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"Very comfortable."
Would recommend.
Reviewed by PaulaApr 2022
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"Beautiful place to stay owner said always keep fire stocked up and there will be no problem with heating good advise it worked well ."
Friendly village Beautiful walks.santa train was excellent children enjoyed very much .
Reviewed by VivienneDec 2021
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"Good little cottage, everything you need for a nice break and close to the shop, pub and NYMR."
Also very good communication from the owner. Only slight downside is the fire and boiler which are a bit high maintenance to maintain the heat in the cottage - although these are supplemented by electric heaters in the morning and afternoon and an immersion heater for hot water.
Reviewed by TonyDec 2021
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"Great location nice spacious cottage for families."
Boiler very noisy in the bunk room.
We would stay again it was value for money.
Reviewed by TinaOct 2021
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"Firstly, there was no starter pack for fuel as advertised, was told we had to buy our own coal which we have never had to do before and should of been included in cost of cottage!"
No matches, firelighters or any kindling. The back boiler to fire took hours to heat radiators and they did not get above lukewarm so system needs draining and checking! Bathroom was always really cold as towel rail never got hot enough. Electric panel heaters locked on setting 19 and timed so they made no difference at all. Cottage was clean but only left 2 dishwasher tablets, 2 toilet rolls and no hairdryer which I have never had in a cottage before. Would not recommend staying at cottage when weather really cold! Would not stay here again.
Thank you for your comments, all of which have been noted. I would like to comment on a few of them you made.
Firstly the lack of a starter pack. I'm very sorry that this wasn't supplied. In winter months we always supply enough fuel in the bunker outside to last at least until after the weekend (depending how much you use it) I can only apologise this wasn't there for you. However for future use if you could contact either Sykes or myself we are normally able to sort any issues out.
We checked the central heating system after your feedback and it worked perfectly well. You do need a good fire to get the back boiler warm enough so I can only think it needed a hotter fire.
The electric heaters are meant to be an added addition to complement the heating. They are a new addition and we don't advertise the fact that they are in the house. They hopefully mean you don't need to use the fire just as much when the weather isn't too cold.
We are a self-catering cottage and as such we don't provide unlimited dishwasher tablets or toilet rolls. ( I think this is pretty normal for self catering)
We didn't promote a hairdryer and in the past we didn't provide one. However, after your feedback we now do. Property Owner
Reviewed by JulieOct 2021
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"A ideal place if you like the steam railway."
Parking a bit of a pain. Not ideal if you have mobility issues very steep stairs .
Reviewed by YvonneSep 2021
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"We had a good week, weather was kind, only 1 day of rain, used park and ride each time to whitby, local transport link from whitby were excellent."
half hour buses to scarborough, middlesborough, robin hood bay, saltburn, all easy to use.
Reviewed by HelenSep 2021
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"An ideal cottage for exploring the North Yorkshire moors and travelling on the steam railway."
Reviewed by ToniSep 2021
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"Overall we had a lovely holiday in Grosmont and the cottage."
There were a couple of issues which we discussed with the owner who was very helpful and friendly. Plenty of space for our family of four with our girls very happy in their own rooms! I found the master bed to be too hard for my liking but that is my personal preference, my partner thought it was fine. We would definitely stay again.
Reviewed by DeniseAug 2021
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"Overall it was a nice place, we arrived early and wanted to park up and go out for the day."
The cleaner was not very welcoming or helpful at all. When using the mobile number for help on parking got no answer. The parking space is not clear and had to ask 3 or 4 neighbours where to park who were not a 100% sure themselves!
The kitchen and bathroom needs attention as it was very cold. The radiators are set so you can’t adjust them. The boiler tanks in the bedroom are Very loud disturbing my daughter if anyone went to the bathroom in the night.
As a regular user of Sykes Cottages this was the first place we have stayed where we have had no contact with the owners! Maybe a more personal welcome note cake/wine would make holiday makers feel more wanted. Our first impression was we were an inconvenience!
Many thanks for your feedback following your stay.
The owner has been made aware of your comments in relation to the car parking space and radiators and these are being reviewed for future bookings.
We are very surprised to hear of your comments in relation to our cleaner, as we have only ever received positive feedback from previous guests, however this has been passed on to the appropriate team.
Welcome packs are not a required feature for all properties, and this property does not advertise having one, however we are sorry that you were disappointed.
Lastly, not all owners choose to liaise with guests and ask that Sykes complete all communication on their behalf.
Thank you again. Property Owner
Reviewed by AndrewJul 2021
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"We spent a great week at Office Row."
