Friars Retreat

49 Customer Reviews

• "A lovely character property."

  Situated at the edge of Sudbury which is a charming small town on the Suffolk Essex border. Only downside is it was a small double bed. Hosts were very kind and caring and provided little touches

  Reviewed by Alison4.7★Nov 2023

• "A great property which made for a really comfortable stay."

  The house is quirky, old, cosy and homely. The location is excellent for touring and although no designated parking is available there were no issues parking just around the corner within a few yards. The only thing that wasn’t in the listing was that there is a dvd player. This would have been useful to know.

  We're so pleased you enjoyed our town house and area. Parking isnt too bad with over 100 spaces within a short walk.Looks like i'll need to buy more DVD's for the player! Property Owner

  Reviewed by W5.0★Sep 2023

• "First of all we wish to thank Rod and Shelagh for aiding us in locating the cottage."

  The cottage was just beautiful and had everything we needed to be comfortable. It is in a central location and there was so much to see. We would recommend visiting Lavenham and the Codfather served just the very best fish & chips. Thank you so much for a great stay. Judy & Dan

  Thank you for a lovely feedback. We also recommend Bury St Edmunds , Colchester Zoo and West Mersea for days out. Property Owner

  Reviewed by Dan5.0★Sep 2023

• "The cottage was most welcoming, in a perfect town location and the owner most accommodating."

  Would highly recommend this property

  Thank you for your very welcome comments. Come back and see us after the 6 week outside referb, it should look stunning! Property Owner

  Reviewed by Gillian5.0★Mar 2023

• "Another return visit to this lovely cottage."

  All decorated for Christmas and a delicious cake waiting for us.

  Thank you for another good feed back and see you soon! Property Owner

  Reviewed by Yvonne5.0★Dec 2022

• "Lovely house in a great location, was easy to park and just a short walk into the town."

  Thank you for your feedback. Hopfully see you again! Property Owner

  Reviewed by Andy5.0★Nov 2022

• "Friar’s Retreat is a real home from home in the heart of the very attractive town of Sudbury."

  Only a few minutes walk away from the town centre, but also ideally placed for the many delightful walks through the water meadows or along the disused railway track towards Long Melford. The house is tastefully furnished in keeping with a historic building, the settees and beds are very comfortable and the kitchen is fully equipped for producing family meals. Yes, the stairs are steep and the floors a little uneven, as is to be expected in a timber framed property! We were grateful on arrival for the welcome tea, coffee and milk .. and not forgetting the delicious home made cakes! Thank you Shelagh and Rod for helping to make a memorable week.

  Your'e very welcome. We are so please to see you enjoyed the house and Sudbury. There is so much to do here even London to the coast...maybe next time? Thank you ! Property Owner

  Reviewed by John5.0★Oct 2022

• "Everything was fabulous."

  The cottage was really a townhouse with character. It was completely modern and updated yet cozy and comfortable. The location was great. Close enough to town center but quiet and a bit away. We'd go back but we live in the US and driving on the narrow English roads did not suit us well:)

  What an adventure you had, so pleased to have been part of it and that you enjoyed your stay here in the UK so much. Hope you come again!! Property Owner

  Reviewed by Melissa5.0★Sep 2022

• "Great cottage in a lovely village , had everything that we needed and some really nice welcome treats ."

  The area is great to visit , the local waking your was nice to do to put the village in context to the area and from there we did Lavensham and Colchester . We also did a day trip to London on the train which was really easy . Would defiantly recommend . Toast and The Secret garden were great places to eat. Kids loved it

  Thank you thats lovely to read . Hope you stay again to visit even more pretty villages and even the sea! Property Owner

  Reviewed by Jonathan5.0★Aug 2022

• "We really enjoyed our stay at Friars Retreat in Sudbury."

  The cottage was well equipped, clean and perfect for our stay. The owners were very responsive and helpful. We would definitely return. The only wobble we had was it can be tricky to park nearby but the cottage was just lovely.

  Glad you enjoyed your stay amd thank you for the lovely letter and sweets! Just a shame you parked in Friars st and got a ticket which leave a bad tast especially as we have counted over 100 spaces with a little walk along Quay Lane and two free car parks at the end of the lane Property Owner

  Reviewed by Lia4.1★Jul 2022

• "Lovely cottage, a real home from home."

  Warm, welcoming and friendly owners.

