Ickle Pickle Cottage

Bit depressing needs a good update, double bed needs update to king and a wardrobe, the facilities and condition help with the overall enjoyment of your stay , dirty back alley with bins I do appreciate some things like this need a combined effort from other residents , only stayed 2 nights wanted to get home to some comfort .

Ickle Pickle is an unusual cottage of character.

For me its Super convenient location was paramount and I was truly happy with that. It’s quaintly decorated, keeps you fit with its 3 floors and provides all you really need. I stayed for almost 28 days and the only real improvement I would like to see, would be a bathroom upgrade, with improved hot water pressure, but that’s just me. And yes I would visit again.

Radiator in bedroom was not working at all.

Fine once I bled it. A radiator key left in the property would be a good idea as it is up on the second floor.

Center of town location perfect.

Will definitely return, fab value for money

Most disappointing and not up to Sykes usual standard.

Access appalling, squeezing along a narrow alley between the wall and industrial dustbins. The cottage is in need of a thorough clean and update. It smells of damp from the wet kitchen wall. Poorly equipped kitchen, oven sticky, cupboards not clean, stair rail to the first floor is loose, coat hooks hanging off the wall, lounge suite and blankets very shabby. Not confident about using Sykes again.

Just one thing is the bedroom radiator isn't working other than that all was lovely and will definitely stay again beautiful location exactly what was needed for a weekend away to relax

What a great little place.

Loved it. Chinese across the road was excellent. Will definitely be using this place again

The property seems to attract very mixed reviews.

We thought it was fine - some of the concerns are things the owners can't do anything about, like water pressure (which wasn't too bad anyway). I'd say though that it isn't a four tick property; it's a three at most. It's also very snug, without much storage space and the kitchen isn't well furnished if you want to cook from scratch. All that said, for the price it was fine and it is very central.

We were concerned about a previous review before we got there, but we’re pleased to find a nice, comfortable and well maintained property which is ideally located for Thirsk and surrounding area, lovely place.

We left a day early, the cottage is dire and not fit to be on Sykes website, we have holidayed through you for years but never been this disappointed.

I have left the owner two pages of comments plus a reassurance that I am not seeking any kind of refund. Everything seems to have been done on a shoe string. Highlights, or perhaps lowlights included the kitchen window blind falling off the wall, as the bracket screws pulled out and the bathroom shower rail collapsing, being press fit and not fixed to the walls, worst of all the water pressure is so low that if you have the heating on the shower will not run and if you flush the toilet the taps will not run. I have actually photographed the list I left for the owners plus the shower rail and the window blind fixing and am happy to provide these to you. Starting outside and outside the control of the owners is the access, (I have photos of this as well), the alley is uneven, partly cobbled and obstructed with the wheelie bins of residents, it's not well lit either; I recognise that the owners cannot control this but bookers should be aware of the risk of tripping over uneven surfaces or stumbling into an uncovered drain. There is only 1 door key, when loading or unloading a car the door must be locked between each load to/from the boot. The bedroom radiator is inadequate for the size of room, as is the one in the lounge, (the bedroom one needed bleeding as well). There were no wardrobes or cupboards in the bedroom except bedside tables/drawers; there was merely a metal rail for hanging clothes, like market stall rail. There were no tv or cooker/oven or boiler instructions. The boiler had a switch unit which turned but did not turn water or heating on/off, there was no room thermostat anywhere to control overall temperature. With the oven we finally discovered that it would not work unless the timer was set or was turned to the "hand" position although the owners notes suggested this dial need not be touched. Not everybody has the same type of cooker/oven, the same type of boiler or the same tv package, instructions are essential. The lounge was dirty with food crumbes on the settee covers, the floor and dirty glass ring marks on the table. The cooker similarly seemed not have been cleaned, the rack inside the oven was crusted with food residue and the limited cooking pans and untensils that there were did not seem to be properly cleaned. There is no freezer, ok, but there was no freezer compartment in the fridge either. No chopping or cutting board ....there was a shortage of plates and cutlery, overall the impression was that the visitor was expected to eat out, or order in but not to cook for themselves, which we always do. The dining table, in the kitchen, was high level with bar stool type seats, ok for the young and able bodied but not for anyone older or with any kind of mobility problem. There was no bath mat and only 1 tea towel, no hand towel in the kitche/diner but that's not unusual. As I said at the beginning there is a serious problem with water pressure, at least that's what it seems like without a proper investigation, water can go from hot to cold or full on to a dribble depending what other water usage is taking place at the time. The kitchen blind falling off was just because it was a cheap one fixed with inadequate screws. One bannister is coming loose and there is a door missing from half way up the stairs, you can see where the hinges were. In fairness, it should be a lovely location just off the Market Square car park but access is poor and the cottage itself a mass of problems. I can appreciate that without actually staying in it, not all these will be apparent but there were just so many issues and cleanliness should never be an issue. I'm sorry to submit this but I don't want others to be as disappointed as we were, as I say we left a day early. The text on the web really ought to address the access difficulty, the table height, the fact that the bathroom is off the kitchen on the ground floor whilst the bedoom is on the second, although it does have a cramped en-suite toilet.

