Mallards

Reviews (43)

• Heather

  In addition we had two other issues, one extremely serious. The first (which now pales into insignificance in view of the subsequent one) is that the feature bath cannot be used. The hot water runs out before the bath is even a quarter full. I texted the owner via the cleaner (contact number I had been given) to ask if there was a heater for the water as there wasn’t enough for a bath. The owner simply responded that the water was on 24/7! We could not therefore use the bath during our stay. The main issue however is that the cottage heating system does not work. On arrival at the cottage for a winter break my daughter and I found it to be without working heating. It was freezing cold and everything felt damp. The heaters are night storage so I adjusted the dials (where possible as they were old / broken / jammed) and hoped that they would heat up overnight. The whole cottage was icy cold. There was one portable heater downstairs so we carried it upstairs and put it in one of the bedrooms which we then had to share. It was so cold that we used the duvet from the second bedroom as well and “slept” in our clothes. In the morning despite having all night to heat up the heaters in the bedroom were still barely warm and the one downstairs was stone cold. I contacted the owner via the cleaner and asked him to supply a couple of portable heaters. He didn’t but said he would call the electrician. The electrician didn’t arrive that day so the cottage remained freeing and once again my daughter and I had to sleep in our clothes. I contacted the owner the next day and again asked for a couple of portable heaters (hardly asking for the world) and he just kept promising an electrician. On the third day after more repeated promises of an electrician I contacted Sykes who said they would contact the owner. The email response I then had from them was that the owner “would NOT be providing portable heaters as there was an open fire to heat the cottage and the owner suggested we went and bought logs!” We were already using the fire and had bought bags of coal and logs but alone it was not enough to heat the whole of the downstairs let alone the upstairs. The attitude of the owner was staggering. I cannot stress enough how cold and awful the cottage was. We were so miserable and the owner point blank refused to do anything to heat the cottage. On the fourth day I asked Sykes for a cottage transfer or said we would have to leave. Sykes then contacted the owner again and subsequently although we were out we were told maintenance had attended and turned the heating up “as far as they dared”. Being night storage heaters we knew we would still not have heat that night but hoped they would be hot the next day. So we had yet another night sharing a room with one portable heater and sleeping in our clothes. It was so cold it felt as if we had kept all the windows wide open overnight! The next day the heating was still not working. Unable to face another freezing cold night I went to B & Q and ordered two heaters myself. When they arrived the next day we collected them and local residents on seeing us struggling to carry them into the cottage questioned what we were doing. I was close to tears and they were so lovely, helped us and also went and sorted out their own portable heaters for us to borrow. They too were horrified at how cold the cottage was and at the owner’s refusal to help us. Sykes response was that should we wish to pursue this we will have to pursue the owner direct via the smalls claim court. I am in the process of doing just that!

• Michelle

  In the most wonderful spot in a lovely village with everything you could possibly need. I always look forward to staying and never want to leave. A special thank you as always to Claire and the team for making Mallards feel like home. I will of course be coming back soon!

• Darshini

  From the moment we arrived, we knew we were in for a memorable stay. First and foremost, the location couldn't have been better. Nestled in a quaint seaside town, the cottage offered a fantastic blend of convenience and charm. It was just a stone's throw away from the beach, which made it incredibly easy to enjoy leisurely strolls along the shoreline, build sandcastles with the kids. Only drawback was that the beach wasn't open to dogs during the non-winter months. What impressed us right away was the cleanliness and tidiness of the cottage. The attention to detail was evident throughout the property. The well-kept interiors and the cozy furnishings created a warm and inviting atmosphere that made us feel right at home. One of the highlights for our family was the convenience factor. Mallards Cottage is not only close to the beach but also within walking distance to a small shopping mart and several charming pubs. This made it effortless for us to stock up on essentials and indulge in some local cuisine without the need for extensive travel. Speaking of indulgence, a heartfelt thank you is in order for the delightful welcome pack of scones, clotted cream, and jam that greeted us upon arrival. It was a thoughtful touch that instantly made us feel welcome and added an extra layer of comfort to our stay. We stayed at Mallards Cottage as a family of two adults, two kids, and two dogs, and it accommodated us perfectly. The fenced patio provided a safe and secure space for our furry friends to play, and the children had a blast exploring the nearby beach and its treasures. Mallards Cottage offered us a much-needed break from the hustle and bustle of daily life and allowed us to unwind and connect as a family. We left with cherished memories and a strong desire to return in the future.