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The Old Sweet Shop

(Ref. 1022774)

Alnwick, Northumberland Show on map

5.0

Sykes rating

  • 8 Guests

  • 4 Bedrooms

  • 3 Bathrooms

  • Pets Yes

Features

  • Off road parking
  • Open fire
  • Cot available
  • Highchair available
  • Pub/shop < 1 mile
  • Washing machine
  • Dishwasher
  • Broadband / WiFi

Reviews & Ratings

Accuracy of the listing
Cleanliness
Comfort
Facilities and Maintenance
  • All reviews
  • property (18)
  • well (17)
  • comfortable (14)
  • our (13)
  • location (13)
  • no (12)

29 Customer Reviews

  • "Lovely lovely property !"

    My family and I had an amazing time ! It was just what we needed. Thank you to Alison the property owner who was so accommodating to us when we needed to change our booking twice ! Also thank you to Sykes for your help and understanding .

    Reviewed by KarenMar 2024

  • "Firstly i have to say the host is excellent and very responsive."

    Great property, very spacious, very clean and tidy. Had everything we needed for our stay. Great location for getting about the area.

    Reviewed by AnnaFeb 2024

  • "We have stayed here numerous times."

    Love this place, has everything we need for a great comfortable stay. Very responsive host, who looked after us very well, thank you Alison. Lovely welcome basket, great comfortable beds, very clean throughout. Highly recommended. will return.

    Thank you very much for your feedback. Both Neil and I were delighted by your return bookings and look forwards to welcoming you in the future should you need to return to Alnwick. Property Owner

    Reviewed by AnnaJan 2024

  • "Second visit to this property, really enjoyed our stay."

    Great house with everything you would need for your stay. Very clean and comfortable. Excellent location for getting about to Alnwick and the coast. We will be back

    Reviewed by AnnaJan 2024

  • "Great place to stay."

    Very clean and tidy, it had everything we needed for our stay. Good comfortable beds and lovely bed linen. Great location.

    Reviewed by AnnaJan 2024

  • "A top property within walking distance of everything you could need!"

    The house was extremely well laid out with more than enough room for a large family gathering. Excellent kitchen and facilities throughout. Would definitely recommend

    Thank you for your kind words. We are delighted you enjoyed your stay at The Old Sweet Shop. Best wishes. Alison Property Owner

    Reviewed by MichaelDec 2023

  • "The property exceeded expectations !"

    The property was gulley equipped with everything you would expect and more. The furnishings and fittings were well maintained. The beds were extremely comfortable with the bedding being of a very high quality you would expect to find in a 5* hotel Alison (owner) communication was over and above and it was very much welcome even though we did not need to contact, our group felt we wanted to give her our feedback on how fabulous her house was

    Reviewed by MicheleDec 2023

  • "Enjoyed our stay very much."

    A beautiful house. Ideally situated for Barter Books and exploring Alnwick on foot. Also for scenic drives to Cragside and the coast or bus trips. Very spacious comfortable house with thoughtful details. Already planning another visit.

    Reviewed by StephanieNov 2023

  • "Beautiful property and very comfortable."

    Well equipped kitchen. Good sized fridge/freezer. Very comfortable beds. Wood for burner can be bought locally. Parking is very close to the property. Noise from street was hardly noticed. Perfect location. I would definitely recommend this property.

    Thank you for your kind words, they are much appreciated. Based on some guest feedback we replaced our fridge freezer earlier in the year for a bigger version so I'm glad you found it appropriately sized for your group. We are always looking to improve our guest's experience when they stay at the Old Sweet Shop. Best wishes. Alison Property Owner

    Reviewed by SarahOct 2023

  • "This is one of the best holiday homes we've stayed in Its very spacious, ..."

    This is one of the best holiday homes we've stayed in Its very spacious, comfortable, well equipped and spotlessly clean, the photos don’t do it justice regarding the space available Very comfortable beds and quiet neighbourhood The position couldn’t be better to explore Alnwick and the surrounding area and there are shops very nearby for essentials Really good communication from the owner

    Thank you so much for your very kind feedback. We are very fortunate to have a wonderful cleaner who has very high standards. I'm glad you found everything comfortable and made use of the local shops for essentials; we are very fortunate to have so being close by. Best wishes. Alison Property Owner

    Reviewed by MaryOct 2023

  • "Just perfect, gorgeous warm house."

    Exceeded all expectations. Much larger than we thought which was brilliant for our family. Emails from Host/Sykes regarding the property were really helpful and accurate. Folder in the kitchen .. invaluable help. Host have thought of everything to make your holiday relaxing. Location is near all amenities/attractions and parking was easy.

    Thank you for your kind words; we really appreciate them and are so glad to hear that you enjoyed your holiday. We try to keep our information folder as up to date as possible so pleased to hear it is of good use. Best wishes. Alison and Neil Property Owner

    Reviewed by WendySep 2023

  • "We had a wonderful time in spite of the awful weather."

