The Old Kitchens – Dog-Friendly Coastal Cottage, Isle of Wight, Near The Needles

The Old Kitchens What a wonderful place to stay…beautifully furnished…very comfortable…and lots of goodies left to welcome us!

We will definitely return sometime soon!

All good no problems great facilities and very quiet

We had a lovely stay at The Old Kitchens.

The accommodation was beautiful, had a well stocked kitchen and the location was peaceful and accessible with lovely walks straight from the property. Other reviews have mentioned the cleanliness. I understand the cleaners have been changed and the property was very clean when we arrived. As the property is an old building, has high ceilings and is spacious, warming it up took a while, so the logs were appreciated. We did need to purchase quite a few more for the first few days and were glad we'd packed slippers and hot water bottles. Thank you for a wonderful stay, and we look forward to returning.

Many thanks for milk, eggs, cereal and wine.

All comforts well thought out for a very cosy home from home holiday.

Things we loved: Location is fantastic.

The equipment in the house was excellent, everything you need is there including a lovely welcome pack for immediate needs (eggs. Bread, milk etc) everything has been thought of and provided. The hosts are really warm and welcoming. There was a problem with the gate and Vicki rang to say it was broken as she was concerned about security and our dog (which wasn’t a problem for us) We also had a problem with lights failing and they immediately tried to fix but the bathroom only had a mirror light which made it difficult but these things can’t be helped. Things we didn’t love: Exterior/gardens is really nothing like the advert photos which show a neat and tidy garden. The grass hadn’t been cut and the garden was quite overgrown. The lovely little courtyard looks pristine and tidy and would have been lovely to sit out in but again, nothing like the advert photos. Definitely needs some maintenance and tlc. We found the bed to be small for us (double bed) and the memory foam mattresses weren’t very comfortable (but that’s our preferences and might be fine for others) We also had to spend half an hour removing an amount of cobwebs. (Our dogs toy went under a table in the hallway and it had to be washed because of the amount of dust and cobwebs) The one thing that bothered us more than anything was we had taken some of our own glasses etc from home to use and when we reported the lights being broken whoever came in broke one of our glasses and threw the broken glass in the recycling bin with no note or message saying (apologising?) about the broken glass and that to be careful it was in the bin bag. We also found two large chunks of broken glass just under the cooker but sticking out a little bit that we noticed them, with some smaller fragments which had obviously been missed when getting our broken glass up. We have a dog and she could have cut herself. (Also there was a dirty cloth left on a chair along with a bowl of dirty water in the sink. A small annoyance but along with breaking our glass and not letting us know just added to it) We are saddened about these things as we had a great week on the island but feel it’s the right thing to do to write them down as this is our experience.

We had a lovely week at the Old Kitchens.

We found the property incredibly spacious and well equipped and the perfect base for exploring Freshwater and the Southern beaches of the Island. The garden is enclosed and safe and perfect for our two young children to run freely in. The pub down the road is highly recommended and the shop at Stoats Farm around the corner a useful benefit. We hope to return for another family h

Once in a while you hit the bullseye.

Not often but when you do it makes all the difference. The Old Kitchens is a perfect summer retreat. Get back from a day trip, drop the bags, grab a shower and relax. The style, design and attention to detail is second to none. On top of this the location, the beautiful island, the attractions and the beaches make a perfect holiday.

Lovely cottage.

Can't fault anything,well equipped ,large private garden. Would highly recommend.

The Old Kitchens was better than we hoped.

The property itself was spacious and clean. The kitchen was one of the best stocked kitchens we've ever had. The outside was amazing with the raised decking area giving a lovely view across to Tennyson Downs as well as being able to see the local wildlife (red squirrels, woodpeckers, rabbits). Despite other reviews, we found the WiFi to be good enough for internet browsing and we were able to run a Chromecast without any issues. The local pub, the Highdown, a two minute walk away was lovely, selling real ales and good quality food. There's also a decent shop on the Stoats Farm site opposite the pub that sells all the essentials. The owners were really friendly and welcoming. The gift hamper of wine, cheese, bread and eggs was really nice (and now has us hooked on IoW Blue) and we've already booked for next year.

We had a great week at the Old Kitchens.

The setting was fantastic and a great location for walks and exploring.

We had a wonderful week at The Old Kitchens.

A very different place to stay, the Lounge was out of this world, Bedrooms and Shower Room was just perfect too. The kitchen was in another world as well, every appliance and utensil you could possible need was there. We loved sitting at the bench/Island having our breakfast! The Highdown Pub just a few minutes down the Lane was heaven, lovely people, food great and the garden was secluded. Just across the road from there was the first class Camp Site and shop where you can pick up the things you had forgotten to bring. Also an outside area for Coffee/tea. The only down side to the Kitchens was the lack of heating in the Lounge, only two small heaters, not enough to heat such a large room. These only came on in the morning and evening. Also a Log/Coal burner which didn’t work too well. We unfortunately arrived in May and the weather was very mixed, Rain & Sun and very cold. I spent watching the Coronation with a blanket round me to keep warm! We never saw the Foxes, Badges and Bats, they must have been in their cosy habitat! We did see one Pigeon and a rabbit thou! But the views were magnificent. Loads of walks and places to visit, our favourite was Yarmouth, just a few miles up the road. The Waterfront Restaurants were very expensive but ok for a treat.

