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"Tim,
I think it's important that you take a visit down to Bixley, to see the conditions for yourself, try walking around on the carpet and floors bare footed and see them turn brown."
You'll also see the poor shower cubicle conditions and grime around the corners and sides of bathrooms. Along with the dust and cobwebs and dirt on the sofas!
I'm not certain cleaners alone, can fix all these things, especially not in just a couple of hours!
Only then after you've visited will you be able see and feel our frustrations at paying £1000 for 6 nights to stay in those conditions. I'm certain after a visit, you'd totally understand.
As mentioned previously the location and garden, and also the kitchen appliances were great.
Kind regards,
Faye
On Sat, 5 Sep 2020, 16:08 Tim Bushe Bushe, wrote:
Faye
I am based in London and I rely entirely on the cleaning firm to do a good job, but if they don’t do it for any reason I have to rely on my guests letting me know. A simple text or email is all that’s required. In the past the cleaners have been very quick to deal with any complaints and I’m sure they would have sorted out your issues had you informed me at the start of your stay.
It’s extremely frustrating for me to get complaints when its too late for me to do anything about it.
They are paid a serious amount of money to do a through job and I’m sorry that the couple they sent to clean Bixley apparently didn’t do an adequate job in this instance.
We have had very few complaints over the years and of course most people only write reviews if they have complaints. The reason I stress contacting me at the start of any stay is precisely to avoid this kind of correspondence!
It would be helpful if you could send me the photographs you mentioned so I can pass these onto the cleaners.
Kind regards
Tim
On Sat, 5 Sep 2020 at 15:54, Faye Lewis wrote:
Hi Tim,
It certainly shouldn't be the paying guests responsibility to let you know that the cleaning standards are not up to scratch upon arrival. This should be checked before we arrive.
I also think you should have confidence in the cleaners you employ for your business, to do a high standard job.
The last thing anybody wants on their holiday, is to have to contact the owner, ask them to send a cleaner out and then undergo the inconvenience of having cleaners in while they are there! This seems completely wrong.
It also implies that you are probably used to getting these complaints. I did read a few worrying reviews after we'd booked, but I'd really hoped the issues they'd raised with cleanliness etc, had been sorted.
It's great to hear that your business is doing so well and has been booked back to back over the last few months due to the pandemic and staycations.
However, please appreciate that we paid highly for a holiday home that was totally substandard. Cleanliness should be paramount and top priority due to covid, and we were quite horrified by what conditions we found Bixley in.
Sykes have now contacted me as part of protocol to ask for our feedback and reviews of Bixley.
Kind regards,
Faye
On Sat, 5 Sep 2020, 13:14 Tim Bushe Bushe, wrote:
Hi Faye
Thanks for your email .
I'm very sorry you had to spend time cleaning when you arrived, although I do stress guests should tell me straight away if there are cleaning issues. I can't help if I'm not informed straight away. The cleaning firm would have come round straight away if you'd asked.
I have copied the cleaning firm with your email and they have called me to say they are laying off the two cleaners who came to the house, as they are obviously not doing their job properly.
On the other issues - the house has been solidly booked for months which makes cleaning carpets etc pretty impossible. I'm taking Bixley off the market at the end of October for a major refit, which hopefully will deal with most of the issues you have raised.
If you wish to come again at some point in the future contact me directly and I'll give you a discounted stay next time round.
kind regards
tim
On Sat, 5 Sep 2020 at 09:32, Faye Lewis wrote:
Hi Tim,
Luckily we took our coffee maker with us!
It was a gorgeous, idyllic spot out in the woods, very peaceful and the garden was lovely. A cottage that I expect at one stage was wonderful on the inside, but a real shame that we did not get to see it at it's best.
I did see the note on the pdf instructions, to inform you straight away if there's any problems, however, as you can probably appreciate I did not want to spend the first part of my holiday away (the only holiday my family have had all year) writing this email! As it was I had to spend the first part cleaning...
To be open, on arrival, we were less than impressed with the cleanliness inside the house. If this is the cleaning standard during a worldwide pandemic, I wouldn't like to see the normal standards!
