"We found the beds a little uncomfortable, perhaps the mattresses need replacing?"
The bed frames also need tightening as very squeaky.
Apart from that we were very impressed, lovely central place to stay, very clean and had everything we needed.
Reviewed by Julie4.7★ Apr 2024
"A fantastic property in a lovely location."
Very well equipped and homely.
Reviewed by Cherie5.0★ Apr 2024
"We loved the barn, particularly my 8 year old who wanted to stay somewhere with a mezzanine!"
All facilities were good, although we weren’t expecting only single beds! We’d definitely stay for longer next time.
Reviewed by Richard4.1★ Apr 2024
"Great location & accommodation."
Handy for everything. We had a great stay however...
We are used to self catering places in Northumberland with Cottages.com. For the price I expected better quality crockery & glassware & welcome pack. Some plates & bowls needed replacing as the glaze had gone - grey lines & marks & very little matched. Washing up liquid & more toilet roll would have been welcome too.
Very warm when we arrived. Heating was efficient. Plenty of hot water in the morning but when we got back from a chily boat trip & wanted hot showers about 6pm there was no hot water & no instructions about the boiler. This was the same through our stay, hot water in the mornings only.
Thanks for taking the time to provide a detailed review. I'll look at the crockery and glassware when I stay at Links Barn over the summer. I was particularly interested in your comments about the hot water as I'd never had that problem in the months I've stayed there. I'll add some explanation to the welcome guide to explain how to override the timer on the immersion heater so that future guests won't have the same issue. I appreciate your letting me know.
Property Owner
Reviewed by Carmel4.7★ Mar 2024
"The location was perfect; central but quiet."
The property was spacious and well equipped, apart from the bedrooms which were too small for 4 people (luckily there were only two of us so we managed). The beds were hard and uncomfortable, but the showers were good.
There is still an issue with the gates! We were told on our second day that someone would come and fix them, but nobody did. We had to leave them unlocked for the duration of our stay.
Nevertheless, we had a great holiday and if the bed and gate problems were resolved we would definitely return.
Many thanks for submitting your feedback; every comment I receive is invaluable. I'm sorry you found the beds uncomfortable. I plan on replacing them in the summer when I come to stay. Sykes had one of their staff work on the gates since your stay and I've had no feedback since then so I can only assume all is now well. I'm glad you had a great holiday, Seahouses is such a delightful fishing village.
Property Owner
Reviewed by Sandra3.1★ Feb 2024
"Great cottage, warm, clean and a really nice Interior."
Location is fantastic for everything ally way to get to the cottage is a little tight if you have a large car. If coming in to the cottage from the left go around roundabout and come in from the right, much easier.
Only issue we had was not with the cottage that was absolutely lovely but the gate quite a struggle to get in on the first day we arrived, 6ft gate and fence. We unpacked and went to go out for the evening for a wonder but unfortunately the gate would not open, completely jammed handle on inside seemed disconnected to the locking mechanism and we were locked in from the inside, Contacted office and said someone would be out that night so stuck in that night. No one turned up all weekend lucky husband was with us and was able to climb over fence and open from the outside. If I was on own no way I could have even got the gate open on arriving. Although issues with the gates we would stay here again, hopefully that will be fixed next time
I am so sorry that you had trouble with the gate. I called the office as soon as I read your review; they had also just read your comments. Nobody had logged your call so I can only report a communications breakdown that evening. The agency have since dispatched someone to repair the catch so future guests shouldn't be inconvenienced the way you were. I appreciate your comments. My wife and I spend several months in the cottage every summer and I've mastered the left turn into the laneway. However your suggestion to continue to the roundabout (50 yards maybe) to approach the cottage from the east is a good one. .
Property Owner
Reviewed by Catherine4.1★ Feb 2024
"We enjoyed our stay at Seahouses, links barn was close to all amenities, well catered for in the property, my only two concerns were the beds were extremely uncomfortable and creaky (I had to sleep on the settee) and we also struggled locking the gate on leaving, we reported the gate problem to the office."
Other than those two issues we enjoyed our time at links barn.