It was just me and my wife, so didn't have to worry about internet streaming speeds for a toddler, but found wi-fi generally ok, certainly more than good enough for those who just require a quiet week away; a holiday, in other words!

The old kitchens were lovely; spacious clean & fresh, with a decently equipped kitchen and it's own private garden. We found the little decking area ideal for late afternoon drink, and planning our next days walk, of which there were plenty from the door. The local pub, serving decent food, was welcoming and only a five minute stroll away. The heating may be inadequate in winter, but by following the request to keep doors shut where possible, the radiators did a decent job of keeping temps steady. As i've said, there was only two of us, but there seemed more than enough space/furniture/utensils for four. All in all, can't think of many niggles (a few more hooks on back of doors, maybe?!), and would recommend it, and the Isle of Wight, for a relaxing break.

The property should not be advertised as having Wifi.

It suffices for downloading emails but for nothing else. Standard browsing is not possible 95% of the time and no streaming is possible. This was a huge problem as we are both self-employed, we could not research attractions and days out and we could provide normal streaming for our 2-year-old. To advertise it as having wifi is frankly dishonest. Other points: - The heating provision is not adequate for the space. - The fire "starter kit" consisted of logs that were too big to be useable and moist. - The lamps on the far wall in the living room did not work. - The DVD player did not work (a problem considering the features on the Smart TV were not operable because of the lack of wireless).

We really loved the Old Kitchens and were super impressed by the enormity of the work you did to restore the building and make it what it is again today.

There were only 2 nice to haves and 1 must have for us. Nice to haves a sieve in the kitchen and a shaver and toothbrush charge point somewhere doesnt have to be in the bathroom but would be handy to have somewhere. Must have for us slightly higher fencing at the rear and lefthand corner of the property. Our long legged dog found it very interesting round the back there and we couldnt take our eyes off him when he was round the back because the wire fence was quite low. The cat that lived in the house down the drive was a great enticement LOL. And I can only imagine campers other dogs and outdoor food smells might be too much for our dog to resist come the camping months coming from the campsite next door. So we wouldn't be able to risk coming back in the summer, which is a shame, because we loved the spot so much, we would most certainly be tempted otherwise. Another winter stay would be lovely though. The wood burner was wonderful when it got going which was super easy. And although the TV chromecast didnt work for us for whatever reason the kids were happy with their laptops in their bedroom and we were happy with just watching the fire. Simple pleasures. The sunset through the gap in the trees was a delight. All in all a top location and a top holiday let. Thank you so much for all your work to make this place happen.

An absolute gem in Totland.

Accurately described and fantastic accommodation. Close to lots of walks. Local pub is also great. Highly recommend it.

Very spacious, clean, superbly fitted out and well situated

We had a lovely stay at The Old Kitchens .

It was quirky but clean , comfortable and well equipped with quality items . We were impressed with the attention to detail and were grateful for the welcome pack , especially after a long journey. The enclosed garden was handy for our dog and for the humans ! We would highly recommend this property for families and pet owners.

A lovely location, a lovely place.

Very peaceful. Lighting from the 1950s, very dark and dim.

We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at The Old Kitchens.

It's a really quirky property, attached to the manor house but totally private. We enjoyed watching the wildlife in the garden and the views across farmland towards The Needles. It was spotlessly clean and combined features of a character property with modern essentials, such as a good shower. The kitchen was very well supplied with cutlery, plates etc. The generous welcome basket was much appreciated. However, we went mid- September and it sometimes felt cool, especially in the main bedroom, because the heaters had been pre-programmed and could not be over-ridden.

We absolutely loved our stay at the Old Kitchens.

Such a unique and spacious property with everything we needed for our long weekend stay, plus in a super location. We would definitely return!

Excellent property, superbly equipped and finished.

Wonderful quiet, beautiful location. Can’t fault it.

We wanted to leave the owners a note but had to leave urgently.

What a wonderful property. We stayed here over Christmas and it was perfect. A Christmas tree and some decorations were waiting for us along with some very kind gifts and essentials. A huge thank you , so kind and thoughtful. Property is very clean and is very comfortable. We would definitely recommend and will hopefully return one day. 10 out of 10.

A spacious property that is furnished to a high standard.