The property is quite big, with a lounge and a dining-room, three bedrooms (one with bunk beds and a sink), and a modern fitted kitchen. The toilet and bathroom (with shower over bath) are behind the kitchen. The patio at the front of the property catches the sun in the afternoon.
We did not meet the owners, but asked a few questions using text messages, which were promptly and humorously answered.
The village, Grosmont, is famous for the North Yorkshire Moors Railway, a steam railway which runs between Pickering and Whitby. You can even get afternoon teas on the trains, or dinner, but you'd have to book well in advance, and it's not cheap.
Whitby, Robin Hood's Bay and Scarborough are in easy driving distance, and the views from the moors are spectacular. I would recommend a visit to Saltburn, north of Whitby. It's a lovely little Victorian spa town, with its own narrow-gauge ride-on railway - much loved by children.
Back in Grosmont, there's a local shop, a cafe on the way to the engine sheds, and a pub. You can get great fish and chips from the Eskdale Fisheries in Sleights, which is 3.5 miles up a very winding up-and-down road - you can eat inside, or take away.
We enjoyed the holiday very much; it was very restful, and we would book there again.
Reviewed by JohnJul 2021
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"The cottage is lovely and just what we wanted."
I only had two minor niggles: the mattress on the bed in the main bedroom is a trifle too firm for my liking, but that's a very personal thing, I realise. The other niggle is the lack of heating in the bathroom. It's the coldest room and towels don't dry. Because we were there in warmer weather we didn't want to fire up the log burner. If the small complementary heater in the bathroom was set to a higher temperature than 15 degrees, so that it came on to warm and dry the towels, that would be perfect. Apart from that it was a super place. Thoughtful touches like occasional tables and cushions - and a very interesting book about Grosmont - were much appreciated.
Reviewed by GillianJun 2021
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"Really lovely cottage."
Very clean and great location, we enjoyed siting in the sunny garden in the evening.
Reviewed by RebeccaApr 2021
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"The cottage was situated in a lovely quiet spot."
The parking & unloading was a little tricky but manageable. The cottage had everything we needed & the kitchen was very well supplied with equipment. The main bedroom bed was really comfy. We had to replace a light bulb & some batteries as they weren’t working so I suggest a check is made before letting. We would certainly stay again.
Reviewed by PaulineSep 2020
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"Lovely cosy terraced cottage in Idilic location, with walks from the door and close to village amenities and train station."
Will definitely be returning in 2021!
Reviewed by PhilipAug 2020
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"Fantastic cottage which is great for a family to stay in."
Very Very quiet and friendly around the area. We would definitely book this cottage again.
Reviewed by DavidAug 2020
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"Very comfortable home with everything we needed we had a lovely christmas there x"
Reviewed by AngelaDec 2019
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"We've just spent a lovely week at No."
7. To sum it up in one sentence as to us 'it felt more like home than home does'. We just loved it. Careful on the stairs & do as suggested & ring the coal man within a day or so of arriving for a monday delivery of 'ovals' for the burner in the dining room. It looks amazing but makes the cottage oh so cosy on an autumnal evening. We will definitely return.
Reviewed by AlisonOct 2019
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"Lovely cottage - very comfortable."
Seating in living room very good and beds comfortable. Very good facilities in cottage. Lovely little garden at front. Very well placed for access to village. We really enjoyed our stay and would recommend it to other people. Thank you.
Reviewed by JoanneAug 2019
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"We had a fab week and would love to revisit office row ."
On arrival we found the cottage smelled of dogs especially the sofa however we know this is a pet friendly cottage but could have done with something to take these smells away the house was well presented and lovely however beds creaking whenever you moved this did not help to get a good night's sleep.
Reviewed by JulieAug 2019
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"Beautiful cottage with everything you would need for a lovely stay
Would recommend"
Reviewed by PeterJun 2019
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"We had a lovely time , peaceful location and we enjoyed staying in Grosmont as a change to Whitby."
Lots of space in the cottage and the Geese at the back of the property were funny when they decided they didn’t like the dog and hissed at him !:)
We didn’t want to go home and look forward to staying again
Reviewed by GeraldineJun 2019
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"FANTASTIC we all enjoyed our stay in your lovely cottage."
Everything you need is there. It was so peaceful. You can sit out in the garden and listen to the sounds of the steam trains or take a two minute walk down to the station and sit on the platform to get a closer look. Lots of nice walks. We would definitely come back to this lovely homely cottage again.
Reviewed by IJun 2019
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"It is a nice cottage especially for anyone who loves steam trains."
Good walks right on your doorstep.
Reviewed by YvonneJun 2019
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"The cottage was lovely and clean, and situated in a nice spot in Grosmont."