We had two young children with us, and I spent the first part of my holiday making the work surfaces and bathrooms acceptably hygienic, along with dusting in most areas, and as you can imagine this is not what you should expect to have to do.
To our misfortune, I think the previous people staying, had become ill and vomitted and the traces were to be seen around the bottom of shower room hand basin and toilet, all areas that had not been bothered or attempted to be cleaned up by the cleaner. Really quite awful to find!
I can't help but feel that there is a complete lack of care or duty, as this was by no means a cheap stay at £1000 pounds for 6 nights! We have stayed in many holiday rentals and this was by far the uncleanest.
I would expect that an older house, that has been used for holiday rentals to have general wear and tear of course, but this was just poor cleanliness in most areas.
Dust on head boards, lamps, appliances, very dirty carpets (my children's feet were brown after walking bare footed on it), dirty stained sofa cushions (which I swiftly turned over, only to find dirt and old food under cushions, which could be easily vacuumed), the sides of kitchen were dusty, floors and general areas / corners bathrooms unclean, shower cubicle corners and door trims very dirty and just not up to scratch at all.
I would suggest, if you are paying out for a cleaner (Maid of Rye?) that they need an overhaul, as they are doing the very bare minimum. The carpets and sofas need an industrial steam clean (throws won't do it) or to be honest replacing altogether, for easier maintenance versions.
The mattresses and head boards and shower cubicle had also seen better days.
We feel let down by this and feel for the money paid, the standards were unacceptable, particularly during the covid pandemic too.
I'd prefer to give personal feedback to you first, so that you have the option to put this right, before leaving public reviews and contacting Sykes.
I have taken lots of photos of areas how we found them on arrival too for reference.
Best,
Faye Lewis
Reviewed by FayeAug 2020
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"Lovely bungalow in secluded woodland provides calm and tranquil holiday."
Cottage fully equipped and homely. The extensive garden was beautiful to relax in. Good base for Hastings Rye and Dungeness.
Reviewed by LucyAug 2020
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"The beds and settees were a little uncomfortable and needed updating but overall we enjoyed our stay."
The owner had left a very good list of details on how everything worked in the house, places and things to see and do and pubs and cafes to eat out. The whole week was extremely relaxing, surrounded by woodland, wildlife and quiet. And the fact that the cottage is painted blue made it easy to find when we arrived!
Reviewed by JaneJul 2020
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"We’d happily book the bungalow again."
Fell in love with the peacefulness as soon as I arrived. Two little niggles: no dishes with lids to microwave food; water heater switches off at 08.30 am which I didn’t discover immediately - thought the husband had used all the water! Far too early for holiday-makers! After a few days of lukewarm showers and boiling up kettles to wash up I found the controls in a wardrobe in a room we weren’t using. Turns out it’s a combi-boiler, so no reason why hot water can’t be left on continuously. I hope the owner will take note. He asks renters not to alter the controls, but I can see why they do! But a lovely place to stay, with a delightful rose garden which sadly we were locked out of - it would’ve been nice to sit in it at the end of the day. Garden full of birds, middle of a wood, a short drive to nature reserves on the salt marshes, good restaurants and pubs, interesting places and small towns to visit - what more can one want. Oh the dog loved it too. Hope to go back next year.
Reviewed by JuliaSep 2019
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"Disappointingly shabby."
Dirty windowsills in kitchen full of insects. Mismatching broken crockery, no wine glasses. Feedback not acted upon from a previous guest who had commented on all the above in the house book in June. Not good enough for £1025. Such a shame as it is a beautiful location.
Reviewed by AlexisAug 2019
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"Booking process good."
Lovely cottage in idyllic surroundings - a perfect getaway yet still close to Rye and surrounding countryside. Had a wonderful time!
Reviewed by PennyJun 2019
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"We had a nice week away in an idyllic situation, but it it could have been exceptional apart from a few irritating quirks which could easily be remedied."
We're experienced travellers, we accept that 'things happen ' and a couple of minor problems were quickly resolved by owner Tim, but the quality of the beds (except one single) was not good and the t.v.. reception poor. Thankfully the wi.fi. was excellent though so we survived(!). and all in all it was easy to accept the few short-comings and we enjoyed a wonderful week.
Reviewed by ColinMar 2019
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"Bixley Bungalow was a very nice place to stay."
