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Floorplans

2nd Floor1st FloorGround Floor

Kitchen Dining Room WC Private Snooker Room TV Lounge Indoor Pool Main Hallway Front Lounge Utility Office ElectricalSystemsRoom

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Floorplans

Alston Hall

(Ref. 976180)

Battisborough Cross, Devon Show on map

4.1

Sykes rating

  • 38 Guests

  • 18 Bedrooms

  • 17 Bathrooms

  • Pets Yes

Features

  • Swimming pool
  • Open fire
  • Garden / Patio
  • Cot available
  • Highchair available
  • Washing machine
  • Dishwasher
  • Games Room
  • Broadband / WiFi

Reviews & Ratings

Accuracy of the listing
Cleanliness
Comfort
Facilities and Maintenance
  • All reviews
  • great (14)
  • our (13)
  • well (12)
  • family (12)
  • all (12)
  • hall (11)

25 Customer Reviews

  • "Alston Hall was a great place to stay to celebrate a 60th birthday party with friends and family."

    We had brilliant fun in the pool, in the house and in the grounds playing games. I was worried the pool would be cold but it was lovely and warm! We brought our own pre-prepared evening meals, which was just as well given the kitchen is quite small and the single large stove still a bit inadequate really. Really could do with an additional stove. Other than that, we had everything we needed, the rooms were clean and comfortable. As the photos show, the place could do with some maintenance/renovation/renewal works in places but the slightly run down feel kind of added to its charm for me! The grand staircase overlooking the lobby really makes the place!

    Reviewed by IonaDec 2023

  • "This was an amazing family holiday we had here with 25 of us and 4 dogs."

    Highlights have to be the two pools, cleanliness and grand space! Gardens were wonderful for the dogs and people alike! Trudi and her team were amazing. Don't expect perfection but for the price, our family felt really lucky! Dropped a few points on maintenance and comfort. Some mattresses could do with replacing and a fair bit of maintenance but this would all take time and money and we understood this. Would love to return!

    Thank you for your feedback. As mentioned earlier, mattresses are available in storage and can be replaced by request. We look forward to seeing you again! Property Owner

    Reviewed by GaynorSep 2023

  • "We found Alston Hall a lovely house in a beautiful location, the grounds were spacious and well maintained."

    The house was huge and gave our large party plenty of space to spread out. During our stay the indoor pool was unheated due to a fault, fortunatley the good weather meant we were able to use the outdoor pool alot. I think the cooking facilities were the worst thing about the property and were insuficient for a party of that size (27). All in all, a good time is what you make of it and we had a great stay.

    Thank you for your feedback. We are happy to hear you had a great stay at Alston Hall. Apologies for the fault you experienced with the pool heating, this was repaired right away. We hope to see you again! Property Owner

    Reviewed by MandySep 2023

  • "3 broken beds, filthy windows, stove broken so unable to open ,stove top disgusting took ages to clean."

    Unusable tennis court .. peeling paint, peeling paper , water penetration.. had to ask for glassware as only 2 wine glasses and 2 tumblers… all the cupboards jumbled .. kitchen too small to cook for large groups DVDs both broken but pools lovely and gardens lovely and we had a lovely family getaway

    Thank you for your feedback. The broken beds mentioned have been replaced. The tennis court is being re-vamped. The cooker is a range cooker and in good working order - instructions are available in the property. Glasses at the property have all been checked, and replaced, with a new monitoring system put in place. We are glad to hear you had a lovely family getaway. Property Owner

    Reviewed by SAug 2023

  • "Please save your time and money."