    The property is fantastic in most respects and very comfortable. Beds and pillows very comfortable. Kitchen is very well equipped. The only thing I recommend here is a fruit/lemon squeezer. The fridge in the kitchen is far too small even for a stay of five nights - needs to be twice the size. We could not get any heating to come on and this was a major problem as the weather was so cold for July. We followed all the instructions but the boiler did not come on. There was not enough toilet paper for a family of 8 for five nights and the quality of the paper was very poor. These are fairly minor points but we believe they need to be addressed to make this property a truly five star experience. Finally, can we say a very big thanks from all the family. We would definitely recommend and would stay again.

    Thank you for your kind words and constructive feedback. The weather was really rotten when you are visiting, but I'm glad you still managed to make the most of your time in Alnwick. We now have a larger American style fridge freezer in the property and I will look into getting a fruit/lemon squeeze. I have passed on to our cleaning team your feedback re. toilet paper. I'm sorry that you struggled to get the heating working. It is normally a case of pressing the up button on the thermostat in the hall to increase the temperature, without having to touch the boiler. I will review our instruction manual to make this as clear as possible, but please remember our contact numbers are included in the information folder for problems like this. Thanks again. Property Owner

    Reviewed by MartinJul 2023

  • "We were a group of friends staying for the weekend to do the Macmillan Mighty Hike."

    The property was ideally located in central Alnwick, very clean (it accepts pets but you would never know) and super comfortable. The owner communicated really well, (currently a broken shower on the top floor, but with two others in the house this did not bother us). I would definitely stay here again, thank you!

    Reviewed by EmmaJul 2023

  • "It was an excellent property for 8 people to stay in without being on top of one another."

    The house was very clean, we all agreed the beds were comfortable and it was in a great location for walking to nearby pubs and restaurants and for generally exploring Alnwick.

    Reviewed by JulieJul 2023

  • "The property owner warned us in advance of a problem with the top floor shower beyond her control, which we managed."

    The property was ideal for all guests, well equipped, and well situated.

    Thank you for your kind words and managing without the shower. I'm glad you enjoyed your time at The Old Sweet Shop. Property Owner

    Reviewed by JosephJun 2023

  • "First class accommodation with a special welcome for families."

    It is well placed to walk to the famous Barters bookshop and of course the fabulous Alnwick Castle and gardens.

    Thank you for your very kind feedback. Catering for all the family is very important to us, so glad the kids enjoyed the toys (and more likely the sweets!). Property Owner

    Reviewed by AlfredMay 2023

  • "We had a very good stay at the old sweet shop - the property and facilities were excellent and the location worked very well ."

    Thank you for choosing to stay at the Old Sweet Shop and for taking the time to provide feedback. I'm glad you all had a good time for your family get together. Property Owner

    Reviewed by BarbaraApr 2023

  • "We loved this holiday home."

    Very comfortable and warm and suitable for family groups. Location is good for attractions in Alnwick so no need to drive. The owner advised us of the maintenance work that had not been completed before our visit. Some lovely local businesses to support too. Local people were all very friendly and chatty.

    Thank you for your kind response. Alnwick had some lovely independent small businesses and it is wonderful that you had the time to visit and support them; it is always appreciated. Property Owner

    Reviewed by AndyMar 2023

  • "Absolutely brilliant property."

    Amazing communication with host, great facilities and spot on location. We stayed here with our family for our wedding and it will forever be memorable as being a great place to stay. 100% recommend.

    Thank you for your kind words. We hope you had a wonderful wedding and wish you many years of happiness together. Property Owner

    Reviewed by CiaranMar 2023

  • "We had a lovely time in the Old Sweet Shop."

    It was the perfect size for a family of 7. The kitchen was very well equipped. We had everything we needed to prepare our meals. We are happy we found this gem.

    Reviewed by AndreeDec 2022

  • "A super large home for which 6 adults, 1 baby and 1 dog enjoyed a fab week."

    Lots of space to spread out. The kitchen was very well fitted out with everything you could need to cook with. Location was amazing as just a stroll into town.

    Reviewed by RebeccaNov 2022

  • "A very well appointed and comfortable house with quality bedding and fixtures."

    Absolutely spotless! There was nothing we could have wanted for. (Apart from better weather). Nice welcome basket of scones and other goodies and our dog appreciated the bag of treats. Great location for touring the area. We would very much like to return and highly recommend this holiday home. Thank you Alison.

    Reviewed by MargaretNov 2022

  • "Very nice place to stay home from home will definitely be back to stay at this amazing place many thanks Gary & Sybil."