Thank you for taking the time to leave a review. As the cottage owner I read every review and take the comments to heart. My wife and I spend several months in our cottage every summer. Personally we don't find the beds uncomfortable, although I concur that they are creaky. I will look into replacing them when we arrive in July. Sykes will have sent someone to repair the gate latch so it should be no problem from now.
Property Owner
Reviewed by Louise4.1★ Feb 2024
"Wonderful 3 weeks in this lovely property."
Useful having a local office to deal with any problems, reported storm damage to the gate, maintenance visit within 24hrs, Difficult to understand some of the negative comments we read, before booking, certainly not experienced by us, clean comfortable, spacious, well equipped, cottage in an excellent location.
Although it’s unlikely we will be back in this area should that change we wouldn’t hesitate to book this cottage.
Many thanks for taking the time to submit a review. My wife and I love the cottage too, but it's always good to get feedback from others.
Property Owner
Reviewed by Ruth5.0★ Jan 2024
"We have just had a very enjoyable week at Links Barn."
The property was a good size, well equipped and perfectly clean. Each bedroom had an en suite and there was a further shower room downstairs.
The location was excellent with shops and restaurants just outside the door, and the harbour area a very short walk away. We enjoyed a walk along the beach to Bamburgh, took a boat trip out to the Farne Islands, went to Walkworth Castle, Amble and Alnwick.
We found the beds comfortable, although a little creaky. The showers were powerful and the cottage was warm. We had some difficulty locking and unlocking the front door as the wet weather appeared to have swollen the door, we reported this on our first day so hopefully the next visitors won't have the same problem. It was definitely better to reverse into the 2 private off road park spaces right outside the property, which we managed fine. The property is nestled behind Lewis fish and chip shop, the fish and chips here were excellent and there is an indoor cafe.
We visited as 2 couples and my only negatives would be how thin the wall was between the bedrooms as every noise could be heard, and that only one toilet roll per bathroom was provided which was not enough for a one week stay.
I’m glad you enjoyed your stay and took advantage of some of the many attractions close by. If you return I’d recommend Holy Island (keep track of the causeway crossing times) Berwick, and Craster. The Beadnell to Craster walk is beautiful. There are several useful Facebook groups for more information. Just search for Seahouses.
Property Owner
Reviewed by Barbara4.7★ Dec 2023
"A beautiful barn which was comfortable and well equipped in a perfect location close to local amenities and ideal for exploring the local area."
Thank you for your kind words - we appreciate them.
It IS a great location - so much within walking distance. When we stay there we often don't use our car for days at a time.
Property Owner
Reviewed by Helen4.4★ Nov 2023
"This is a lovely property and looks like the pictures on the listing."
It is very well equipped and does not deserve some of the previous comments made. It is very well situated ….you are right in the town centre
and easy walk to the harbour, restaurants etc
The parking is a little tight for a larger vehicle but you just have to unload before parking up. We were 2 couples stayed for 3 nights and had a very enjoyable time.
Many thanks for taking the time to leave a review and I'm glad you enjoyed your time in our cottage. I agree that parking is tight. That's pretty much a given in Seahouses.
Property Owner
Reviewed by Glynis4.7★ Oct 2023
"We had a lovely stay"
Reviewed by Susan5.0★ Oct 2023
"As there have been a couple of reviews of this property this year that haven't been so great, which understandably worried me before I had my holiday here (to the extent I contacted Sykes to check the issues had been resolved), I just wanted to leave a review that would hopefully reassure anyone else booked here on the current state of the property."
The cottage was clean and seemed to be well-maintained, with everything working as it should. The spacious kitchen and living room were particularly welcome. It was a great place to relax at the end of a busy day of walking or sightseeing. The central location was really good, and it was in easy walking distance of the beach and harbour, as well as the local shops (and we made good use of the fish and chip shop at the end of the driveway). All in all, we had a lovely stay.
I would agree with one of the previous reviews about the beds being on the firm side, but it's rare I don't have that issue, and my friend whom I was holidaying with found them perfectly fine. The only other small downside was that the parking could be a little awkward if there were big vehicles in the other parking in front of the cottage's fence/gate (and on two occasions, others parking in what wasn't actually a parking space). You need to be competent at doing a three-point turn (or more) to be able to reverse into the parking inside the gates (and you definitely wouldn't want to be reversing out of the driveway/alleyway due to visibility and the busyness of the main street). However, if you're confident at manoeuvring and don't have a huge car yourself, it's fine.
