Half Term Breaks In The United Kingdom

Reviews

What our customers say about their holidays

• S - Verified booking

  We have stayed in a lodge here before and we really like the facilities at the lodge, especially the hot tub, sound system and the games.

  The lodge is always so warm and cosy which is perfect as we tend to visit in early spring or Autumn. It is also great that there are so many towels, particularly when you're using the hot tub often. Unfortunately on our most recent visit the lights in the hot tub were not working which wasn't ideal when using the hot tub at night. There also seems to be a discrepancy between what the lodge booklet says (turn the temperature down when children are using the hot tub) to what the staff member told us (children shouldn't go in and don't try to adjust the temperature as it messes with the levels and won't stay hot). Unfortunately the lights were not working for the duration of our trip as we were told that it they were to replace them they would have to drain the whole hot tub and we would lose a days use. This was frustrating. We also had the batteries in the thermostat run out and a light not working. Both issues were resolved eventually, but we felt that all 3 of these issues could have been preventable if things were checked to be in working order before our visit. Of course we understand that sometimes they do genuinely stop working when we are in the lodge, but for this to happen to 3 things felt unlikely. Particularly the hot tub lights needed checking prior to our visit and it certainly felt that the staff member only checked the hot tub when showing us how to use it. As for cleanliness, the bathrooms were clean. However other areas such as the kitchen and the lounge rug and surfaces didn't seem to be any cleaner than from the previous guests cleaning. When we left the property we felt the kitchen was as clean as it was when we arrived and the lounge rug was cleaner and that is with us not having all the cleaning facilities that cleaners would have. Also, the Henry hoover at the property is breaking (nozzle falls apart) and it isn't really very good for laminate flooring, it just feels like if you use the main nozzle you will scratch the flooring. Overall, we still really enjoy coming and we will no doubt come and stay again, but we'd feel more confident booking if more thorough checks were done before our visit and if the cleaning was better. We don't give this feedback to criticise, but in hope that these issues can be resolved and help improve the stay of all customers. Thank you very much.

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• Stephanie - Verified booking

  We arrived for the 1500hr check-in to find the patio doors open and the owner still busy inside.

  The dishwasher and washing machine were partway through their cycle and the owner departed to purchase mould remover for the bathroom. He returned with wine, chocs and strawberries which was very kind of him. However, he left with the washing machine and dishwasher still going. We then noticed that the lounge and both bedroom doors had been damaged in what appeared to be a fight, with one bedroom door sealed shut. The lounge carpets were dirty with crumbs and hairs and all surfaces were very dusty. The kitchen floor and table were also dirty with dust, hairs and crumbs with greasy surfaces. There was a lack of cutlery, crockery and drinking vessels and the sink and taps were loose and unclean, with plates etc still on the drainage tray. It was so awful that I vacuumed the entire place myself and attempted to remove the grime from bedside tables and worktops. Despite this, our friends who arrived later noticed immediately how grubby the whole place was - very embarrassing for myself as I organised this break for everyone. The bedrooms and bathrooms were also filthy and strongly reeked of cigarette smoke, with aged pillows and mismatched bed linen in one of the rooms and a blocked toilet in the other. The smell when in bed was so bad that we left the next day. The 'double' beds were also 2 single mattresses held together by a double fitted sheet which came partially off in the night and the mattresses separated to leave an annoying gap. One of the beds had spiders in it which appeared when the duvet was turned back. I spent most of the night on the settee in the lounge. This 3 day stay cost us £939 and it was terrible - I don't know how it has a 3 star rating. The owner needs to get the entire place professionally deep-cleaned and dispose of all the pillows and probably mattresses, which we didn't dare look at. And properly stock the kitchen and clean and tidy all the drawers and cupboards. And sort the doors and fix the toilet. There was also a lack of smoke alarms.

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• Robin - Verified booking

  The lodge is just wonderful!

  As soon as we walked in it had the wow factor. We were shown to our lodge by a very nice man and he showed us how to use the hot tub. Inside there was lovely welcome goodies which were much appreciated thank you! Everything we needed was there and the hot tub was a fabulous addition. The lounge could benefit from a lamp, as there are only the main overhead lights which can be a bit harsh at night times so we used a lamp from our room for the week. The handsoap in the kitchen had been refilled with water to make it look full which is a bit tight for a 5 star property! But we had bought our own so used that. The kettle is a little tired now so needs replacing. The lodge area is gated off so felt very safe and it was lovely and quiet. The only noise is of children playing on the campsite park which made us smile. The entrance of the campsite could be tidied up a bit as it looks a little forgotten. However there was a gardener every day tending to the lodge gardens which is a nice touch. Every single person we spoke to was so friendly and polite to us it was a real pleasure. We will miss the lodge! We would love to come back and recommend it to anyone!

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• Chris - Verified booking

  We stayed 5 days in Willow Lodge and could not asked for anything more!

  On arrival, you are shown to your lodge where there is a bottle of prosecco waiting for you amongst other bits (including some eggs which were mostly double yolkers). The cabin is nicely decorated, has underfloor heating everywhere and is just a very comfortable space, with plenty of room. Kitchen has pretty much everything you'll need in there, including a coffee machine, and the hot tub and sauna were splendid. A short walk down a country path will take you to the village to two great establishments, The Plough and The Wheatsheaf. The former is a charming pub which does hearty food (we ended up going in on pie night which was a welcome surprise), and has a good local pub atmosphere. The latter is a top tier restaurant which has a fantastic selection of interesting dishes, and is fairly priced for the quality of the meals. That's it for the local village, but everything else to do is only a short drive away, including a great falconry and of course, Rutland Water. We had a lovely time here and was a perfect way to spend a week off

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• Colm - Verified booking

  Ticencote Lodge was all that we had hoped and expected it to be.

  The furnishings were country casual style/design and the overall finish was most attractive. The living,dining, eating area was well served with plenty of cupboard space, an area for shoes and coats and overall very well appointed. Having the lodge within a few minutes walk of the lovely Barnsdale Lodge Hotel was the best of both worlds. Somewhere to pop across for a drink before cooking in the kitchen at the lodge but with the option of dinner at the hotel that we enjoyed on a couple of occasions, one being Sunday lunchtime. Unlike a hotel room, the lodge meant with only the two of us plenty of space to stretch out, a bathroom and shower room meant no sharing needed! The area of Rutland Water is beautiful and we enjoyed a relaxed week in delightful surroundings. We almost never return to the same place twice as we love to discover new areas but I have a strong feeling that we will aim to return to a Rutland Reatreat lodge at a different time of year.

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