The kitchen was well stocked for pans and utensils, and the sitting room with tv, wifi and electric fire was very comfortable for an evening in. We particularly enjoyed the outside sitting area which had the sun from afternoon through to the evening. It was a very quiet location, and yet only 200m from the pub and village centre.
Two minor gripes. The weather was warm and didn't justify buying coal for the fire to have any central heating. However, this resulted in the bathroom being very cold all week. It could really do with some form of bathroom heater. Secondly, the main bedroom's bed was very creaky at the slightest movement, and is certainly not designed for romantic couples.
Reviewed by MartinMay 2019
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"It was extremely convenient for the north yorks railway being just a two minute ..."
It was extremely convenient for the north yorks railway being just a two minute walk from grosmont station an excellent platform pardon the pun to travel to pickering and whitby on a steam train great stuff if you are into trains and some good walks too
Reviewed by PaulMay 2019
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"A lovely cottage in a perfect setting with all necessary amenities nearby."
We left the car behind most days and explored the local area by train using the nostalgic North York Moors Railway. The cottage was spotlessly clean, sufficiently comfortable and had everything we needed (apart from a washing machine but that was a welcome break!). We would definitely come again, thank you.
Reviewed by EmmaApr 2019
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"Firstly, the cottage and holiday were great, however just a couple of things that could possibly do with addressing."
The electrics tripped on a regular basis at the begining of the holiday, this with the help of "Dave" and the owner was sorted and found to be due to teh electric fire in the louge, even though it had never been switched on. towards the end of the holiday the "known " reason for tripping, dishwasher and kettle on together, started to trip the electric again. I would suggest a complete overal/re-wiring of the electrics.
The bunk beds have in adequate wooden planking around the top bunk, this needs addressing as a child who is restless could quite easily fallfrom the top bunk.
The in accomodation booklet/folder stated that solid fuel was supplied Oct - April to heat water and provide central heating, sadly the fuel we had only lasted until Sunday and we had to purchase more from local garages, this cost us £44. If this could be reimbursed I would be most grateful.
On the plus side, the accommodation was clean, the electrical issue was dealt with quickly to temporarily fix-it, and the location was excellent,
Dont suppose I'll win the draw with all these points :) but I will use your company and recommend you to friends and family
Regards John Turner
Thank you for taking the time to let us know your thoughts, it was good to meet you.
I apologise that you experienced some difficulties with the electrics tripping, we do have the property checked regularly and an electrician is going back to the property next week to ensure that the dishwasher is working properly. The bunk beds are as photographed and there has never been any previous comments regarding this. The property details also cover the fuel provided during guests stay and the length of time the fuel provided lasts, this is dependent on each guests usage. Property Owner
Reviewed by JohnApr 2019
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"Well equipped cottage located in the centre of Grosmont."
Ideal for train enthusiast as you can see the stream trains from the front room. Ideally located for Whitby, Scarborough, Pickering and Goathland. Accurate description of cottage online- good range of equipment, car park space for two.
Reviewed by RobertApr 2019
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"Lovey cottage with easy access into Whitby and other beautiful Yorkshire countryside and coastal towns."
Lots of great walks on the doorstep too. We would highly recommend and definitely book again.
Reviewed by TerenceMar 2019
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"Had a lovely week in a gorgeous location."
An extremely spacious cottage which had a nice homely feel. Initially we found it hard to get the hang of heating the property with the solid fuel burner but luckily I had an elder sister come later in the week who knew what she was doing. It certainly didnt spoil our holiday. It was a good base if youre a keen walker and an absolute gem if youre a steam train enthusiast. Overall an absolute bargain of a holiday as the cost of the cottage was brilliant. Would definitely book again.
Reviewed by HilaryFeb 2019
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"Lovely cottage."
I had 3 children with me under 5 years old. I would not recommend this cottage for young children as there is a steep staircase, no fire guard, no high chair or cot etc.
Also as the central heating is solid fuel it is necessary to supply your own kindling and fuel which is fine but I would say make it more obvious upfront to allow preparation.
All that said, it was lovely, comfortable, warm etc in a beautiful place so I would heartily recommend.
Reviewed by AlexJan 2019
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"Lovely cosy cottage in a beautiful location, ideally situated for country walks or daily beach walks in near by Whitby etc."
We would have liked a washing machine/tumble dryer but not a big deal to take dirty washing home and we did appreciate the dish washer!
The local pub is a gem which is literally a minutes walk as is the steam railway.
Reviewed by TimothyDec 2018
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"The house was lovely and in a wonderful place my son loved looking at the trains and visiting the work sheds."