Especially the garden was a great pleasure to us. Only the road to the house was a complete desaster, full of pot holes and not at all convenient for normal vehicles, so that we decided to leave the car about 200 yards before the house, where the proper road ends, except for loading the luggage. Mr Bushe told us that he is in negotiations with the community to get it fixed.
Reviewed by BirgittaJul 2018
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"Cottage is in a beautiful setting and is really well equipped."
The garden is huge, but just a note for dog owners, it is not enclosed.
Reviewed by ElaineJul 2018
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"Great base for holiday that takes in both historical areas and sites, as well as beach."
Set in magical woodland (advise guests to take wellies to have a good ramble even if it has been raining) with a lovely garden, the cottage comes into its own on a sunny day when you can enjoy a meal in the garden, or a quiet coffee sitting on a bench watching the comings and goings of birds, pheasants, squirrels and rabbits. Accommodation is homely and has all that you need, but could possibly do with a little updating. As our dog came with us, it would have been better if the garden were properly enclosed. She had to be tethered as she is prone to go exploring! The pot holes down the lane are really bad... but we knew that in advance from other reviews.
Reviewed by CatherineMay 2018
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"It was really great, as above."
Reviewed by IndiraFeb 2018
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"We had a lovely time, and the cottage was in a really great location for trips to Hastings, Rye and Camber Sands."
There were just a couple of issues with the property - we could not use the front door as it was locked, although when I phoned the owner he said that this was not possible...perhaps it was our mistake but I have never been unable to open a Yale lock from the inside of a house before. We used the French doors to get in and out, which made shoe changing a bit of a challenge.
The layout was a bit strange with the two bathrooms opening directly into the sitting room. Both of the bathrooms had translucent blinds on the glass doors, so silhouettes of people were clearly visible from the sitting room! Perhaps some blackout blinds or solid doors would be a good idea. These were in the end relatively minor problems and overall we had a good stay. Jempsons supermarket was fabulous, as were a couple of forays into the woods.
Reviewed by MariaDec 2017
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"Ideal quiet location ,unmade road a few large pot holes but it is in the woods so just beware and don't take the sports car ."
Reviewed by StephenNov 2017
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"A really cosy cottage in a beautiful location!"
Would highly recommend this cottage to nature lovers, walkers and dog owners.
Reviewed by LyndaApr 2017
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"Beautiful location in the woods just be aware of the precarious pot hole track to get to the cottage"
Reviewed by JeanMar 2017
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"Excellent cottage very deceptive from the outside, got everything you need and the garden is just a bird paradise."
Great kitchen, 2 lounges the garden lounge opens out to the patio area, 2 bathrooms is great one with a bath other with a shower
Relaxing stay and lovely and warm on cold November nights it was -2 and we where still cosy.
The only negative point is the unmade road to the cottage it will test your suspension filling in the pot holes would make all the difference .
Would book again as we had a excellent stay
Reviewed by GaryNov 2016
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"Lovely cottage in beautiful surroundings with lots of walks straight from the door."
Lots of wildlife in the garden. Owners very helpful
Reviewed by VivienneOct 2016
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"IN THE INFO THERE DESCIBED A SHOWER ROOM WHICH WAS ACTUALLY A SHOWER CUBICLE."
THIS WAS UNSUITABLE FOR A DISABLED PERSON WHICH OUR ADULT SON IS AND A SHOWER ROOM
TO OUR THINKING IS ONE YOU COULD WALK INTO AND PERHAPS BE SEATED.
HAVING SAID THIS WE MET MR BUSHE AND HE WAS VERY HELPFULL GETING OUR SON ON TO THE WEB
AND THE COTTAGE IS SITUATED IN A GREAT PLACE.
WE HAD TO ABANDON OUR STAY HALF WAY THRO THE WEEK DUE MY WIFES ILLNESS AND MRS BUSHE WAS VERY
KIND WITH HER THOUGHTS TO US ON THAT PROBLEM.
WE HAVE SAID WE WOULD NOT STAY THERE AGAIN PURELY BECAUASE OF THE SHOWER (which I can add would be most suitable for an able person)
Reviewed by RaymondOct 2016