I would happily stay here again if I return to Seahouses in the future.
Very many thanks for taking the time to write such a detailed review. I too particularly enjoy the spacious kitchen and living room with its soaring, cathedral ceiling. You describe the location well and I'm so glad you enjoyed it.
As you may have noticed, parking is a challenge in Seahouses, although there's always the huge public car park if you don't mind paying. We're lucky in that we have two private parking spots and I agree they do require you to perform a tight 3-point turn. I always back into the space so I can drive directly out and on to the street.
I hope you'll return to Seahouses because I'm sure you still have a lot to see and do.
Property Owner
Reviewed by Lindsay4.7★ Sep 2023
"The place was filthy."
.. and, I emailed you during our stay to complain and have had absolutely no response. Very poor and we won't use Sykes ever again and I'll be doing a revealing trip advisor review later today too.
Good day!!!!
I’m sorry but I must dispute this. My wife and I spent the summer in Links Barn and left two days before you arrived. We left the place spotless. Counters cleaned, fridge defrosted, floors scrubbed on our hands and knees. Scrubbed out both ovens until they shone. After we left the Sykes cleaning team arrived to clean throughout and to supply clean linen. We cleaned the garden, removed weeds from the driveway, and repainted the fence and gates. Filthy it was not. Good day to you too.
Property Owner
Reviewed by Steve1.3★ Sep 2023
"After reading recent adverse reviews of Links Barn prior to our 1-week June booking, we contacted Sykes Holiday Cottages (SHC) to seek assurances that we would not encounter the same problems described in the reviews."
The last thing we want after a 5-hour car journey is to have to start cleaning the property. Consequently, we are expecting the property to be in immaculate condition when we arrive, not sometime into the booking week when the cleaning and other issues have had to be addressed by the property’s team
On arrival, we found that the between-booking cleaning (toilets, kitchen crockery, cutlery, utensils etc) and preparation had been done very thoroughly, and that our main concern had been addressed.
Others had found that the downstairs TV did not work. For us, the TV worked the first time we used it, but the next time we tried, it would not turn on. However, a technique we gleaned from the internet reset the TV and thereafter it worked fine.
A velux window blind in the rear bedroom did not work correctly.
Most of the deficiencies raised by the previous adverse reviews we found as well - the property is certainly in need of TLC from the owner.
Overall though, we had a really enjoyable week visiting the many exciting places around Seahouses (Berwick, Holy Island, Bamburgh, the Farne Islands, Alnmouth, Alnwick, Craster & Dunstanburgh Castle, Cragside, Amble,…), and the weather was very kind too.
Robert
Thank you Robert for taking the time to submit your feedback.
The Sykes management and I value all feedback and act upon it whenever possible.
My wife and I have just returned from spending the last 11 weeks at Links Barn and taken the opportunity to perform several repairs and the necessary TLC. I wasn't able to obtain a replacement Velux blind for the bedroom before we left (although I did replace the bathroom blind) but it's on order and the Sykes team will replace it.
It sounds like you made the most of your week in Seahouses and I'm glad you enjoyed your time there.
Property Owner
Reviewed by Robert3.8★ Jun 2023
"The property was in need of some TLC and a good clean especially outside as the windows, seating and table on the small patio were covered in bird pooh."
