Lodges & Log Cabins in West Midlands with Hot Tubs

Reviews

What our customers say about their holidays

• Drue - Verified booking

  110% DO NOT RECOMMEND.

  On the photos, this place looks like a nice time away, but when you are there, it’s horrendous. I’ll explain why. Entering into the cottage, we were greeted by month-old spider webs in the bathroom, bedroom and the sitting area. The bathroom contained a huge spider with baby spiders nesting on its month-old spider web - not to worry we thought, and we killed it. The next day, we were then knocked on by David (the owner) - me and my partner were half naked (privacy??) - and I spoke with him outside. He was talking about how Sykes Cottages is a rip off and then went onto mention a couple bringing a cat in a way you can tell he was about to slag them off - this was me and my partner, and I told him this. He then looked shocked as he knew that I knew he was about to badmouth me and my partner. The conversation ends a few sentences later. The following day, our hot tub started to smell like rotten eggs (a chemical reaction caused by a PH imbalance) so we told David and David responds with “it might pay you to go in the shower before you go on”, implying me and my partner are scruffs on a basic. David then comes to the cottage, proceeds to put more chlorine in it (it needed the opposite of chlorine and I told him this) and we then waited to see if it was fine. NO it wasn’t fine, it smelt like bleach and when you put your nose close enough to it, the smell burnt your throat - we didn’t go in, obviously. We then informed David that it now smelt like bleach and he then makes the same comment about going in the shower. He comes around to proceed to tell us he’d emptied it and had filled it back up. About 5 minutes after this call, me and my partner went and checked it to find that the hot tub had spontaneously heated instantly back up to 41.40 degrees - he hadn’t emptied it, but had just put the jets on - yes David, this is definitely solving the problem. After this, we waited to see if it would get any better and the answer is no, it didn’t - it got worse. We then contacted David again to get the problem sorted, and he responds with the same comment, so I hang up - he comes around, does nothing again and off he trots. At this point, me and my partner had been more than fair and David wasn’t helping anyone, so we left 4 nights early. By far out of all of the holidays I have ever had, and I have had a lot of holidays, this was the absolute worst and the absolute worst one could have possibly been - it was a literal nightmare. I preferred to be driving back home on the A1(M) at 1am than I did staying here - and to put the icing on the cake, David has not contacted us once after we left, of which evidently shows his lack of care for his customers, and his inability to provide even the slightest of decent business etiquette for his customers, or even himself. Some things I haven’t mentioned: 1. The cottage hadn’t been cleaned in months and this was evident by the stains left in the bathroom, the month-old cob webs and the crumbs that were already on the floor, 2. The bed is rock-solid and doesn’t have a duvet - if you like sleeping like a normal person, go elsewhere or if you must go here, bring your own, 3. David watches you like a hawk and everything you do - don’t expect privacy with him, and almost certainly don’t expect him to help with anything - if he appears to be “helping” it’s simply to spy on you, 4. If your hot tub smells horrifically of chlorine/bleach, do NOT go in but also do NOT expect David to fix the issue - you may as well go home, 5. The TV’s aren’t smart TV’s, they are free view normal TV’s and this is a form of false-advertising, 6. Take all other ratings with a pinch of salt, it is unbelievable that anyone else has experienced a nice time at this place as it was literal hell for us. It’s a true and absolute disappointment and shame that genuine customers looking for a nice place to go away, kick their feet up and relax away from stress and build life-long memories are duped into this nightmare of a holiday by and with David. Please trust me when I say this: IF YOU HAVE OPTIONS OF WHERE YOU GO, DO NOT GO HERE - AND DO NOT THINK ABOUT GOING HERE IF YOU DON’T HAVE OPTIONS - IT’S A MASSIVE WASTE OF MONEY AND TIME. From all of that has happened, I will be making a formal complaint to Sykes and obtaining a full refund.

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• Michael - Verified booking

  For relaxation the place is on point as very quiet.

  Some of what I’m about to complain about may sound petty but when you review places you have to put warts and all into it. When arriving you approach a barrier which you have to get out the car and press the ring doorbell for someone to open it. Staff seemed friendly enough to check in then You have to pay a deposit for breakages etc £75 and sign sheet, then given a folder of rules and what to do etc . The park has minimum lighting so when it’s dark it’s dark, you need a torch to walk your dog literally, we had rain (as we do) and areas around the park did get flooded so you definitely need some good footwear. Lodge was rented as luxury which was good enough to live in but had a feel of an old peoples home. Cleanliness was not up to scratch as dust on skirting boards, central heating dial and windows hadn’t been cleaned. Hot tub - on settling into the lodge we had a visit from maintenance to show us how to use the tub which was a good touch if you hadn’t used one before, tub was adequate although the step up to it was not fixed down and made of wooden decking so was really slippy. Didn’t see a maintenance guy at our Hot tub from Friday to Friday to check levels etc, I’ve seen this at other places so would have expected to see someone. WiFi is very limited, it’s free to connect if you sit outside reception but when you move you are on your own data which again can be intermittent. Tv in lodge living room was adequate, smart tv. Tv in bedroom wasn’t worth turning on as pixelated and buffered a lot so didn’t use it. We noticed you could connect to the lodge WiFi but didn’t have a password which was strange if you were actually staying in there. The Croft pub on site was a lovely place to eat and drink with the prices suprisingly reasonable, although it wasn’t open everyday and after new year it was closed for 2 weeks for staff holidays which is fair enough but this was not bought to our attention so had to go off site if wanted to eat out or go for a drink. There is no shop on site even just for essentials, you had to go off site which was about 5 min drive. It’s the second place I’ve been to in 6months that doesn’t have an onsite shop which I think is very strange..is this the new thing? There are no dog waste bins around the park only in an exercise area which is not gated off. Recycling or waste bins were no where to be seen around where we stayed so had to leave rubbish in waste bin around by hot tub ( apparently there are some but a long walk from lodges where we stayed. Upon leaving they require you to basically put everything back where it belongs and clean as you arrived this included taking all covers off beds and pillowcases and put in bags provided ( I’ve never had to do this when paying a good amount of money to stay somewhere), leave clean yes we always do as that’s in my nature but to strip beds and make sure all is correct no. When checking out it was a frosty morning and the drive to reception was treacherous and hadn’t been gritted at all, when handed keys there wasn’t much interaction with usual how was your stay, hope you enjoyed it but nothing… All in all it felt like a place that hadn’t finished areas off and decor in lodges are basic for luxury. Recycling looked a big issue as no waste bins in sight. As mentioned at beginning people this is only our feedback as we look for these issues to hopefully give the owners a view from outside and you as possible holiday makers a good insight into holidaying.