The large enclosed garden is a real benefit for those taking their four-legged friends. There is a pub within 5 minutes’ walk that serves excellent food and is dog-friendly. Similarly a farm shop that serves excellent coffee and cakes. The property is within a few minutes (steep) walk of Tennyson Down with superb coastal views and walks to The Needles and Freshwater. Whilst the property is in a quiet countryside setting, you are only a short drive away from a number of beaches, attractions and towns. Yarmouth is approx 10 minutes’ drive away, making it convenient for the ferry.

The accommodation was beautiful and we were impressed from the moment we drove up the drive.

The property is so well kept, clean and tidy. The owners had thought of everything to make our stay comfortable and relaxing. Highly recommend the Old Kitchen.

Fabulous holiday in a beautiful location.

The accommodation at The Old Kitchens was excellent; very spacious, comfortable, stylish and a truly unique property. We would love to stay here again and would recommend to anyone wishing to visit the Isle of Wight.

This was our first visit to Isle of Wight and we enjoyed it very much.

The Old Kitchens was great! The listing was accurate and the pictures truly depicted the cottage. It is very spacious and well equipped. We appreciated the Welcome Pack of wine, artisan bread, eggs, milk, and a basket of firewood to get us started. The details in decor/furnishings represent the effort the owners placed in their property so be sure to check out the before and after pictures of their renovations. Great internet speed. The backyard and deck provide a welcome space to relax in when weather permits. There is also a pub within walking distance. We found this location to be good for exploring the whole island.

Really enjoyed our week at the Old Kitchens.

The owners have done a great job with the conversion, it's a mix of old and new which makes it a more interesting place to stay. The 'new' all works fine with well equipped modern kitchen, power shower and fast Wifi so streaming Netflix on the big TV was no problem which was a nice plus when the weather outside was not too good. The location is quiet and peaceful with some nice walks which our dog loved especially up to Tennyson Downs which is spectacular. The Highdown Inn is within walking distance and worth a visit with some good food. The Waterfront in Totland is excellent with fantastic views of the sea, it's a bit pricier and can get very busy so you will probably need to book early. Our teenagers loved the new Aqua Park at Tapnell Farm, great fun and well run with very friendly staff. Also recommend Wight Water in Shanklin, the kids went surfing and Paddle Boarding and loved it. Our first visit to the IOW, we would go back and would definitely stay at the Old kitchens again.

The Old Kitchens is a fantastic property.

Beautiful surroundings; well located for walks, beaches and other attractions in West Wight; exceptionally clean; loads of space both indoor and outdoor.

Our hosts were very welcoming and we felt totally at ease, we had a wonderful holiday and we will return again soon

We enjoyed staying at The Old Kitchens.

It's close to many beautiful views. It's only a short (uphill) walk to Tennyson Down and the Celtic cross landmark; it's also perhaps an hour's walk across the downs to The Needles (or a 30 minute run if so inclined). It takes approximately 30 minutes to walk to Freshwater town centre for supplies (coop) or a 5 minute drive. We couldn't fault the accommodation. It was clean. It had all the amenities one could ask for, eg washing machine, dishwasher, microwave, cooker. There was WiFi and the TV was smart so in the evenings we could light a nice warm fire (in the wood burner) and watch catch-up TV on iPlayer, YouTube and Netflix. The building is a conversion and has a lot of character (there are some photos of the what it looked like before available). One minor downside is that the main lounge area is very large and tricky to heat. That said, the owners will pop by and adjust the heating to make more comfortable if required. A personal thing for us is that the main bedroom is quite far from the twin room where we set up a cot for our baby; although it wasn't completely out of earshot we felt more comfortable with one of us staying in the same room overnight. I expect the distance of the two bedrooms becomes more of a benefit when the kids get older; so I expect we'll be visiting again hopefully in a couple of year's time.

A lovely property in a beautiful setting.

The Old Kitchens was an absolute gem of a holiday cottage, there was masses of space and it was beautifully decorated and furnished.

It was so well equipped that we needn’t have packed loads of bits! The kitchen especially was great, so many well thought out additions to the inventory. We visited with two young children (7&3) and there was everything we needed for them, there were many baby items supplied too tucked away in the bedroom wardrobe. The owners were extremely friendly, always around if we needed them and more than happy to help or answer any questions. We stayed for two weeks and were so sad to leave as it was such a lovely place, easy to find and close to loads of beaches and attractions, there’s also a pub five minutes walk away. The local town has shops/pubs/fish and chips etc and is only five mins away. We would definitely return to The Old Kitchens and would recommend it to anybody. Thank you for a wonderful family holiday!

The property and facilities were accurately described and very good for our needs.

There was an abundance of wildlife,red squirrels, badgers, fox, butterflies and birds to admire. It was very peaceful and relaxing with distant views towards "The Needles" area. The soft furnishings were of a very good quality but sadly didn't have extensive use of the wonderful settees due to fine weather and a busy schedule. The hosts made us very welcome and made every effort to accommodate one of our family who has a disability. There are a number of eateries of all sorts within easy travelling distance but usually essential to book unless out of season. Would thoroughly recommend.