The Barton Granary and Brimbles

We were a large party of two families spending a nice summer break in both Brimbles and the Granary after our Covid 19 lockdown. We had a great time out in the middle of nowhere and letting our hair down after the unprecedented events this year. Just a few issues to comment on. Both properties need a bit of TLC, with broken oven, leaking shower, and roofs, broken garden umbrella, tired garden furniture, mouse droppings and a swimming pool that had scum lines, strong chlorine and cloudy. Hosts need to brush up on their customer service as well as we paid a lot for this holiday which was booked over 18 months ago so we expected better. However the area is beautiful and the scenery lovely. The pig shed is a great place to celebrate late into the evening with all facilities. Its a great place to let your hair down and make lots of noise!

We booked the Brimbles Cottage for a long weekend away with just the family - 2 Seniors, 4 adults, a 3 year old and a 1 year old. Luckily we are one household/support bubble so Anne and Phil were willing to accommodate us, especially during these uncertain times, it was VERY appreciated. Upon arrival at the cottage, we were welcomed with a warming welcome pack that consisted of antibacterial cleansers and cleaning products, cloths, teabags, sugar and coffee. Alongside it was a box of delicious brownies that went well with a cup of tea. It was a lovely welcome, specially after a long drive from London! No issue with customer service there! Touring the cottage, we were taken back by the premises. The kitchen was very clean well stocked and everything and every room looked tidy and sanitised. There were plenty information regarding Covid and guidelines. Everything was adhered to the government guidelines which was very reassuring. There was tourist leaflets left out for us to read. The beds looked crisp and freshly washed ironed. The living room is a great size! Perfect for family bonding. We had no issues with leaks, or other maintenance issues. The indoor swimming pool was the main bonus of our getaway. We all loved having our own private pool. Water was perfectly warm, water maintained well. We spent hours there each day and it was worth it. Few things that would make it better is having a rail by the steps too as it can get abit slippery - specially with young children in tow, also if the closing time was moved to a later time so that parents could enjoy a night swim while the kids sleep :-) just an opinion! The outdoor space was beautifully breath taking, overseeing the hills and greenery spaces that London city doesn't offer. Its definitely a must to visit this place if you just want to get away from the hustle and bustle of polluted city life with close friends and family. The pigshed had all the amenities we needed to have a small fireplace outside in the evening night. The owners' house is opposite the Brimbles Cottage, so it was reassuring to know that they were close by should anything happen or if needed. Understandably they have a pack of dogs overseeing the property, that would say hello when you walk past to the pigshed or playground, but a labrador and a dausmaud weren't as frightening as depicted from a previous review. After an hour of settling in, we were greeted by an unexpected guest- the young toddlers called her Betty the Hen. She would come and nestle outside the door, enjoying our company. The children adored her and longed to play with her each day. We were greeted by Phil- he welcomed us all and made sure we had everything we needed, comfortable and told us to enjoy the staycation while the sun was around for the few days we were there. We also met Anne who greeted us the following day. Both Anne and Phil were so welcoming, they made us feel at home and were SO friendly and accommodating. They even dropped a bag off with fresh picked apples from their orchard. In regards to the whole cottage, the customer service and the holiday overall, we found no downfalls to staying here. We would definitely want to come back! Only notes I'd leave is be prepared to bulk buy everything you need for food as grocery shops are approx 30 mins away and the roads are mainly fitted to 1 car. It was difficult when another car coming the opposite way wanted to bypass as we had to reverse a lengthy road into a tiny bay to let traffic through. Addionally this is more a of place where you would want to have peaceful break from the city with friends/family. I wouldn't really recommend very large groups such as hen/stag do if you plan to be noisy and play really loud music. Also, if you have young babies or toddlers running around, just be more careful as they may slip on the wooden stairs. We had to move a few side tables to act as a stair gate so that my one year old would not climb down them. Other than that, it was a really restful weekend break! And I'd love to book again one day!