    Thank you for your kind words. We look forwards to seeing you again. Property Owner

    Reviewed by GaryNov 2022

  • "Really fabulous house- LOTS of space, very well equipped- a real home from home."

    Loved all the handy extras like plastic plates for kids and board games. Great base to walk into Alnwick and to the gardens and castle. Property owner really helpful and attentive.

    Reviewed by KatieOct 2022

  • "Absolutely fabulous property."

    Well appointed and immaculately clean. All the rooms are nice but the lounge in particular was such a welcoming and relaxing place to spend time. Lovely welcome pack too. Couldn't recommend enough.

    Reviewed by IvorOct 2022

  • "Such a lovely, warm and well appointed property, very convenient for walking to the town centre and other attractions."

    The “ welcome pack” was greatly received by us and the dog. The beds were extremely comfortable with lovely bed linen and fluffy towels. I celebrated a special birthday there with the family and it was just perfect. Can’t fault it at all.

    Thank you for your lovely feedback. I'm really pleased to hear that you were able to enjoy your birthday with family and that you had a great time. We have tried to make the house as comfy as possible so you can relax after a busy day and enjoy the company of the people you are with. Property Owner

    Reviewed by KateSep 2022

  • "Wonderful! The property was fantastic and had everything you could possibly need."

    Alnwick itself is lovely, the castle and garden are a great day out for all the family and are only a stones throw away. The property was in a fantastic location to go off exploring Northumberland and then coke back for a good nights rest in a very comfortable bed!

    Thank you for your kind words. We agree that Alnwick is lovely and we are so fortunate to have so much beauty close to us. We have worked hard to try to make the property like a 'home from home' so this feedback means a lot. Thank you again. Property Owner

    Reviewed by ChelseaAug 2022

  • "House was great -it's a real central location in Alnwick -in a fairly busy area but that's to be expected The accommodation suited us -myself and 2 daughters with young families,personally I could have done with a radio !"

    and some more cleaning products to mop up any spillages !but otherwise and overall it met our needs The host Alison was very helpful and left a lovely welcoming pack and kept us posted

    Thank you for your kind words. Thank you also for your feeback; I am always looking for ways to enhance 'The Old Sweet Shop' experience and these are helpful, practical suggestions. I hope you managed to spend some quality time with your family and enjoyed the wonderful things Northumberland has to offer. Property Owner

    Reviewed by BillJul 2022

  • "The house was perfect in every way!"

    From the quality of the bedding and towels to the decor. So many lovely little touches made it one of the best property's we have ever stayed in. As we were only there two nights we thought it so thoughtful that there was washing up liquid, dishwashing tabs and plenty of loo roll!!! There was a hamper with fresh bread, shortbread and tea/coffee and butter, fizz and milk in the fridge. The kitchen was so well equipped and had plenty of plates, cups, etc and an excellent selection of glasses and there was a brand new dog bed left for our family dog and the house was spotless. We cannot recommend this beautiful property highly enough. Outstanding in every way.

    Thank you so much Jacqui for your wonderful feedback. We are so pleased that you enjoyed your stay. It would be lovely to welcome you back any time! Alison and Neil Property Owner

    Reviewed by JacquiJun 2022

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Summary

  • Over three floors
  • Four bedrooms: Second floor 1 x king-size with en-suite bath, separate shower, basin, heated towel rail and WC
  • First floor: 1 x king-size, 1 x super-king (zip/link, can be twin on request), 1 x twin
  • Bathroom with bath, shower over, basin, heated towel rail and WC
  • Ground-floor shower room with walk-in shower, basin, heated towel rail and WC
  • Kitchen/diner (seating for 4)
  • Sitting room with woodburning stove
  • Dining room (with small lounge area)
  • Gas central heating
  • Electric oven, gas hob, microwave, fridge/freezer, washing machine, dishwasher
  • Smart 4K TV, further HD TV, DVD player, WiFi (high end fibre broadband), selection of books, games and DVDs
  • Fuel, power and starter pack for woodburning stove inc. in rent
  • Bed linen and towels inc. in rent
  • Highchair, travel cot and stairgate available on request
  • Off-road parking for 1 car
  • On-street free parking to rear of property or nearby side street
  • Well-behaved pets welcome
  • Sorry, no smoking
  • Shop 40 yards, pub 0.3 miles
  • Note: Pets are only allowed on the ground floor
  • Note: There are sloped ceilings and exposed beams in the second-floor bedroom, please take care
  • Please note we cannot accept check-ins on a Sunday.

The property

Located in the heart of Alnwick, Northumberland, is this large three-storey Victorian terraced house; The Old Sweetshop.

Originally built as a shop and dwellinghouse in 1899, this was converted into one large family home and has been successfully modernised and updated.

With four bedrooms sleeping up to eight guests, this pet-friendly accommodation (downstairs only) has spacious living and sleeping areas and high-quality modern facilities, Alnwick has historic sites, luscious countryside, and the stunning coast all within easy reach.