There were tall weeds growing in the alley and the patio area. The plant containers were in a poor state and need replacing together with the majority of the plants. The BBQ is rusty and i for one didn't want to use it for food. It need replacing. The gate and front door has paint peeling off and needs sanding and painting. The overall first impression was very poor and disappointing for the money we had paid. The description regarding the location is very misleading: You don't access the property down a lane, but a gap between the fish shop and newsagents which is an alleyway at best. We encountered customers of the fish shop blocking access to the alley numerous occasions. There needs to be better keep clear signage for cars approaching from the right of the alley entrance. The description states there is off road parking for two cars but in reality only car can be parked securely behind the gates of the property, the other must be parked at the rear of the newsagents. The description states that the view from the mezzanine level overlooks quaint cottages. This is a blatant lie as all you can see is the rear of the newsagent and other shops which may contain holiday accommodation, but can not be described as "quaint cottages". You also have a view of two industrial size rubbish bins, presumably belonging to the news agents. Inside, the kitchen worktops were sticky and had to be cleaned before we felt happy using them. The freezer needs defrosting. The oven needs cleaning inside. Food stains needed wiping off on the stools before they were fit to use. Numerous cobwebs were found on the walls/ceiling and hanging lights. There is a step between the kitchen area and lounge area which is not defined well enough. It has a very narrow strip of hazard tape stuck to the floor but we ended up putting mat there as we had stumbled up and down the step a couple of times. The mats in the entrance hall slip under your feet every time you enter it, and are quite dangerous, they require slip matting underneath. The left hand bedroom required the bed to be moved in order for the short wardrobe door to be opened fully. The right hand side bedroom ensuite bathroom blind was broken and as a consequence couldn't be closed without being jammed with some card board to keep the light out. Both beds in both bedrooms creak every time you move and need replacing. The blind at the top of the stairs is broken too. All in all it is the worst holiday accommodation we and our friends have stayed in. It did not meet the high expectation we have come to expect from a 4 star Sykes property. Our concerns were also communicated to the Northumberland Cottages office in Seahouses before we left.
Thank you for taking the time to provide such detailed feedback on my cottage. I don't know that there's any benefit to my responding to each of your points, but I will make a few generalizations for the benefit of people considering staying here.
After reading yours and other's feedback I discovered that the property handbook suggests that you would need to go to Alnmouth to speak to the people at Sykes. I've added a handwritten note to the handbook pointing out that there is a Northumbria Cottages (Sykes) office just ten doors down the street. Had you gone there (or called the number in the handbook) on the day you arrived, the wonderful people there would have resolved the issues that irritated you.
My wife and I spent several weeks in the cottage over the summer and we repaired or replaced several items (plumbing, smoke and heat alarms, etc.) and had productive meetings with Sykes management with the goal of improving property maintenance going forward.
Sykes had advised me against providing a barbecue, saying that guests would leave it dirty and time proved them correct. It's gone to the tip.
Property Owner
Reviewed by Paul2.2★ Jun 2023
"Upon arriving at Link Barn we found the property tired , unloved , dirty with the courtyard and patio areas inc table and chairs covered in birds pooh ( been there for a while) , dusty and full of weeds."
The property need a deep clean, everything in the kitchen inc work top and island was sticky, dirty oven, dirty sink and floors.
Main TV did not work ( had to bring tiny one from bedroom down).
Upstairs the bathrooms needed cleaning, the beds were uncomfortable and creaked at the slightest movement which wakes the others up. The velux window blinds were either missing , damaged or inoperable and not a good fit allowing daylight to be visible.
We are very disappointed with Link Barn and felt the property is been misrepresented on the various websites and although we loved the area we will certainly NOT be staying at or recommend this property in the future.
Thank you for taking the time to submit your feedback. Every message is reviewed by me and by the staff from Northumbria Cottages. A few weeks ago I met with the housekeeping manager to discuss the property's cleanliness and we agreed a plan to resolve the issue. We'll be watching for future guest feedback to make sure that everything is up to the standard that Sykes guests expect.
I'm glad you loved the area - it's my favourite part of the British Isles.
Property Owner
Reviewed by John1.6★ Jun 2023
"Starting upstairs in the right hand bedroom the towel rail doesn't work."
The shower door has dropped so scrapes on the tiles when you open it.
The beds across both bedrooms are so creaky that when so.eone turns over in the night it can be heard in the other room
At 5pm there was not enough hot water for 4 people to get showered
None of the tvs work...I can only assume the remotes need new batteries
The standard lamps in the living area need new bulbs
The fridge does not get to temperature at the top
This was not the cheapest property when looking for our stay and quite frankly I expected a lot more. Quite frankly I was disappointed
Thanks for your feedback. I spent several months at Links Barn this summer so I was able to personally look into the issues you encountered. For the benefit of future guests I should point out that the staff at Northumbria Cottages are extremely responsive and had you told them about these issues, I've no doubt they would have addressed them promptly.