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• Philip - Verified booking

  My partner and I stay in different lodges around the UK four or five times a year and never usually go back to the same location.

  In this instance however, we saw that Callow Lodge 2 (which we had booked through Sykes Cottages in September 2016) was available. As we had enjoyed that lodge and the location facilities, we booked it again. Really looking forward to the spacious lodge and good sized hot tub, we checked in. We new where the lodge was situated on site and proceeded to its location to find another family in occupation. It was then we realised we had been given the keys to Callow 22, not Callow 2. This lodge, although having all the same internal amenities, was smaller in floor space, had a smaller hot tub and was situated on the main road to the rest of the lodges in that area (Unlike Callow 2, which was the last lodge on a road to the maintance yard and therefore rarely used). When I complained to reception, I was told that all the other lodges were full, therefore reluctantly, had to accept this lodge. Do not get me wrong, the lodge was as good as Callow 2, but smaller than we were expecting. Within two days we were asked to call into reception where the staff admitted it had been an administrative error on their part. As compensation they offered us a £50 cash back and a £50 voucher for the next time we stop with them (As stated above, we never usually go back to the same place so will not be using that). The site is adult only, has lodge and tourer facilities, has a good onsite restaurant and the grounds are kept immaculate.There are also good fishing ponds within the site that hold large fish. The staff were always very friendly and obliging. I would have no hesitation in recommending this location to others,

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• Darren - Verified booking

  Ive waited a few weeks before leaving a review as I wanted to reflect for a while.

  The park itself was beautifully kept, a credit to the grounds keeping team! It was also very quiet on an evening. I don't agree with description of the lodge as "outstanding" it maybe was several years ago. The pictures on sykes website advertising this lodge are old, it look's more luxurious in pictures, as to reality. I actually thought I'd walked in the wrong lodge, and had to go back outside and check the number on the fence to see if I had the right lodge, the sofas and dining table are not the same as the pictures! Instead there is two old leather sofas, and the dining table and chairs are totally different, and really old and tired imediately making it feel less luxurious. There is a lot of missing information on sykes website about this property and the rules etc. I'd advise checking with park before booking. I was most annoyed that I was told that if I wanted any friends or family to visit me during my stay it was £10 per visitor. I booked a lodge for 3 people and there was only me and the dog! They allow visitors free if there spending money in the bar/restaurant no problem! I've stayed in a lot of these lodges over the years and for value for money Its disappointing. I wouldn't stay in this lodge again nor would I use sykes again. There is a lot of road noise like the other reviews state, it didn't bother me though. The hot tub was nice to use but even that was old and tired. To top it off sykes refused my top cashback claim even though I've followed the procedures ...shame on you sykes !!!

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• Philip - Verified booking

  This was the first time we had stopped at Beaconsfield Farm Holiday Park.

  On arrival first impressions were good. Well maintained areas around the Lodges and Caravans. Two good sized fishing lakes and the caravans segregated from the lodges. Booking in was quick, easy and we were directed to our lodge in no time at all. Being able to park next to your lodge is a bonus as in other lodge locations we have stayed at, you left the car at the entrance. Callow Lodge 2 was clean, spacious and comfortable with two double bedrooms. The hot tub was secluded and private. I had booked a two bedroom lodge with the intention of my Brother and Sister in Law staying for two nights on their way down from Scotland to London. However, I was told this was not allowed unless I paid an additional fee. It was also pointed out that, although their were two double bedrooms, Sykes cottages advertised it for three people, when clearly the lodge was set up for four. Another aspect of the booking that was not pointed out by Sykes Cottages, were the number of rules you had to adhere too. No vehicles with commercial markings allowed on site. Check in had to be no later than 7pm. Any guests had to be booked in at £10 per person per visit. Only allowed to visit between 10am and 9pm. Visitors cars were to be left at the entrance. No use of the Hot Tub after dusk. Although these rules did not detract from an enjoyable holiday, I feel that Sykes Cottages should have notified us prior to arrival.

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