The only down side was there was no washing machine so would make it hard to stay for more than a week with young children.
Reviewed by MelissaAug 2018
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"This cottage is fantastic."
Great location . How anyone could say this cottage smelt of damp must have been at a different cottage. It is so clean comfortable and has everything for a wonderful week away . Will definitely stay again
Reviewed by ThomasJul 2018
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"Sadly this fell below the standard of cottages that I have booked with Sykes."
It is a shame as aesthetically it is full of character and in a wonderful location, I'm sure with some attention the shortfalls could be remedied. On arrival, I was met with a fridge freezer that had been switched off and defrosted. It was swimming with smelly water and I was left with the job of bailing it out and then cleaning it. The last thing I wanted to do after a long journey. Also, I bring food with me and rely on a working fridge, as everyone knows a fridge needs to be switched on for some time before it is sufficiently cool to look after food. In fact, the fridge wasn't working properly, I think due to a door to the freezer compartment that wouldn't shut properly. It took 48 hours plus before it reached a satisfactory temperature. The whole time I was there it was working overtime. I felt this was of particular concern as a previous guest mentioned the broken door in the visitors' book some time ago. My second main concern is that the central heating system is switched off during the May to September Summer months. I find this totally unacceptable in this country where the weather can be very changeable. The only heating I had was from an electric fire in the lounge. When I did try and put that on it didn't work. Batteries in the remote had run down and there were no replacement batteries. The proprietor does mention a problem with draining the batteries in the remote and yet there was no check made before I arrived that it was working and no replacement batteries. I bought some as soon as I could. The house has a musty damp smell. This has been pointed out by several previous guests. On arrival it wasn't noticeable as every window in the house had been left open. Also, I noticed several diffusers scattered around the house, presumably to cloak the smell. I would think that if the house had central heating during the Summer it would go a long way to alleviate this. The bathroom is downstairs and therefore the damp smell goes easily into the house. Because there is no heating it is impossible to dry towels or bath mats etc. On the evening I was chilly and couldn't get the fire working so I got a throw found in my bedroom wardrobe. I soon put it back when I realised there was a musty horrible smell coming on to my hands from touching it. It needs washing. The proprietor points out in his guide folder that the electrical system can overload depending on the appliances running. My main concern with this is that the fuse box is located in the lounge high up flush with the ceiling. The only way I could get up to it was by climbing on furniture - anything but safe. The cottage is advertised as having 'off the road' parking. It doesn't make clear that this is not at the cottage itself, rather, it is situated two lanes back. The proprietor estimates it is 75 yards away in his guidebook. This is through a narrow, very steep and uneven footpath. Not for the less agile, especially if carrying things. Several guests have left positive reviews for this cottage, and it was on the strength of those that I made this booking. All I can say is that I have had the experience of staying in four other cottages this year booked through Sykes and it is with those that I have compared this. On the positive side the cottage is well decorated and clean. The lounge was comfortable to sit in and the bed was very comfortable. It was particularly good to have the use of the garden during sunny spells and it is extremely atmospheric to hear the steam trains at the station.
********Owner Response************
I’m really sorry the cottage didn’t meet up to your expectations. Owners try really hard to make your stay as comfortable and enjoyable as possible.
If I can refer to a few of your relevant points. First the fridge. I’m sorry it wasn’t switched on and cold for your arrival. It normally always is. Unfortunately an earlier guest hadn’t shut the freezer compartment fully and it had iced up, meaning it couldn’t be shut. It had to be defrosted to allow this to happen. However, we have should have revisited before your arrival to mop up the extra water. As for the batteries for the electric fire we now have spares in the dresser drawer. The main solid fuel fire for central heating isn’t witched off in the summer, we just don’t light it in the summer months for arrivals. It can be lit and used at any time. Also thankyou for the good comments at the end. *******
I’m really sorry the cottage didn’t meet up to your expectations. Was owners try really hard to make to stay as comfortable and enjoyable as possible.
If I can refer to a few of your relevant points. First the fridge. I’m sorry it wasn’t switched on and cold for your arrival. It normally always is. Unfortunately an earlier guest hadn’t shut the freezer compartment fully and it had iced up, meaning it couldn’t be shut. It had to be defrosted to allow this to happen. However, we have should have revisited before your arrival to mop up the extra water. As for the batteries for the electric fire we now have spares in the dresser drawer. The main solid fuel fire for central heating isn’t witched off in the summer, we just don’t light it in the summer months for arrivals. It can be lit and used at any time. Also thankyou for the good comments at the end. Property Owner
Reviewed by SusanJun 2018