The ground floor hosts a stylish kitchen/ diner, it is sure to please any budding chef with its spacious feel and electric range cooker (fan oven, conventional oven, top oven and grill), 5-burner gas hob, dishwasher, fridge-freezer and microwave (washing machine located in the cupboard in hall).

The separate dining room with seating for eight guests contains a small sitting area with TV, DVD player, books and selection of toys; ideal for little ones to play, whilst the adults enjoy a glass of something refreshing.

Find less formal seating in the main sitting room with sumptuous leather sofas, fabric winged armchairs and a coffee table, a 4K Smart TV and a selection of board games are available for entertainment, or alternatively snuggle up with a good book by the warmth of the woodburning stove for a quieter evening after a busy day.

Completing the ground floor is a compact shower room with WC and heated towel rail.

On the first floor you will find three well-appointed double bedrooms.

Bedroom 1 is a large room with superking size bed (can be converted into twin beds on request) and sofa, bedroom 2 contains a kingsize bed, and bedroom 3 has two single beds, a bathroom with a bath, shower over, and heated towel rail completes this floor.

A staircase leads you to the second floor landing with a handy desk for any office work that may be required and access to a bathroom containing free-standing bath, shower, WC and heated towel rail, the bedroom on this floor contains a king size bed with dressing area and comfortable poang chairs, for increased privacy there is the option to lock the bathroom door access from the landing and use this bathroom as an en-suite accessed from the dressing area.When you are ready to explore the area, a short stroll (5 minutes) leads you past the iconic Barter books (pop in to peruse the second-hand books) and onwards to the cobbled streets of Alnwick town centre, filled with independent shops, galleries, cafes, pubs, restaurants and a weekly market, here you will find the Alnwick Playhouse (arts centre, theatre, cinema and tourist information), Alnwick Castle (featured in many well-loved TV and movie series including Harry Potter, Downtown Abby and Transformers) and The Alnwick Garden (home to the world’s largest tai Haku cherry orchard, a grand cascade water feature, bamboo maze and poison garden).

For more active leisure, the Willowburn sports centre (15 minute walk) has a swimming pool (including separate shallow pool for younger guests), soft play, climbing wall and fitness gym, in addition to badminton courts and sports hall for hire.

Alnwick Castle golf course (non-members welcome) is situated 0.5 mile from the house, tennis and squash facilities are 0.3miles from the house.

If you're looking for a day by the sea, Alnmouth is a short drive away with a lovely sandy beach, teashops, restaurants and wonderful sea views, Carry on to Warkworth with its picturesque ruined castle or to Amble, proudly known as “the friendliest port in England”, other costal highlights in this Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty are Bamburgh beach with its imposing castle, Lindisfarne (Holy Island), Seahouses (take a boat to the National trust Farne islands to watch grey seals and puffins) and Craster, where you can sample some traditional kippers before you walk to the iconic Dunstanburgh Castle.

If idyllic countryside is your preference, you'll have many beautiful walks on your doorstep, especially through Hulne park with landscape inspired by Capability Brown, slightly further afield, Northumberland National Park has 410 square miles of pristine rivers, waterfalls, hills and valleys to explore, in addition to some of darkest skies in the country, giving an opportunity for star gazing at the Kielder Observatory.

For a cultural day trip, we would recommend taking the train from Alnmouth Station to Edinburgh, Newcastle or Durham, all of which can be reached within approx 1hour.

However you spend your family-friendly holiday in Northumberland, you will find everything you need at the Old Sweet Shop.

Note: This property has a Good Housekeeping bond of £450.

View on map

About the location

ALNWICK

Alnmouth 4 miles; Bamburgh 15 miles; Rothbury 10 miles.

The attractive and historic market town of Alnwick is dominated by Alnwick Castle, home to the Duke of Northumberland. The Castle Gardens, opened in 2002, are home to Europe's largest cascading water feature, a fabulous (and enormous) treehouse, a delightful rose garden and a beautiful, walled ornamental garden, which will delight novice and experienced gardeners alike. The castle is also famous as the setting for Hogwarts School featured in the Harry Potter films! The town's narrow streets have seen little change since the days when the London to Edinburgh stage coach passed through and the Market Place, with its stone cross, is still the central feature and the ideal venue for the weekly Saturday market. Alnwick offers a good selection of shops, pubs and places to eat and there is plenty to see and do, with miles of golden sandy beaches, numerous castles and boat trips to the famous Farne Islands all available nearby. Altogether a superb location for exploring Northumberland and its stunning Heritage Coastline.

View more holiday cottages in Alnwick

Please note we cannot accept check-ins on a Sunday.

This property offers the following short breaks:

  • Winter
  • Off-season
  • Last minute
  • Christmas