    Alston Hall was such a bad experience for us that I had to write feedback about it to warn others about what they are paying for. First things first, this property doesn't come cheap. We paid £10,400 for seven nights. With that price tag, you don't even get basic things like internet throughout the entire house or proper heating. I'll provide the details below: Internet and Mobile Network: As you enter the house, your phone network is dead, and you won't get a signal. To make things worse, the WiFi only works in the small living room and the main hall. It's quite challenging if you are a group of 38 people trying to escape a rainy day and all relying on the same WiFi. In this day and age, it's surprising that they haven't invested in better internet infrastructure. They could have added routers on all floors. I've been to more remote places with high-speed internet, so there's no excuse for this situation not being mentioned during the booking process. Heating and Baths: You are not in control of the central heating. You have to call the caretaker to turn it on or off for you. This lack of control is frustrating. The property had portable heaters in most of the rooms, but some of them didn't work. Additionally, all the attached bathrooms on the third floor lack showers, so you have to share the bathroom downstairs. I asked the caretaker, and she told me it's because they couldn't get the water pressure right on that floor. Again, it's clear that they didn't invest enough in the property. There are hotels 14-15 stories high that manage water pressure properly. Kitchen: The kitchen is surprisingly small. Even my 3-bedroom house has a larger kitchen. You will have a hard time cooking here. I won't go into more detail, but I'll just say it's quite inadequate. They do mention having a BBQ, but be warned, they only have a tiny 70x30 BBQ machine. It's better to bring your own or you'll end up spending all day cooking. There are no delivery options like Deliveroo or Uber, and the nearest supermarket is 30 minutes away. State of the Property: We were disappointed to find two dead rats floating in the outdoor pool, so we never used it. There was also a leak in the ceiling of room number 2. Some of the rooms smelled damp, and almost all the windows were nailed shut. Additionally, the curtain railing came off when we tried to close the curtains. A piece of wallpaper came off from the top of the wall and nearly hit us in the small living room with the piano. While they did clean the property and the bedsheets were clean, the spring mattresses were very uncomfortable. The single positive aspect of our stay was the well-maintained indoor swimming pool. It consistently maintained its temperature and cleanliness. In summary, based on our experience at Alston Hall, our stay was a disappointment. With the high cost and numerous issues, I strongly advise against booking here. For a potentially great holiday spot, the owners need to invest in upkeep and honest advertising.

    Thank you for taking the time to leave your feedback. After trying several different internet services, the Wi-fi issue has been resolved throughout the property, with the exception of a blind spot on the top floor. Heating is on a timer - please contact us for additional time if required. All non-working portable heaters have since been replaced and are all in working order, thank you for bringing this to our attention. Shower rooms are located on the first floor. We have added an extra large BBQ this summer. We can confirm that deliveries are available from Tesco's and Asda's if required. We have employed a new maintenance person in charge of the pool care, and the levels that were an issue, have now been resolved, the leak mentioned is currently being investigated and the curtain rail has been repaired. As mentioned in the welcome book, the swimming pool door needs to be closed after use, with the cover in place, to avoid moisture issues regarding to the damp mentioned. We have additional mattresses on hand if requested, for your comfort. Property Owner

    Reviewed by RahulJul 2023

  • "Great holiday venue with room and space for the four generations."

    House was tired in places but you expect that and ongoing maintenance in a house of that age and size. We had a great time playing snooker, children had room enough to use a lounge as a playroom ,the swimming pool was a brilliant asset and the grounds were hide and seek heaven. Originally we worried about the cooker size but we managed to cater for 24 with no trouble and the dining room was an excellent place to eat and chat together. Venue was an ideal spot to go out and visit other places without having to drive more than 15 miles at any time. Beaches, walks and visitor attractions all within easy reach. Some lovely pubs and great views. An advantage of 17 bedrooms all en-suite was excellent and a rare find. Rainy days were no problem as the house had enough space for all to have fun, swim, board games, cards and the TVs and broadband worked well. We would happily stay again for future family celebrations. Very enjoyable stay. Bob .

    Reviewed by JaneApr 2023

  • "Alston Hall is well worn as a house."

    The windows either will not open or will not stay open. The kitchen is too small for the amount of people especially the cooking facilities. Some of the duvets contained stains as though they had not been washed! However we did enjoy a lovely family holiday and overcame any problems

    Thank you for your feedback. We have spoken to the laundry suppliers with reference to the duvet covers etc and are keeping a close eye on the laundry they provide. The kitchen, it is something we are looking into changing in the feature and plans are being made. Property Owner

    Reviewed by AngelaJul 2022

  • "A little tired but a fantastic property and gorgeous gardens."

    Best holiday with 27 family.

    Reviewed by SallyApr 2022

  • "Interior looking very tired."

    Overall clean and a warm welcome. Facilities could do with updating. Kitchen although well stocked for pans, cuttlery etc is very smal for a large party of people. Hot tub etc would be a very useful addition and a bar that guests could stock

    Thank you for taking the time to leave your feedback. Your suggestions have been passed to the property owner - The Helpful Holidays Team Property Owner

    Reviewed by BradleyJan 2022

  • "Perfect property for a family gathering and so much to do if the weather isn't great."

    Indoor and outdoor pools are brilliant especially for the younger family members. Brilliant holiday

    Reviewed by FionaJul 2021

  • "Met by the lovely Ashlee on arrival who gave us a tour of the premises, and explained the various features."

