The Orchard, Northiam

Our first impression was the property was very dated in several areas and requires updating. The property could do with a good deep clean to remove cobwebs. The real positive was the pool area. Then to the negatives which require addressing as not recrtified after speaking to the owner, the main cooker kept tripping which made using it to cook on impossible, the dishwasher was not working, the tumble dryer broke. We did manage to use the barbecue several times to compensate but at the price we paid for the whole unit one would have expected better.

Other reviews had warned us the place was a bit run down so we expected that but even so for the price we would have hoped for soap and more than one toilet roll in each bathroom . We enjoyed the location and we enjoyed the local boating, the heritage railway and the castles. The pool at the house was also a big winner. We had an issue with a lack of glasses when we arrived but the owner sorted that out promptly, so a big plus there too.

Property suffers from general air of meanness. Decor and garden unkempt. I understand own towels for pool but no towels for bathrooms plus no soap, and virtually no supplies of dishwasher tablets only two for a faulty dishwasher, no more bin bags and a few extra loo rolls is just miserly. We had a happy holiday with children who particularly enjoyed the swimming pool, and dogs who were secure in the garden and paddock. But the first impressions of lack of welcome and supplies remained throughout our stay especially considering the price paid for the booking. If these are the low standards that Sykes Holiday Cottages promote, then I will not be booking with them again. Hilary, Dorset

This is a lovely house for a large party with plenty of space to get away from the crowd if wanted. After reading previous reviews we did take a few kitchen items, i.e. chopping board, foil baking trays for the oven and an adjustable oven shelf which did help when cooking. We were there during very hot weather and very much appreciated the pool and the ceiling fans in some of the bedrooms The inside and outside tables were large enough to accommodate our family of 10 which is important to us. We would highly recommend this property and feel that some of the photos don't really do it justice.

It is a lovely large house that is quirky in style but very comfortable some ... It is a lovely large house that is quirky in style but very comfortable some areas need a little bit of attention such as peeling wallpaper the kitchen is well equipped and perfect for a large group the pool is the best part of the house its warm and extremely clean we loved it the house was exceptionally clean and we really enjoyed our stay

This a truely wonderful property for a large group of friends andfamily. All the bedrooms are comfortable and many have ensuite. There is a comfortable lounge and large separate dining room where we had a lovely early Christmas dinner! The pool is lovely and warm even in December! The kitchen could do with a few more trays for the oven. We went a bought some foil ones and then we were set. Would recommend!

Swimming pool was great, the jazzucci water was never hotter than the pool, we knew before hand there would be no bubbles. Shame there was no heating when we arrived, but house did warm up quickly. The thermostat appeared to be uncalibrated. The plumbing needs some attention. However was a large house and easily catered for 11 of us with plenty of bathrooms. Only 1 shelf in the oven, made cooking for 11 tricky. Plenty of cutlery and crockery and cooking utensils. Better instructions on location on the website, we found it difficult to find in the dark. Shame check out was 9am. Good house for a big family with children.

We enjoyed a week with family, the house is big and plenty of space. Our family made good use of the heated pool and the dogs loved the safety of the paddock.The decor needs a little update and we struggled with keeping the floors clean due to the grass having just been cut and our 2 dogs in and out treading grass into the house as the Hoover didnt workcould do with a pair of scissors, extra chopping board, but these little things were minor. Thank you for allowing us to spend a week in your house.

We booked this for our family to celebrate my upcoming 70th birthday . It was brilliant the house was large and accommodated 11 of us including 4 kids. The swimming pool was lovely and the kids had a blast. We also had dogs and the surrounding area had good dog walks.

Dining room TV didn't work, pool not very warm , open trellis panels not very secure and had floating daddylonglegs and debris in pool. Steep depth drop in the pool not marked at all. Jacuzzi not working and were only told 3 days before occupation. Shower gel dispensers were empty. The back of the ice maker in the freezer is broken and ice tumbles out everywhere. Toilet paper not provided in all toilets and only one black plastic rubbish bag. There was one cracked wine glass left in the cupboard. General condition was shabby wallpaper and not cared for.

While 3 of the bedrooms are described as 'ensuite', the shower facilities are minute and not really suitable for someone a little on the large side or, as in our case, a 7 month pregnant lady. Cleaning supplies were almost not existent 2 dish washer tablets and 1 bin bag for a 3 night stay so make sure you take extra with only enough dishes to do one meal for 10. The description claims a private driveway suitable for 10 cars no mention of the bungalow at the back of the property which shares the driveway and we were asked to make sure that we did not block access to this. Apart from that, we had a really great family gathering of 10 plus 4 dogs. The pool was a huge success and made the stay very enjoyable.