Great location for the middle of Thirsk.

2 minute walk to the main square. No real issues, water pressure for the shower could do with sorting, little more than trickle. The alley to access was an issue when full of bins. Shame about the litter just thrown on the floor.

There was no hot water for the shower.

Hot water was really limited and we could not get the heating to work. It is the first property on shows catalogue that was very disappointed to us. I would recommend that you take it off your brochure as it lets you down.

Worst place I have ever stayed,had to negotiate rubbish bins and rubbish to get in and out.

Nothing like advertised wallpaper loose from damp dirty pans and cutlery en suite so small sink plunger didn't work hand towel hung over pipe over toilet brush oven didn't work properly water slow running to take shower no mirror in bathroom. Welcome pack a joke. Blind in kitchen kept rolling down. Hand rail up first flight of stairs loose and unstable.I could go on .Only stayed 3nights instead of 7 paid for had to find alternative .accommodation. Only good thing I can say is bed clothes clean and tv worked.Have complained to Sykes who obviously haven't checked this place. Had to give it 1 star as wouldn't let me put 0.

Had a lovely stay - decor is really nice - tastful and comfortable.

. It was clean but in my opinion could have been cleaner - a few cobwebs around. It was very nice to find tea coffee etc supplied on arrival. Its very well placed for town centre but still quiet. Very close to lovely dog walking areas. I do think the parking situation should be made clearer as parking in the car park for the week works out expensive. But I would recommend it all the same. Fab area to visit.

I absolutely loved this cottage, it’s quirky and comfortable, me and my dog had an amazing stay here and we have booked again to stay here later on in the year and again next year.

I had read the other reviews before I stayed here and I think some of the remarks are valid, there were some dust webs but other than that the cleanliness of the property was excellent. The rest were unfair, it’s a lovely cosy cottage that served us well for the week. I have one negative comment, the cups they provided were not big enough but all I will do is bring a bigger cup with next time I stay here. This will be a regular holiday home for me and my dog. Loved it

very clean and comfortable every thing you need is in the cottage.

big plus that dogs are welcome that made it for us. and you are very central to most places.

Lovely little cottage in an ideal central setting.

Warm and welcoming. Very comfortable and good facilities for those wishing to cater for themselves.

Enjoyed our stay but could do with a hair dryer, in my experience most places now have theses in the property so we didn’t bring one with us and a security light, coming back in the dark it’s very hard to see with the path being uneven can easily trip.

On entry very cold not at all welcoming.

Shabby, dirty in some areas, wholes in the wall. Sorry can’t this particular cottage. Came home early from my break.

Excellent lovely cottage great location

It was very quiet very handy for all shops very cosy

Well I have to start with being honest, I booked this stay without reading the feedback (unlike me) - and after reading the negative reviews I was extremely concerned- especially as this was a Christmas break….

well I shouldn’t have worried at all! The whole experience was an amazing one, from the fantastic location- right on the doorstep of the town centre, pubs, restaurants and shops galore, to the property itself with all of the little touches the owners have so thoughtfully put in place- the heating on to warm through for our arrival, the toiletries, cleaning products and staple cupboard items, the oven was so clean it looked brand new, the bedding and towels smelt delightful and the cleaning was absolutely 10/10. The extra treats of having a beautiful Christmas tree and crackers left were so thoughtful, and the handover folder with all of the useful information and all of the extras- books, games, full smart TV access, Wi-Fi access, dog accessories, maps etc just added to an already lovely stay. To say that this is a dog friendly property (we have two) is amazing- there was no trace of other dogs or lingering smells it was immaculate- and to top it off everywhere we visited was so dog friendly too. We had the perfect Christmas and it was largely down to all of the thoughtful extra touches put in place, it was an absolute pleasure to stay here and I would have no hesitation in recommending you along with planing a return trip :-)

Positives Well located for town.

