The Dovecote

Reviews (15)

• Julie

  Downside was having no central heating that we could work out. Did telephone the emergency number given for the caretaker but they did not answer or respond to a voicemail or text message. It was difficult to dry towels etc and the temperature dropped a little in the evening but the fan heaters provided were lovely. Beautiful building but did smell a little fusty and damp, to be expected due to age of the building. All kitchen utensils etc clean and everything provided to have a meal at home. I would have liked to have seen a mattress protector on the bed but could not complain about the comfort. Overall we had a lovely stay but you do need transport to get out and about. The village is lovely and the local pub food exceptional.

• Viv

  However, a few points to note: There were cobwebs in the bedroom Lights- no overhead lights in lounge, only two lamps. There was no two way control for light upstairs, so you had to go up, put lamps on, come back down, switch hall light off go back upstairs. There was no curtain over the door, felt quite exposed when sitting down in the evening. The garden area was very unloved. Weeds growing out of the gravel, plant pots with dead flowers- first impressions and all that. Shower room flooded Could do with a mirror on the wall in the bedroom for hair and make up

• Pippa

  As a regular Sykes customer I have never felt so let down. Tucked away in a parkland setting, what a load of rubbish, this property is at the back of a carpark boxed in by an abandoned building surrounded by high brick walls. I will start with the one positive, the bedroom is stunning with a very comfy bed but it is freezing even in August. Note the toilet and shower room is downstairs (as described) though the kitchen at the back of the property As you arrive at the property you enter through a car park which is open to the public for a business situated on the site and an abandoned Spa facility which is fully boarded up. There is building materials in the yard and work vans. There is a space signposted for Dovecote but this is nether private or secure and the sign reads owners leave vehicles at there own risk. You cannot see your car due to the high walls. You enter a very enclosed grey courtyard which stretches along the front of the property which has old walls and faces the gable of the old spa building and the fire door of that building. This is the view from your sofa. The space at the front of the property is shingle with a few scattered plants in pots and stretches the length of the front of the cottage . There is a dirty looking picnic table which has seen better days. We went outside on Saturday evening the sun was blazing but not in the courtyard which is fully enclosed by high walls and the old spa so it was dark and dismal completely shaded by the walls and buildings. On entering the property there is a large sofa which is described as scrumptious, This has been covered with a large fur like throw to hide the ripped leather which has been repaired and the smelly seats. Four tweedy style cushions were on the sofa which smelt of dog and were covered in coarse white dog hairs. I had to remove the cushions immediately as I started to sneeze as soon as I arrived . Into the hall and there are two walk in cupboards one had hangers for clothes but was also filled with old cardboard boxes with toilet seats and other cardboard. The other held a full length mirror and one chest of draws again for clothes which also held the mop bucket, brush and ironing board and smelt of chemical; there is no storage upstairs. We were not prepared to leave our clothes in either cupboard thus we hung our clothes in the corridor on the coat hooks and lived out of our bags Move into the kitchen which was a very thin galley. described as hosting a superb range of appliances. Well there is a toast, microwave and cooker. No tea pot, no coffee pot or maker,. The cooker trays were filthy as were some of the dishes and glasses in the cupboard. The only place to eat was on the worksurface next to the sink and the bathroom, there is no table to eat meals which could easily be fit into the lounge or link corridor, Lastly the bathroom which is right at the end of the property and is a serviceable shower room however the drain was very blocked which we had to clean The description states rear enclosed courtyard with furniture. step outside to bask in alfresco mealtimes. We open the rear/back door which is labelled FIRE EXIT to look at the rear area and to our delight saw a beautiful grass area with trees and a bistro table. However this is not for the Dovecote and there has been a steel fence erected over the fire door exit to prevent any access. This steel fence blocks any exit if there was a fire as you were unable to exit via that door. It was a good job we checked as we would have headed that way in an emergency If there is a fire in the kitchen and you can not pass the cooker you are not getting out. The cottage had reed diffusers everywhere to mask the small of dog and needed a good scrub. I mopped the floors on arrival as i was not happy with the cleanliness and the water was black In all we were so disappointed this cottage, we so needed a break. We work full time and have parents with Dementia and Alzheimer so do not often get to have weekends alone. We ate out each night as we were not prepared to eat on the kitchen counter and all the food we had taken to make nice romantic meals either went out of date or came home with us. I woke on Sunday morning and started to cry, I was so disappointed and just wanted to go home can honestly say i could not wait to leave and if it was not for the fact that we were taking a break from caring responsibilities we would have come straight home.