“We have been back from our break at Gull’s Rest for 2 weeks and have taken some time to reflect on our week away.”
While we did have a lovely week, we all agree that we would like to give some feedback directly to the owners of Gull’s Rest, and hear their response.
Firstly, the location of Gull’d Rest is perfect - there really is nothing quite like waking up to that beautiful sea view every morning, or sitting out on the patio with a cup of tea in the evening.
The house is spacious, airy and was very clean and welcoming when we arrived. There are, however, quite a few points that we found inconvenient, annoying and even disruptive enough to consider a return trip, and they are:
1) we pulled up on the drive to be greeted by the previous guests rubbish/recycling, and were then shocked to read in the information book that we were also expected to put these out for collection during the week. Putting out our own waste I feel would be acceptable, however I really feel like dealing with previous guests waste should be a job for paid staff. Please note - I myself ran a holiday let for many years and refuse collection day did not align with changeover day, so I paid a housekeeper to pop back to the house to do this job when I was not able to personally.
2) still on the subject of rubbish - there was not a food caddy or a recycling bin inside the house, which made it very difficult for us to sort though our waste and meant we were not able to recycle as effectively as we could have. There was also not even one spare bin bag for us to use throughout the week, which we felt was a bit mean.
3) the furniture was all very dated and shabby. The sofa in particular was very uncomfortable due to its age and obvious signs of use. If we were staying in a cheap Air BnB I could understand why these things hadn’t been updated, but for a £2000 a week holiday let this is just not acceptable.
4) some of the beds and mattresses urgently need replacing. They are clearly very old, stained and uncomfortable. Again, if this had been a cheap break away it would have been less of an issue, but I do feel that the price we paid should reflect the quality of the accommodation and in this respect it absolutely did not. My mother, in the very front room, found her bed comfortable and slept well, the rest of us did not have a single night of undisturbed sleep.
5) the master bedroom. This was my main issue and unfortunately the reason we left Gull’s Rest earlier than planned. The room is extremely bright, with only flimsy, see through blinds that do not block out any sunlight. This meant my toddler, who co-sleeps with me, was up at 4am daily. The room would benefit from decent blinds and, due to the location, blackout curtains. The room was also incredibly hot - there was a fan but this just blew warm air around. If there were adequate window coverings then the room temperature would have been a lot more manageable.
6) the high chair needs to be removed from the property urgently. It is very old and broken and my son had a nasty injury falling through the bottom, before we realised how unsafe it was.
7) the house is full of fake plants that are very dusty - we had to take most of them outside to shake the dust from them as they were making us sneeze - but aside from that they are again very old fashioned and unnecessary.
As I’ve mentioned above, I really do not feel that the quality of the furnishings, beds, children’s equipment etc are reflected in the price of Gull’s Rest and we would sadly not visit again, or recommend to friends. As very frequent UK staycationers we do have a good idea of what to expect for various prices, and Gull’s Rest has not been in keeping with that.
I did raise these issues with the property owner and have received no response.
Thank you so much for taking the time to share your thoughts after your stay at Gull’s Rest. We’re really sorry to hear that the property didn’t quite meet your expectations.
We do try to give a clear idea of the house through the photos on our website, so guests can make the best choice for their needs. Most visitors love the charm and location of Gull’s Rest and return year after year, but we understand that everyone’s tastes are different.
The owners were a little surprised not to hear from you during your stay, as they would have been more than happy to help with any concerns or make adjustments where possible.
With regards to the rubbish collection, unfortunately, local schedules don’t always match up with changeover days. It’s quite common in self-catering properties for guests to put out the waste, though we appreciate this can be inconvenient.
The leather sofas and mattresses were replaced fairly recently, but we know comfort is very personal and not everything suits everyone. We're really sorry to hear about the issue with the high chair—it will be checked straight away. We did notice that a child wasn’t listed on the booking and the chair wasn’t requested, but safety is always a priority.
Thanks again for your feedback—it’s always helpful to hear different perspectives, and we’re sorry your experience didn’t reflect what most guests enjoy about Gull’s Rest.
Best wishes Manor Cottages
Property Owner