  Thank you for a 100/% posive feedback. It means a lot to us and may help others looking for honest reviews. Property Owner

  Reviewed by Sylvia5.0★May 2022

• "We enjoyed our stay at Friars Retreat in this lovely rural part of Suffolk."

  This historic cottage, which is located convieniently close to the centre of Sudbury, was well appointed with modern amenities . Despite its compact size the kitchen was particularly well equiped. Its folding table was a useful surface when preparing meals etc . The property has a spacious lounge/dining area and upstairs bathroom, although the wonky floor in the latter took some getting used too ! The property adjoins 2 fairly busy roads at the front and side and some road noise was apparent inside but this tailed off at night. The beds in the twin room at the back were not the most comfortable experienced in a Sykes cottage. There is no outside area to the cottage (the door opening straight onto the street pavement) but lovely water meadows and local recreational facilities were a short walk away. The local Angel pub was closed for refurbishment at the time of our visit but there seem to be other such facilities nearby.

  A typical town house.! Thank you for your review Property Owner

  Reviewed by Jim5.0★May 2022

• "Friars Retreat is in an excellent location especially if you do not arrive by car - close to station, walks and Waitrose."

  My husband also enjoyed watching some cricket on the field opposite. The cottage was very comfortable and although the road is busy it was quiet at night.

  Thank you. The secondry double glazing we had put in makes a huge difference especially as long as it's properly closed. The cricket season is busy with a bar at the pavillian, our guests are welcome to use and is reasonally price too!. We have chairs for guests to use if asked. Property Owner

  Reviewed by Jennifer4.4★Apr 2022

• "A lovely welcome from Shelagh and Rod which included a freshly baked cake!"

  We had a very relaxing week at Friars Retreat. The house has so much character and charm but with no lack of modern and comfortable amenities. Spotlessly clean, very well equipped and so important, very comfy beds. It is in a fairly central place just a five minute walk from the town centre with bars, restaurants and cafes. Parking was very easy in the street at the side of the house and we didn’t have any difficulty. Lovely’s walk at the bottom of the lane through the woods and alongside the quay. Local theatre very nearby too. Great base for exploring Suffolk. Would definitely visit again.

  Your review makes it worth our while. thank you! Property Owner

  Reviewed by Vanessa5.0★Mar 2022

• "Lovely homely accommodation."

  Everything you need to make your stay enjoyable. Hope to return in the near future.

  Thank you for your lovey review. We try our best which, is paying off! Property Owner

  Reviewed by John5.0★Mar 2022

• "Wonderfully break."

  Hosts amazing Highly recommend Didn’t want to leave

  Thank you, hope to see you again! Property Owner

  Reviewed by Julia5.0★Feb 2022

• "We really enjoyed our stay at Friar's retreat."

  The cottage was very well appointed with everything we could possibly want. It is ideally located in the older part of Sudbury with an excellent pub, The Angel, just a few doors down for a great evening meal, and other shops/ eateries close by. We didn't mind the road noise (both of us are used to it) and the combination of secondary glazing and a blackout blind made for a very cosy night's sleep. One thing to note is that the stairs are very steep given this is a lovely old wonky cottage. We managed but if you have poor mobility you may struggle.

  A good honest review, thank you! Property Owner

  Reviewed by Sarah5.0★Jan 2022

• "We were looking for a cosy week for new year with tweens and this was just the ticket."

  Right in the heart of the lovely town of Sudbury. Pubs and shops on our doorstep so we could all be independent. Amazing walks from the house. The house was amazing, well equipped and thought out. Olde worlde but without the drawbacks. Fantastic curved TV with Netflix and WiFi meant the kids were better off than being at home. Beds comfy although I like a really soft bed and the main bed was medium to soft. Bath was gorgeous and towels and linen good quality. Oven spotless. Thank you for a relaxing week. PS you must visit The Codfather for fish n chips as it was the best I’ve ever tasted and the kids agreed! Also do burgers and pasta.

  Thank you so much for a first class review, it warms our hearts!! Property Owner

  Reviewed by Hilary5.0★Dec 2021

• "Best self catering cottage we have stayed in."

  Spotlessly clean. It's everything you could wish for. It's central for everything. Lovely comfortable beds. The homemade cakes waiting for you on your arrival are a lovely touch. Could definitely recommend and would stay there again.

  A truly lovely review, makes it all worth while! Thank you!! Property Owner

  Reviewed by Maria5.0★Nov 2021

• "Friars Retreat is a lovely cottage, well equipped and comfortable."