    All the rooms were clean and well presented, and everyone one of our group of 38 thoroughly enjoyed themselves. On the minus side, the food storage capacity wasn't great for 38 people which meant frequent shopping visits. Perhaps the small unused office could be adapted for that purpose. Under normal circumstances more of us would have used the local restaurants, but Coronavirus limited availability. We only encountered one small problem during our stay, and that was a power failure during a thunderstorm, but the notes available at the Hall meant we were quickly able to restore all power with the exception of the pool pumps, which was sorted by the very pleasant odd job man, Jeff. Both pools were made good use of during the fantastic weather we had during our stay. Overall an excellent holiday, in outstanding accommodation, and one I would highly recommend for a family/group get-together. With regards to Sykes, I did try to amend by credit card details online as I had a new card, but there was no facility to do so. It was only after nearly three hours of trying did I eventually speak with a member of staff who told me it was possible to do it online when paying my balance, but as I had already paid my balance I was back to square one. So there was in effect no 'good housekeeping' deposit available.

    Reviewed by AnthonyAug 2020

  • "The property was in a very poor condition internally and obviously has not had money spent on it for some considerable time."

    To say that our holiday was ruined by the state of the property is an understatment. Dont book here.

    Thank you for taking the time to leave us your feedback. We are sorry to hear that you felt the property was in poor condition. As can be seen by the many other positive reviews we’ve received, this opinion is not reflected amongst other visitors to the house. As a large property, there is always something to do and the owners invest a significant amount of time and money in order to keep the house well maintained and in good order. We have regular inspection to insure this is reflected and believe our photos and descriptions are accurate and are confident Alston Hall is a great place to enjoy a holiday. Property Owner

    Reviewed by BenAug 2020

  • "Alston Hall was like stepping back in time, but with modern luxuries."

    It was welcoming, laid-back but very much a stately home experience. Our family of 18 had a fantastic time and our mum, who was celebrating her 80th birthday, loved the week spent living as lady of the manor. So well deserved, and such a treat for us all. We hope to return one day soon.

    Reviewed by MicheleJan 2020

  • "Great venue for a large self-catering group, our 2nd visit."

    Reviewed by LaurieDec 2019

  • "Alston Hall is a wonderful place for a large gathering with its number of bedrooms and en-suite bathrooms."

    We really enjoyed the week, and made good use of the indoor and outdoor pools. The littler children enjoyed the swings and trampoline as well as just enjoying running along the corridors! I liked the fact that the house was grand but yet comfortable and the furniture solid so I didn’t have to worry about child-caused damage. There were lots of little nooks for adults to sit and read or chat. The snooker table was much enjoyed, and the mezzanine desk was just right for our huge jigsaw. I agree with others’ comments that the kitchen isn’t really adequate for a large number. There were plenty of plates, cutlery, glasses etc so that was fine but the ovens weren’t big enough for us to easily heat our provided meals from the Galley Girls (whom we recommend, their food was excellent). It’s odd that there’s not storage for food in the larger kitchen with the ovens (not helped by the fact that the large new fridge wasn’t working for our first five days) so we were constantly traipsing food through from the utility room where there was cupboard space. So that was slightly tiring. But we’d love to come here again. Everyone enjoyed it. Apart from the only-just-about-ok kitchen, other facilities were great. We liked the two washing machines and two tumble dryers, the staff especially Geoff were very helpful, the grounds are great for games and outside play; the information brochure from the owners was very useful indeed. Holbeton Village stores delivered milk, breads and newspapers for the whole week which was really helpful, do use them. An excellent holiday to celebrate my 70th birthday!

    Reviewed by PamelaJul 2019

  • "The house is fantastic, much larger than expected with a wide variety of activities, games, books etc."

    , in a good location with far reaching views to the sea and to Dartmoor. The furniture and decoration was rather dated, and the bathrooms were very basic in many rooms, but we all found the beds very comfortable. The tennis courts are in very poor condition so I don't think you should advertise them as they are not suitable for a game of tennis. The new kitchen was a disappointment for us. It is not well planned for catering for 30+ people, as there are not enough ovens, sinks, workspace, equipment or knives. The housekeeping staff and gardener were helpful and friendly.. The gardens were tidy and pools very clean, it is a wonderful venue for a group holiday, particularly if you don't want to cook much.

    Reviewed by CatherineJun 2019

  • "Good liaison."

