golf course/pub/village shop, would not change a thing!

Lovely property in a fantastic location.

Clean and comfortable with lovely walks from the door and a couple of nice pubs. A few niggles. Shower temperature a bit temperamental, Information regarding water heater not great (need to switch it on at least 20 mins before it's needed) and logburner eats logs as the grate/drawer doesn't seal properly. Also a boot scraper/mat at door would be ideal for removing mud before entering. We had a lovely time.

A truly wonderful spot for a romantic getaway, ideal for 2, everything you needed was there, beautiful log burner was icing on the cake.

A lovely spot upstairs to sit and read and look at the sea. Really comfortable bed and sofa, everything was just as I hoped for. I would 100% recommend the snug to anyone I know :) The only niggle was the temperature in the shower, the hot setting was far too hot to shower under and the middle temperature was too cold to shower under so there was a lot of switching back and forward to try and shower properly, temperature needs adjusting somehow.

The snug is a stunning and very cosy property and in a beautiful location with a pub and farm shop on your doorstep, beach a short walk.

We holiday'd in November and it snowed the snug stood up to its name beautiful log burner that made it even more cosy. I wondered if you would consider a boot rack/mat as in winter can't leave footwear outside. The kitchen is well stocked but missing a pizza cutter and some tongues cutlery was also falling apart maybe from the dishwasher having worn the screws out, but this didn't cause any issues as enough for 4 people. Will definitely visit again and family are wanting to book next year

This lovely little cottage well and truly lived up to its name.

Fabulous location with great walks in every direction, easy access to the village shop for anything you need, and less than 100 steps from the door of the snug to the door of the Pub (which was also amazing!). If you did prefer to stay in and cook, the kitchen is well stocked and nice to use, however be aware produce from the village shop is excellent quality but can be on the pricier side. It got rather cold outside during our stay but the Snug was always a lovely warm cosy homestead to return to, and on those sharper chilly nights the log burner provided all the extra warmth you need, and the blankets helped too. Easy access to the main roads making it easy to get to anywhere you might want to go. Great spot for potential northern lights hunting too (although we were not so lucky). The only improvements to suggest would be to provide handwash in the welcome pack! Otherwise, a great base and spot to enjoy the delights of Northumberland.

Excellent location, comfortable, clean and warm.

A little noisy during windy evenings. Not great if over 6ft tall for getting in and out of bed due to a low ceiling beam.

It was home from home!

Perfect location and lovely decor and views. Will definitely be booking again.

The cottage was excellent for our needs but the cleaner could do with waving a duster around a little more!

There were several cobwebs particularly around the light fittings and the railings around the mezzanine haven’t been cleaned for a while. Also, during one of the (few) rain showers there was a leak above the door between the kitchen and bathroom

Really enjoyed our stay at the Snug.

Lovely cosy cottage in a fantastic location. We will definitely come back.

We loved the location of the snug.

It was quiet with easy access to the beach and the local pub and shop. The snug was so cosy, and comfortable, which made our stay so relaxing. It was very clean and tidy. It did however lack a couple of basic things like a sponge to wash up (there were T towels, a little washing up liquid but no sponge ). Hand soap would have been useful too and a table next to the sofa to put drinks.

Comfy cottage with character.

Loved the balcony with views of the sea.

We had a lovely relaxing stay at the snug, very comfy bed and sofa.

Very peaceful location. Nice shop in the village. Downsides: lots of weeds at the front of the property, which we felt detracted from the property, did some weeding ourselves to make it look a bit tidier. Latch on the gate needed fixing as did the toilet seat and the plugs in the bathroom and kitchen sinks. The spiral staircase up to the mezzanine floor were very narrow and awkward but suppose limited for space. Main problem was the tv remote control which we noticed had been mentioned several times in the visitors book. Definitely need a new one! Very frustrating. Would definitely recommend and return if these problems are rectified.

The Snug is a lovely place to stay and a perfect base to visit the Northumberland coast.

