Villas In West Midlands

Reviews

What our customers say about their holidays

• Lisa - Verified booking

  On arrival we had to set to and wash all the dirty plates, dishes, cups, glasses and then clean out the cutlery drawer.

  No instructions for the oven and a grill rail / slider is broken so you cannot put the tray under the grill. No instructions for the washing machine and a regular leak on the pantry / utility room floor. Kitchen / larder well equipped. Some of the floors were dirty and all the windowsills throughout had dead flies, cobwebs and dust on them. The kitchen dustpan and brush were filthy and thrown behind the bin on the kitchen floor. The downstairs double bedroom has extensive bubbled walls with damp, the radiator did not work, only one bedside lamp and no drawers. Not user friendly or suitable for an elderly family member, apart from the fact it is downstairs. The other downstairs bunk bedroom had no drawers, soiled bed linen and one single open wardrobe for effectively a 3 bed room. The 4 poster bedroom had the most disgusting toilet cleaning brush ever, a useless bin that was dirty and fell over when you tried to use the foot pedal. The room was generally dirty and dusty, a small sink with nowhere to put any toiletries and annoyingly very creaky floorboards. The kingsize en-suite bedroom had no wardrobes or drawers and the foul smell from the septic tank regurgitated up into the en-suite bathroom. The other 2 x double rooms and 2 x twin rooms upstairs also had a lack of wardrobes, drawers, bins, some soiled bedding, dead bugs on the roller blinds, no plugs near a mirror to do hair. The shared bathroom upstairs has a shower curtain which sticks to people when in the shower, which is very unhygienic when it is to be used by up to 8 people from the 2 x double and 2 x twin rooms. A shower screen would be much more suitable, or even remove the bath and have a walk-in shower to make it safer. The shower is difficult to use and water goes all over the floor. Although there is a coat rack in an inner hallway between the kitchen and downstairs bathroom, there are no coat / boot facilities at either the front or back door. No door mat at the front door and a manky door mat at the back door. The lounge had 5 large poor quality sofas in it and a pub table stood in the open fireplace. No coffee table or side table for drinks / snack bowls. We rearranged the sofas and put the pub table in the centre of the room (too high really). We used double sided sticky tape to secure the Hessian rug to the floor because its' curled up edges were a trip hazard. Whilst doing this we noticed how dirty the floor was underneath the rug. Outside there were 2 good quality picnic benches and a nice bench on the front lawn. The random outdoor chairs on the rear patio were scruffy. The shared games room is a health and safety hazard. There is a large hole in the floor with a laundry bag dropped on top of it. There is a chest freezer full of meat in there?? There is bleach and also laundry waiting to be collected or being delivered back. Is it a games room, or a laundry / cleaning room? The sofa and chairs in there are a disgrace and belong in a skip, there was even a resident mouse living in the sofa that we called Zac. Only one broken pool cue available. Table tennis was also available. Although the youngest in our group was 15, you would not want young children in such an unsafe and dirty environment. It is a stretch of the imagination to call it a games room. Also, it was left unlocked all week with various (property) keys on the table. For safety there could be an outdoor security light on the courtyard parking area for people walking to / from said games / laundry room. Large potholes in the driveway up to the courtyard parking that need filling in. I have taken photographs to support the detail given in this feedback, if needed. As a family we have booked a large property through Sykes several times for our annual get together. We always go for 4 or 5 'tick' ratings. This property was rated as 4 ticks but really should only be 2 ticks. The owners seem to have tried to maximise capacity for the house, without considering the amenities in each room. This property needs a deep clean, it needs to smell clean too. With Covid we were shocked at the lack of cleanliness. The property badly needs renovation and some attention to detail in each room to warrant a 4 tick rating and the amounts that are being charged. Until this has been done, we think Sykes should inspect and regrade the rating for the benefit of others considering booking this property. Also, very poor and random internet access. Extremely disappointed on all counts; accuracy of listing, cleanliness, comfort and facilities.

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• Greg - Verified booking

  We recently had the absolute pleasure of staying at 1 Little Broomcroft in Kenley, Shropshire, from 28th December to 1st January.

  Our group of five adults and five children came for a retreat to savour the ‘Chrimbo Limbo’ period—relaxing, eating, drinking, walking, and playing games. This home was nothing short of exceptional, exceeding our expectations in every way. From the moment we arrived, it was clear that Amy and Phil, the wonderful and attentive hosts, had put incredible thought and care into every detail. They were always available to answer questions, making sure everything was perfect for our stay, which made us feel truly welcome. This house is so much more than just a rental; it feels like a home that has been designed with love, personality, and care. The carefully curated artwork, extensive book collection, and impeccable décor create an atmosphere that is both luxurious and deeply homely. It’s a place where you immediately feel at ease, trusted with a space that has been created for enjoyment and comfort. A standout feature for us was the stunning drawing room. With its elevated views and a fully retractable glass exterior wall, it was a truly special place to spend time. Even in December, we were lucky enough to have some morning sunshine, and sitting there with a coffee, feeling like we were outside while still enjoying the warmth of the house, was a highlight of our stay. The clever interior glass dividing wall meant that the upper floor could be configured in different ways, making the space versatile—open-plan when you want it to be, or offering some sectioned-off privacy when needed. Beyond the aesthetic charm, the house is also brilliantly equipped. The kitchen is fully stocked, the appliances are high-end, and the smart home features—including Alexa-controlled lighting and blinds—were fantastic. Everything worked flawlessly, and the tech-savvy design added a real sense of modern convenience without ever feeling intrusive. The kids absolutely loved the cinema room, which became their hideaway for much of the stay, while the expansive grounds were a paradise for both them and our dogs. With ample parking and plenty of wonderful places to explore nearby, we made the most of the local area, including a fantastic afternoon in Much Wenlock. That said, there was plenty to do without even leaving the house, making it the perfect retreat for both adventure and relaxation. In summary, 1 Little Broomcroft is a truly exceptional place—a luxurious, welcoming, and meticulously designed home that we would return to in a heartbeat. Amy and Phil have created something really special, and we feel privileged to have experienced it. We can’t wait to come back one day!