We had an enjoyable weekend stay at this spacious property, which comfortably accommodated our large group. The seven bedrooms, including a sofa bed, provided plenty of space, and the indoor swimming pool was a big hit with the children. Its a great setting for families or groups looking to relax together. That said, there were a few areas that could be improved. One ensuite shower wasnt working, and in another bedroom, the fan and toilet had issues. We also noticed some spiderwebs in the kitchen, utility room, and living room, and one of the chairs in the living area was unstable. The swimming pool was clean on the first day, but the filtration system didnt seem to be working, so the water wasnt as clean by the second day. We arrived late and were surprised to find no hand wash provided, which made things a little inconvenient until we could go shopping the next day. While we were told to bring our own towels, this was quite a challenge for a group of our size, and providing at least a few essentials would have made a difference. One thing to flag is the checkin and checkout times. While we understand the need for a 5 PM checkin due to the size of the property, a 9 AM checkout felt a little too early especially while on holiday. An 11 AM checkout, like many similar places offer, would have made the departure less rushed. Overall, we had a lovely time and really appreciated the space, pool, and groupfriendly layout. With a bit more attention to maintenance and some added guest comforts, this could easily be a 5star stay

Property was great, swimming pool excellent, a few minor comments the owner might want to consider. Shower head in bathroom needed Toilet cistern in another bedroom not working properly Wine cooler not working Been a bit picky the ice machine on fridge not dispensing properly Entrance gate difficult to close if you have pets Also for a property of that size some extra bin liners and dishwasher tablets would be helpful Considering the above comments we had an excellent stay and thank the owner for allowing us to use it.

The property was advertised accurately , the house has a lot of space and a lovely pool. There were a couple of small things that werent working but nothing that impacted on us ie one shower said out of order but there were 3 others to use. We had a lovely weekend in the house, the pool was amazing and the owner friendly and helpful.

Swimming pool lovely but. no instructions on jacuzzi This is a good property but Needs lTLC wall paper peeling off in lots of downstairs rooms making the property look a bit shabby Shower not working in one room No curtain on one bedroom window Drinks fridge not working and kitchen units broken or damaged. Generally this is in a lovely location and could be a fabulous rental

We knew it was a property that needed some love but my goodness, it's actually just run down. It was like fawlty towers! A friend already asked me but we cannot recommend. The pool is the only drawing point, and I think you know that! Not enough for 12 people to be happy with.

Very comfortable, swimming pool was great for the kids

Our second visit to this property and we absolutely love it. Pool is amazing. Connected hot tub doesn't work though. Plenty of room for dining and large tv to chill and watch films. Seating area is comfortable. We will be booking again next year.

We had a really lovely weekend. Steve, the owner, has thought of everything. It really is the perfect house for a group with a mixture of ages. Thank you very much!!

Property was great for parents, children and grandchildren. Pool was a great hit with all. Property was well equipped in the kitchen, never running out of essentials. Bedrooms were comfortable and clean. Plenty of bathroom space. Loved being able to all sit around the dining table for meals. Would recommend for a great family get together.

The Sofa bed in the downstairs lounge was not up to scratch, compared to the rest of the sleeping facilities, the mattress very poor. The dishwasher needed a bit of attention as the top tray seemed to derail making it difficult to load and unload.

The property was very clean. There were no pet hairs. Unfortunately, the ziplink bed arrangement in one room wasn't available as per the listing but we were able to work around that. Beds were comfortable. The pool was great, very good indeed, although the edge trim was becoming detached in a couple of places. General decor is tired in places and the furniture is unusual! However, a very enjoyable weekend. 9.00am is an unusually early leaving time so we went to Peasmarsh for a really good breakfast after leaving.

Lovely property in a good location on the main A28 so easy to get out and about. Despite the busy road, it was quiet on the inside of the house. The swimming pool was a big plus especially given the poor winter weather. However, it is a shame the Hot tub was not functioning disconnected by the owner due to previous abuses and likewise, the poolside shower was also disconnected due to similar abuses in the past. The kithen utilities all worked well though, so it was possible to cook lots of yummy dishes using the excellent Sussex produce. The rooms were a very good size and the beds were very comfortable. There was some difficulty with one of the showers which we have alerted the owner about, but everything else worked well. The owner was very helpful and responsive about very minor issues encountered with some of the fittings. The only other niggling point was the lack of towels. Not a major problem but just had to remember to bring our own which was unsual. All in all, a very pleasant stay in a very pleasant part of the country. Thank you Steve.

Lovely, comfy property with everything you could need and a secure garden for our dog to roam. The swimming pool is amazing! Would highly recommend.

Fantastic property and very helpful owner. All the facilities were fantastic and the kids especially liked the indoor pool !!! Kitchen was well stocked with plates and glasses etc and plenty of room for our family including the 2 dogs !! Will definitely be booking again and have already recommended to others