    Reviewed by KittyJun 2019

  • "The tour and explanation of the property was great."

    Very clean. Because everything was not prrgect decor wise it made you relax with children. having said that the decor was lovely and well maintained in reception rooms . kitchen needed updating which is being done now. dining room could do with recarpeting but at least you didn't stress too much with wine and food. swimming pool excellent. snooker room was great. all 23 guests were very pleased with their rooms. loved allbthe sporys ewuipmentcwe could use. local maps very helpful. towels and bedding lovely. good relaxed atmosphere. very helpful handy man and Kim was lovely.

    Reviewed by KatharineApr 2019

  • "We had the most amazing weekend celebrating my husband's 50th and my daughters 18th birthday."

    Alston Hall was an amazing venue, everyone slept well on comfortable beds with great facilities to keep even the youngest of our party happy. The swimming pool was fab for the younger models and the truculent teens loved the snooker and the tennis court! The kitchen however really lets the property down. The ovens/cookers are old, woefully inadequate and don't work well. Catering for 34 was a real challenge and I've cooked for this number in a middle of a field!l (scout leader). It needs to be looked at as a matter of urgency. The dishwashers whilst welcome aren't the most effective with broken dispensers meaning that lots of stuff needed rewashing. It didn't ruin our enjoyment but meant that it took much more effort to get food out for everyone on time... however it is brilliant to find proper sized pots and pans to allow us to cook enough mash and veg for everyone.. We would love to come back in 3 years to celebrate my daughters 21st!

    **Owner Response** Thank you for your feedback. We're delighted that you had such a successful holiday at Alston Hall and can confirm that plans are underway to upgrade the kitchen. Property Owner

    Reviewed by HelenMar 2019

  • "32 people had a great week at Alston Hall."

    The experience was very positive and the only negative comment given was that the cooking facilities were quite aged and in need of updating. The Maintenance man and the Housekeeper were very helpful and friendly and went above and beyond expectations. I would not hesitate to recommend Alston Hall. Sykes made the whole booking and payment process easy and were on hand to help with all of my questions.

    Reviewed by StephenJan 2019

  • "Alston Hall was great!"

    We had a marvellous time there, what a location! And the house was also pretty good. The only thing we missed was good pressure on the shower-water on the second floor ....

    Reviewed by HansDec 2018

  • "Fabulous large house, great for big family gatherings."

    Loads to do and great facilities.

    Reviewed by SheilaNov 2018

  • "We were looking for a large property with sufficient bathrooms to accommodate our extended family and one dog who were all travelling from different parts of the country to Devon."

    Alston Hall fitted the criteria perfectly. We arrived at the property and were welcomed and were shown around by the absolutely charming property manager named Rosie, both she and the property exceeded our expectations and although I must admit that the kitchen was more than adequate it could do with a re-vamp but I must say the beds were really comfortable and the property was lovely and warm. Absolutely everything expected was provided with the exception of hairdryers, a small thing when you consider the enormity of the accommodation. The size, comfort, charm, facilities, warmth and character as well as location of Alston Hall takes your breath away. Needless to say we had a fabulous family break and none of us would hesitate for a minute to hire or recommend it again for any large gathering from family to corporate events....it truly is magnificent. Seeing is believing, a brilliant property!!!!!!!

    Reviewed by MadelineOct 2018

  • "We were there with a group of 30 range between 1 and 75 years and we felt very welcomed."

    Everyone loved the pools and the fantastic house, with space enough for everybody. Lana our housekeeper and Jeff the gardener were helpful and very friendly. And thankyou very much to Helpful Holidays, the staff is great, they attended me from the first contact and the booking in October last year until now. Everything went easy and smoothy.

    Reviewed by BirgitJul 2018

  • "Having had to cancel our original weekend break in March due to the snow we re-booked for May with your help and had a wonderful time."

    The surprise cake/gateau was amazing and delicious! We were a family party with an age range of 1 year to 90 years and we all enjoyed ourselves immensely.