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• Nicola - Verified booking

  Lower Tundridge Cottage is a beautiful building within a lovely countryside setting.

  We booked the cottage for our annual reunion as a group of 12 adults. We enjoyed our stay but felt there were a few areas of the house that did not match the quality expected for such a property, including: - The house was not deeply cleaned before we arrived. The bedding had hairs within in it, there were dirty tissues stuffed behind a bedroom TV, forgotten items from previous visitors were left behind bedroom drawers and an ensuite toilet had not been cleaned thoroughly as there were hairs and dirt within bowl. - The beds do not have proper mattresses, instead they have have very thin foam toppers or two foam Toppers placed on top of each other. The beds would benefit from standard mattresses especially if you are renting the property for more than one night. - The sofas are run down and uncomfortable, the legs are bowing outwards and the cushions have become very thin. - The kitchen would benefit from more utensils including wooden spoons, ladles & serving spoons. Especially when catering for 12 adults. We were very grateful that the property did have a great supply of glassware, crockery and cutlery and dishwasher tablets were supplied however a cleaning spray was not provided which made it difficult to thoroughly clean the kitchen after each meal. The hot tub was a fantastic addition to the cottage and we throughly enjoyed using it during our stay. It was lovely to meet Mo (the owner) who very promptly came over when we emailed with a query and it was fascinating to hear about the history of the building and it’s journey to be converted into a holiday cottage. Mo & Edwin were very accommodating in the lead up to our stay and provided us with excellent recommendations within the local area and taxi companies to use. Overall we had a great weekend catching up with friends but felt the cottage would benefit from a few tweaks.

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• Aanchal - Verified booking

  We we're really excited about going away and from all the pictures we saw online this cottage looked fantastic and would seemingly meet all our requirements.

  The cottage is based in a very quiet and idyllic village of Suckley, surrounded by greenery and tranquility so felt like the perfect place to unwind. We got super lucky with the weather and it was mainly 22-24c the whole week we we're there. In terms of the property itself, I would say it's got all the gloss in the pictures but lets itself down pretty quickly. I accept the place is meant to be a fusion of rustic and modern but it felt very rough round the edges in parts, just little bits like finishing/decoration etc. For example there was a massive crack around the induction hob, scuffs and marks in a lot of places etc. Garden furniture, specifically the wooden benchs/table looked like it had weathered for the last decade outside. The real problem was the comfort for all the guests, the mattresses we're not good, felt very soft and worn in and the pillows had no firmness to them. This became a chief complaint amongst most of us that stayed, the same can be said about the couch/sofa as well as it was really worn in and had no support whatsoever. We also found it really odd that two of the rooms just had open bathroom areas right next to the beds so the ensuite's in these areas were seldom used and the guests all struggled over the shared bathroom, something that wasn't completely obvious at booking. The family rooms are upstairs off the main kitchen/living room area, I'd say the rooms are at an ok distance if you have kids sleeping and people are up and about making noise, but something to be mindful of. We did like the big open kitchen/table area where we could all eat and enjoy as a social spot. Overall the property is fine, I had higher expectations for comfort for sure, possibly more suited to adult parties than with younger kids.

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• Tim - Verified booking

  We had an amazing stay over Christmas at Little Broomcroft.

  The property is stunning, as is the setting; panoramic views of the local countryside from the open plan kitchen and living area upstairs is something special…especially watching the sun rise in the morning! The level of tech in the house is incredible. Despite the fairly remote location the WiFi is excellent, there is also voice activated lightning and a kitchen with extremely high spec appliances it made catering for large numbers (we had 9 for Christmas dinner…) an easy and pleasurable experience. The cinema room downstairs is also a real treat; 4K projector with SkyTV & surround sound… ideal for a movie or an afternoon watching the football! There are also lots of board games and interesting books to look through, plus an Xbox and a trampoline outside for the kids! The rooms are all very spacious and really comfortable. The general feel of the place is very cozy and warm which really helps to make it a very relaxing and calm experience. Phil and Amy the property owners looked after us brilliantly throughout our stay. They were always on hand to answer any questions about the property and set it up as we wanted it before our arrival. Nothing was too much trouble for them. We would highly recommend a stay at Little Broomcroft. It’s the ideal setting for a relaxing getaway with family and friends in a truly stunning location.

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