  We were able to park close by whenever we needed to, even though we used the car most days. Shelagh,the owner was very kind and welcomed us with a delicious home baked cake. We had a lovely stay in Suffolk with lovely weather. Unfortunately on our last day my wife tripped over a raised paving stone in Sudbury and fell on her knee hurting it quite badly. Shelagh was very sympathetic and gave her some crutches which were a great help on the journey home.

  Reviewed by David5.0★Sep 2021

• "Would have preferred to know that this cottage is on a busy main road & is noisy (sleeping with the window open was not an option)."

  Also, having a large non-stick skillet & a cheese grater in the house would have been perfect.

  This is a town house and in my comments I do draw attention to it being on a busy street. There is secondary glazing which the guest didn't closed properly. We have cooling tower fans but understand not every one likes them. The house is c1650 and we have done the best we can to bring it into a modern world Property Owner

  Reviewed by Caroline4.1★Aug 2021

• "Very well equipped and modernised traditional town house in convenient location; helpful property owner"

  Reviewed by Karen4.7★Jul 2021

• "The house is very well equipped and cleverly designed to make the best use of its space."

  It was also absolutely immaculate! It is in a great location for the town centre and its amenities. Parking can be a bit of an issue at times

  Reviewed by Caitlin5.0★Jul 2021

• "Great base for visiting Suffolk's lovely villages and walking in the countryside."

  Close to restautants, pubs and supermarket. Los of places to choose from. Parking and noise were not a problem.

  Reviewed by Nicholas5.0★May 2021

• "A delightful cosy cottage making an excellent base to explore the surrounding area."

  Location was great and lots of parking nearby in Quay lane. Arrived to find a homemade Victoria sponge.

  Reviewed by Ruth5.0★Apr 2021

• "Fabulous property in the heart of Sudbury."

  Walking distance to the shops, restaurants and market. Parking in Quay Lane was no problem. The cottage itself was cozy, warm (excellent heating system was really responsive and efficient) and nicely furnished. Bed was comfortable, and despite the cottage being on the road, there was little in the way of noise. Owners were lovely, too. They mention in the details that the stairs are steep, and they are - but there are handrails both sides, so as long as you take your time it's fine. All in all, highly recommended as the perfect place to explore the lovely towns and villages of Suffolk and North Essex.

  Reviewed by Martin5.0★Oct 2020

• "Parking could be a problem,we were lucky all week."

  Other than that we had a good week

  Reviewed by Julia5.0★Aug 2020

• "This place is a little gem."

  The cottage is beautiful, and is full of period features. It made for an extremely comfortable base to explore Suffolk. We appreciated the cake on arrival! Also the helpfulness of the owners to any issues or questions we had. The cottage is in an excellent position in Sudbury, which is a pretty, market town with lovely cafes and shops. We visited many interesting places, such as Lavenham , Colchester , Bury St Edmunds, and Clacton-on-Sea. We are looking forward to returning .

  Reviewed by Annette4.7★Aug 2020

• "Excellent modernised, well equipped and cosy period cottage."

  Well placed in Sudbury to walk into the town centre for shops, cafes and markets, as well as easy access to the local countryside and the rest of Suffolk. For most of our week's winter stay we left the car parked in the nearby street, walked and use the buses, coming back to the cottage for an evening meal, a great home from home!

  Reviewed by David5.0★Jan 2020

• "The owner went to great lengths to make the cottage very festive and beautiful (including home-made mince pies!"

  ) for extra family members - from NZ, London and Suffolk - to meet for Xmas. Wonderful, cosy cottage.

  Reviewed by Kate5.0★Dec 2019

• "This was a return visit."

  The cottage is well equipped and the owners are very helpful.

  Reviewed by Yvonne5.0★Dec 2019

• "We enjoyed this cottage very much."

  Perfect location in a small village with places to walk to to eat, or a short drive to other villages.

  Reviewed by Peter5.0★Nov 2019

• "Cottage was beautifully renovated to blend old world charm with modern home comforts."

  Ideally located a short walk from lovely Sudbury where there’s plenty going on, including Gainsborough’s House, Quay Theatre and local market. Open countryside via disused railway track at end of lane; alternatively Waitrose easily reached too! Owners were welcoming (cake!) and helpful. Would love to live there :)

  Reviewed by Diana5.0★Oct 2019

• "Friars Retreat is a beautiful quaint cottage but equipped with everything you would need for a warm and comfortable stay."