    Reviewed by JulieMay 2018

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Summary

  • Over three floors
  • 18 bedrooms: 2 x family room with 1 x super king and 1 x single and en-suite bath, basin and WC, 1 x second-floor family room with 1 x king size with en-suite bath, basin and WC there is an interconnecting door into an adjoining twin room with 2 x single beds (suitable for families), 1 x super-king-size with dressing room and en-suite bath, separate walk-in shower, double basin and WC, 1 x super king-size with en-suite bath, basin and WC, 1 x second-floor king-size with en-suite bath, basin and WC, 2 x super king with en-suite bath, basin and WC, 1 x double with ensuite bath, basin and WC, 3 x second-floor super king with en-suite bath, basin and WC, 2 x twin with en-suite bath, basin and WC, 3 x second-floor twin with en-suite bath, basin and WC
  • Kitchen
  • Dining room
  • Utility
  • Reception with woodburning stove
  • 2 x sitting rooms
  • Snooker room
  • Office
  • Indoor swimming pool Outdoor pool size - 38' x 18' x 8'2" to 3'6" deep Indoor pool size - 38' x 18' x 3'6" deep
  • Central heating with wood burning stove
  • Microwave, fridge, freezer, washing machine, tumble dryer, dishwasher, TV with Sky sports, DVD, WiFi, Phone incoming calls only only
  • Fuel and power inc. in rent
  • Bed linen and towels inc. in rent
  • Cot and highchair available on request
  • Off-road parking for 40 cars
  • Garden with tennis court, childrens play area, barbecue, unheated outdoor pool
  • Three well-behaved dogs welcome first dog free a fee will be charged for extra dogs
  • Sorry no smoking
  • Shop 4.2 miles, pub 4 miles
  • Note: The outdoor swimming pool is available from 26th May to 15th September
  • Note: Check-in time 4pm

The property

Alston Hall is a remarkable three-storey country house down a long drive a mile from Battisborough Cross.

Originally a rectory and then a hotel, it is designed for comfort, fun and relaxation for huge groups of family or friends.

The entrance hall, which doubles as a sitting room, has a wonderful feel of grandeur, with its oak paneling, stained glass, piano and wood burning stove in a massive fireplace, and a magnificent gallery above with more seats.

You can spread out in two more comfortable sitting rooms.

If you don't want to take advantage of the professional catering, the kitchen is fully equipped to cater for extensive meals to enjoy in the dining room with its long table supplemented by two smaller ones.

You can even engage a butler or maid for true country house luxury.

After dinner, head through to the snooker room, where you might have stashed your bottles in the bar.

If you need quiet time, you will find a handy office with desk to escape to.

And at the end of the day, drift up the elegant stairs to a choice of 18 bedrooms spread over the first and second floors, 17 of which have an en suite bathroom so no one has to queue.

With its former role as a hotel, the house has all sorts of fabulous activities to enjoy, including an indoor swimming pool, a seasonal outdoor swimming pool, tennis court, a play area, three acres of lawns and gardens and an enclosed walled garden with barbecues.

No one can complain they are bored!

If you do want to venture beyond the grounds, you can find more activity at Fort Bovisand where you enjoy concessionary rates for scuba diving, as you do at Dartmouth Golf and Country Club where you can play a round or be pampered in the spa.

Mothecombe beach on a stunning stretch of coast is just a couple of miles from the Hall and you can walk in either direction on the South West Coast Path.

And in the unlikely event you tire of country house living, the bright lights of the lively city of Plymouth await.

Alston Hall is a very special house to gather with friends and family.

Note: This property has a Good Housekeeping bond of £1000.

View on map

About the location

BATTISBOROUGH CROSS

Newton Ferrers 3.7 miles; Bovisand 9.2 miles; Plymouth 11.3 miles.

Battisborough Cross is a wonderful village resting between Mothecombe and Membland in Devon. The village is ideally located within the South Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, well-known for its plethora of scenic walks, bike rides and stunning beaches. Your local amenities can be found in the nearby village of Newton Ferrers, where you can dine at the Dolphin Inn, or stock up on essentials at the convenience store and delicatessen. Continue onto Bovisand, home to a beautiful family-friendly beach and bay, as well as a picturesque harbour, the Watch House Battery, a café, and the nearby Mussel Inn. Further afield, you’ll find the bustling port city of Plymouth, where you’ll find many attractions, including the National Marine Aquarium, National trust – Saltram, The Box, Royal William Yard, Devil’s Point and the Plymouth Gin Distillery. Dining options include, Cosmic Kitchen, Boston Tea Party, Waypoint Bar and Bistro and three Michelin Star Restaurants, Acleaf, Barbican Kitchen and Fig Tree @ 36 for those who prefer fine dining.

Note: The outdoor swimming pool is available from 26th May to 15th September.

This property offers the following short breaks:

  • Winter
  • Off-season
  • Last minute
  • Christmas