When we arrived we found the freezer compartment completely iced up which would prevent the refrigerator compartment from cooling properly. Once it was defrosted we had no issues. In future guest will be asked to turn off the fridge when they end their stay, and the housekeeping staff will be able to remove any ice ready for the next guests.
Let me use this opportunity to ask guests to take the time to leave feedback so the staff and I can address any issues that arise during your stay.
Property Owner
Reviewed by Jane2.8★ May 2023
"We were very unhappy with the cleaning at the property."
The listing showed a clean and newly converted barn with inviting outdoor space. The photographs are very misleading. Before we unpacked out cases we had to go to the shop and purchase bleach and antibacterial wipes. We spent an hour cleaning the toilets and kitchen. All the handles in the kitchen were greasy and encrusted with food. We did enough cleaning inside the property to make us feel comfortable to stay there. I took all of the cutlery out of the drawer and put it through the dishwasher. The spoons were sticky and had been put away dirty..
The outside of the property was unacceptable and couldn't be used. I have a video I would like to send you. The agents did arrange for some cleaning of the outside area on Tuesday but it was not a good job. The BBQ was not usable. It was filthy. The chairs had nails sticking out of them and the promised cushions could not be found.
This property needs some tlc. It is tired and now seemingly used for storage by the owners!
The kitchen was well laid out and very well equipped but was let down by the lack of cleaning.
I would like to discuss this further.
The property was misrepresented to us and we were denied the use of the promised facilities.
Many thanks for submitting this feedback and I apologise for the conditions you encountered. I met with the agency's housekeeping manager earlier this month and we've taken steps to make sure that future guests will find the property spotlessly clean. Any guest who is less than 100% happy with the property's cleanliness should immediately contact the agency by phone or in person as detailed in the property handbook which you will find prominently displayed. I pay for cleaning between each booking and there is no reason guests should have to clean on arrival.
Property Owner
Reviewed by Alison1.6★ Apr 2023
"Overall fantastic location very homely loved it and the design was excellent."
.We found the beds to hard for us and noise when in bed from outside was a.little distracting but defintely recommend for visiting all around Northumberland.
I'm glad you enjoyed our cottage. Beds are such a subjective topic and while I find them quite comfortable, I can understand that different people have different tastes. My wife and I spent much of the summer in Links Barn and the seagulls were particularly noisy at 4am, but I guess that's part of the charm of a seaside village.
Property Owner
Reviewed by Shaun4.4★ Mar 2023
"A well planned and well equipped self catering accommodation with a superb central location and excellent facilities."
Jun 2021
"Warm, comfortable and very private considering central location."
We'll equipped and homely. Very spacious living accommodation for 4
Oct 2019
"Excellent property in good location."
Easy to find and plenty of good shopping, pubs and restaurants within walking distance
Oct 2019
"This was an ideal property for us, well located and easy to park."
The central location in Seahouses made for easy evening strolls to the harbour, pub and restaurants. There was no noise and we enjoyed eating breakfast and sitting out in the small courtyard. The Barn had everything we needed and was very clean and nicely decorated.
Jun 2019
"We enjoyed our week staying at Links Barn, it was comfortable, light and bright with the patio doors opening onto the lovely private outside space."
The en-suite bathrooms are excellent and it's lovely that they provide large bathsheets rather than bath towels. Wifi was good and the private parking definitely a plus. The kitchen has plenty of crockery, cutlery,pots and pans etc. Would happily recommend Links Barn to family and friends and would consider returning in the future.
May 2019
"Excellently clean property, well furnished with all the amenities."
Third time here and we will come again.
Sep 2018
"Links Barn is a surprising and delightful "oasis" tucked away just off the main street ."
Inside it is stylish, bright, well furnished and well equipped.
Aug 2018
"Very clean property with lots of space."
Easy to access local shops, beach and restaurants.
Aug 2018
"Excellent standard, well presented and well supplied."
Very convenient location. Suited us perfectly.
Jul 2018
"Links Barn is a comfortable and bright place to spend a holiday."
Jul 2018
"Great property which is perfectly located off the main street with easy parking."
Excellent kitchen and living accommodation.
Jun 2018
"Airy spacious property in an excellent location."
Well equipped kitchen and comfortable living area. Well appointed outside space, we would have made more use of had it been warmer.
May 2018
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