  It is set in a very handy position close to shops but also to lovely river walks and interesting places to visit. We enjoyed our week very much, Shelagh the owner made us very welcome making sure we had all we needed and the cake she made for us was delicious .Thank you Shelagh.

  Reviewed by L5.0★Oct 2019

• "Lovely cottage, 5 mins walk to town centre, which has various shops, restaurants and bars."

  Cottage was well equipped and comfortable, however is on the corner of a main road and traffic can be loud at times. we found parking easily down the side road near the cricket pitch. Would return if visiting that area again, we enjoyed it very much.

  Reviewed by Tracey4.7★Sep 2019

• "We found some problems with parking at times but our bus pass helped out with that ."

  The cottage had the best beds ever in a sykes holiday stay

  Reviewed by Doris5.0★Sep 2019

• "This was my second stay at Friars Retreat and like before, I had such a relaxing time."

  The cottage is so well equipped and cosy and is centrally located to all amenities in the town. I extended my stay from 1 to 2 weeks and that process was very straightforward.

  Reviewed by Sally5.0★Jul 2019

• "Well equipped quaint character cottage, with lovely personal touches on arrival."

  Great communication. Location can’t be beaten for a stay in Sudbury, both for access to town and to the river. Definitely recommend Friars Retreat!

  Reviewed by Amanda5.0★Jul 2019

• "Excellent and central location."

  Reviewed by Kerry5.0★Jun 2019

• "A very well equipped cottage, very cosy."

  Double glazing in bedroom was very effective.

  Reviewed by Ged5.0★Jun 2019

• "Well-appointed, comfortable cottage near the centre of Sudbury."

  The bathroom is a lovely large room. New secondary glazing has reduced the traffic noise levels in the front bedroom.

  Reviewed by Yvonne5.0★May 2019

• "Brilliant retreat right in the centre of town."

  Accessible to beautiful walks along the river and surrounding countryside. Central for shops and market. Accommodation very comfortable. little added extras which were much appreciated. Warm and cosy. Just loved our wee break x

  Reviewed by Lindsay5.0★May 2019

• "Good base in Sudbury for exploring the county."

  Small theater, town facilities, eating places and river walks within a short walk. A warm, comfortable house with nearby on street parking available at all times. Enjoyed a welcoming home made cake. Owner has thought of everything needed for a week's stay. Would stay again.

  Reviewed by Althes5.0★Mar 2019

• "Friars Retreat is an extremely cosy cottage which oozes charm."

  It is situated locally, therefore it is very easy to access local amenities. The cottage itself is very well equipped and deceivingly spacious. I had the most relaxing stay here and would definitely love to return again. The cake and milk were much appreciated. Thank you so much.

  Reviewed by Sally5.0★Mar 2019

• "Main bedroom is very noisy with fast traffic driving by both late at night and then the early morning traffic rush."

  Difficult to sleep.

  Reviewed by Kevin4.4★Mar 2019

• "The owner was exceptionally kind and attentive to our needs,contacting us whilst on her own holiday abroad to make sure that everything was to our satisfaction."

  I would highly recommend this property for comfort and convenience.

  Reviewed by Jacqueline4.7★Feb 2019

• "Whilst we did enjoy our stay it would have been helpful to know that the stairs were very steep, the upstairs floors uneven with a step into the twin bedroom."

  Whilst we understand this is part of the character it was a little difficult for my elderly Mum. However it was warm and cosy and the cake was a welcome surprise!

  Reviewed by Judy4.4★Feb 2019

• "The location is excellent being just a three minute walk from the centre."

  The sympathetic transformation of a 1650 cottage into a modern 21st century residence has been achieved remarkably well. Thank you.

  Reviewed by Malcolm5.0★Oct 2018

• "Our family of two adults and two children had a lovely stay at the cosy and comfortable Friars Retreat in the charming market town of Sudbury, suffolk."

  We were welcomed by fresh flowers and a beautiful Victoria sponge. Really pleased by the standard of the furnishings and finish of the cottage. Parking is plentiful and available on street around the corner. As National Trust members the cottage is well situated for visiting many of the properties in the county. Highlights include Lavenham, Ickworth and Bury St Edmunds.

  Reviewed by Jonathan5.0★Aug 2018

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