It’s within ten minutes of the sea and the stunning Northumberland coastline and had everything we needed. Located in a pretty village, with a great pub - The Grey’s Inn - where we ate twice, including Sunday roast (vegan nut roast for me, beef for my partner). The owner was really friendly and welcoming and the pub has pretty places to sit outside in the sun and shade. There were a couple of problems with the Snug: no electricity when we arrived, but eventually found the problem in the fuse box; and no hot water (apart from shower) for three days until boiler replaced) but it didn’t spoil our holiday.

Stunning little find, just right for the 2 of us and the dog.

Local amenities were great including farm shop and location of 2 nearby pubs. Suntrap at the front great place to chill. Good location and walk to stunning clean beaches. Everything we needed from a property but with the lovely sunshine didn't need the log burner

The Snug is very well equipped, comfortable and exactly as listed.

The location is great with easy access to coastal walks and roads to other towns and villages. The Snug has everything we needed and it was lovely sat out in the evening enjoying the fantastic weather we had for our week away.

I wrote a commentary in the guest book lying in the apartment.

On first appearance The Snug is a beautiful property.

It's only when you look a little closer you see that there are maintenance and cleanliness issues. The stairs down into the kitchen area are cracking to the point where I was concerned the bottom step was going to give way by the end of our stay. Handles to cupboards and the knob on the spiral staircase were broken. Only one of the electric radiators in the main room seemed to work which meant for a chilly night in front of the TV. The sofa was in desperate need of a deep clean as were the cushions. Finally, the bathroom was not clean, in particular the shower tray around the doors had a build up of dirt that must have been there for months, not weeks. It's a shame as this is a lovely property in a great position, but general care and maintenance is letting it down. Several comments in the visitors book reflect the above points so this should not be news to the owners. We have stayed in several Sykes Cottages and this unfortunately fell short of the usual high standards. On the plus side, the bed was very comfortable and our dog loved the open aspect of the property.

Property was warm and cosy.

In need of some TLC ( especially the hand rails going down into the kitchen) No starter pack for wood burner provided. Not even matches. A DVD player would be good. Otherwise we had a very comfortable stay and would very much recommend it. The walk down to the beach takes at least half an hour, but the view of the castle from the beach was great. Every where we went everyone was so friendly and welcoming.

The Snug is an excellent property in a superb location and we would definitely stay again.

However there are a few "general maintenance" points that we feel need addressing before they become real problems that would deter us from re-booking: 1) Loose toilet seat, leaking shower unit on wall and mould on the wall in the bathroom. 2) Kitchen ok but cutlery is poor quality and could do with a couple of decent wine glasses 3) Love the open plan space but its starting to look a little tired and could do with a lick of paint throughout. 4) The Log burner eats logs and theres no way of regulating it down. Pushing the knobs full in at the bottom makes no difference. Really could do with fixing / replacing. 5) One of the radiators in the open pla space isnt working 6) Could do with having matching bedside tables / drawers NOTE - In the guest book reviews a number of people have commented that there are loose slates that rattle in high winds. We experienced this issue and located the problem to be a loose drinpipe down the side of the property. We did our best to secure it and the rattling stopped. Better get a professional to look at our handywork. We hope very much that these issues are fed back to the owners and that they have been addressed by the time we book the property again next year.

A lovely cosy cottage in a great spot.

Snug as the name suggests.

We particularly enjoyed the mezzanine reading room. A wonderful location.

Lovely cosy studio, perfect for 2 and great location within walking distance from the beach.

Lots to do and see in the area.

Relaxing very quiet and peaceful ,lots of lovely walks we know the area very well

The snug was a warm cosy base to explore the area on foot, 10 minutes walk to the coast, ideal for a evening walk with the dog , cottage well set out, the only thing I missed was a washing machine , sometimes it is handy to have one even on holiday, hope to return and would highly recommend.

I loved everything about the Snug: location, size, decoration, furniture and bed etc.

It was quiet but only a 15 minute walk to the Sandy beach at Embleton Bay. I absolutely didn’t want to leave! Hope to return one day soon. Thank you.