Takes 2 dogs - rare. Near paid parking. Great TV and streaming. Good VFM in November . Quiet. Negatives Bath fine but shower impossible to use. Needs renewing. Situated in a back alley that is unlit. The decorative finish in certain parts of the house need improving to justify the pricing in the peak months.

Great little property would definitely stay again

When I booked this cottage I did so because I liked the sound of its name and it’s description, and thought it seemed a very fair price for what it provided, and for it’s very central position in the town.

I then read the five reviews already on the Sykes site afterwards and, encountering only one totally positive one, began to wonder about my choice. I needn’t have worried. We found the cottage to be lovely, perfectly clean, comfortable and exactly as described in the write up. It is small, but the description makes this clear, and it certainly did not feel ‘claustrophobically small’ as described by one person. It was perfectly big enough for us and our dog for the 4 nights we stayed there. I am not sure how the person complaining of no fan or window in the bathroom expected either to be fitted, as it is a very old ‘back to back’ style cottage, with just one door to the outside, which is part of its charm. Short of drilling through to the neighbours behind, such things are impossible in a property like this. We did not find any of this to be a problem, we simply opened the kitchen window and left the bathroom door ajar for a while after using the shower. And yes, the shower is a bit ‘quirky’, they often are in old properties, but usable with a bit of patience. And if you don’t like it, there is the bath instead. With regard to some of the other complaints, I don’t need a large mirror or an ironing board on holiday, and the so called ‘basic facilities’ provided were quite adequate for me. The centre of Thirsk is virtually on the doorstep, a few footsteps away down the little alley, where you can go and get everything if you feel you need it. And my response to the person who complained that not everyone who visits Thirsk has a dog is this. This cottage is advertised as dog friendly, so it is going to get dogs in it. It is one of the reasons why I booked it, because I have a dog that goes wherever I go. There are many more cottages available that do not allow dogs, compared to those that do. If you haven’t got, or don’t take your dog with you, then book one of those, after all, you have a much bigger choice than me. We all, including the dog, thoroughly enjoyed our short stay at Ickle Pickle Cottage, and would happily book it again, and suggest it as an option to others in a similar position to ourselves.

Very disappointed.

The property is claustrophobically tiny with very basic facilties, badly finished with peeling paintwork - reminiscent of cheap nasty student accomodation in the1980s let out by greedy landlords. The standard of cleanliness was disgusting - for example the pug hole in the bath was full of matted hair. The shower is a joke. No extractor fan or window in the bathroom. En suite so tiny you can barely close the door and sit on the loo. Nowhere in the bedroom to plug in a hairdryer. Grubby sofa in the living room. The place needs cleaning properly. Its not good enough to change the bedding, hoover round and wipe the kitchen down between guests. The pub across the road has live bands playing which we were able to 'enjoy' from the sitting room. If you want to relax in comfortable clean surroundings avoid this place like the plague.

Great little place to stay with our dogs.

In a good location. We had a great time and managed to explore lots of Yorkshire from there.

On arrival struggled to get the fridge and hot water on as the bread board had been placed over the electric switch.

Tried to phone for assistance but no reply. The cleanliness of the property could be improved eg cupboards and draws in the kitchen. Also sinks upstairs and down. Didn’t do any cooking in the property so oven and hob not used. The 3 pairs of mens socks still in the bedroom draw. Nice carpets, comfy bed, nice clean bedding.

General level of cleanliness is very poor.

Kitchen surfaces, cooker hood, sink, cutlery, mugs and fridge dirty or stained. Scouring sponge in kitchen was disgusting. All surfaces in house dirty and cobwebs around the house. Mirrors not clean and glass top table in living room not clean or been hovered out around edges. No ironing board in house. No decent mirror at a decent height. Sink and taps in upstairs toilet not been cleaned or wiped. Had to bend down when using the shower. Previous visitors, three pairs of mens socks left in bedroom drawers. Do not recommend staying here.

The property was in an ideal location about a 30 second walk to the centre.

The property itself was not as clean as it should have been, we had to hunt for the instructions on how the cooker worked, there was no note as to which bin belonged to the property and if there was any recycling. If allowing dogs in the property make sure it’s cleaned properly as not every couple wanting to stay in Thirsk has dogs.