Arriving at Brimbles we where told the oven was broken (and new glass was on order) so a replacement oven was placed on the kitchen side for us to use, great start. Phil was the one person we met as Anne had told our (booker) she would only contact them via phone and not talk to anyone else, first sign of great customer service. I walked into our room nearly slipping on one of three rugs on the floor so they went straight under the bed, walked in to the en-suite and was met by a toilet seat that I had to screw back on but still wasn't tight enough, black mold in the shower and a stain on the wall where a pipe is leaking from the otherside of the wall but the owners we're aware. The shower upstairs when it's used no matter how much they say you need to shut the door it still leaks and still drips through the celling and makes the floor very slippery but when told they knew about it! In the kitchen by the pool door is a pile of old paint that's flaked off with some kind of mold growing from a leak in the pool plant room which was a surprise to the owners when pointed out. The swimming pool was lovely and warm but it's a shame that there is a problem with the pool plant and we were told before our stay that it had been flooded but was clean and clear ISH by the time we would be there, the scum line round the pool is about an inch and a half tall but is easily wiped off with some effort! The pool was very cloudy with no real working circulation only two working jets... sometimes and with paint flaking in to the pool from the wall was a little concern. Our stay was plagued by the constant feel of being watched wherever you go or listened to from behind the pool door in the morning and evening. Meeting with our family from the Granary in the pigshed of an evening you have to walk past the owners house in which two to three dogs will run at you barking, and at one point had scared one of the kids so much they refused to walk passed! On a few mornings we would be greeted by a tx reminding us that if any cigarette butts where found our deposit with be taken, or any other info they want us to known like pool engineers when they are ment to turn up but didn't. We never felt welcome at all more of an inconvenience if anything. It was said that the place would be deep cleaned before and after us due to C-19 in which it wasn't, dirty cups and glasses, socks from previous holiday maker, old spiderwebs in every draw or cupboards, it was left cleaner when we left then when we arrived. Our last full day was an event in itself half our family went out for the day and the other half stayed at the Granary as they where going out to dinner that evening. It started to rain heavy and it poured thought the roof and window frames into the house flooding out bed covers, mattress and kids clothing, everyone who was left started the frantic clean up, they informed the owners who came to have a look but not help the clean up they then went to the Brimbles to check and found the pool had been flooded and so was our kitchen, our family at the Granary spent the next 2+ hours cleaning and mopping up missing their table appointment for dinner, the owners where told this and to which they replied "oh well!", No helping them out with needing food for the kids or adults but they did get shouted at for us leaving the windows open in the living room (first floor) at Brimbles. Thinking this was all over a member of our family was looking though Facebook and came across a status on the official Granary page showing the pool damage and comments below stating and I quote "hope your horrible visitors have gone running home" and another "so sorry for you, has it washed your guests out 😉" so to say that we have been slagged off behind our back on social media is an understatement then the WIFI was cut off in both houses, yes we can be loud and like to enjoy ourselves but isn't that what this holiday home is advatised for "Group bookings of 20 or more hen/stag/large groups" so please make clear what you want in a booking. Not recommended and needs TLC

Arriving at Brimbles we where told the oven was broken (and new glass was on order) so a replacement oven was placed on the kitchen side for us to use, great start. Phil was the one person we met as Anne had told our (booker) she would only contact them via phone and not talk to anyone else, first sign of great customer service. I walked into our room nearly slipping on one of three rugs on the floor so they went straight under the bed, walked in to the en-suite and was met by a toilet seat that I had to screw back on but still wasn't tight enough, black mold in the shower and a stain on the wall where a pipe is leaking from the otherside of the wall but the owners we're aware. The shower upstairs when it's used no matter how much they say you need to shut the door it still leaks and still drips through the celling and makes the floor very slippery but when told they knew about it! In the kitchen by the pool door is a pile of old paint that's flaked off with some kind of mold growing from a leak in the pool plant room which was a surprise to the owners when pointed out. The swimming pool was lovely and warm but it's a shame that there is a problem with the pool plant and we were told before our stay that it had been flooded but was clean and clear ISH by the time we would be there, the scum line round the pool is about an inch and a half tall but is easily wiped off with some effort! The pool was very cloudy with no real working circulation only two working jets... sometimes and with paint flaking in to the pool from the wall was a little concern. Our stay was plagued by the constant feel of being watched wherever you go or listened to from behind the pool door in the morning and evening. Meeting with our family from the Granary in the pigshed of an evening you have to walk past the owners house in which two to three dogs will run at you barking, and at one point had scared one of the kids so much they refused to walk passed! On a few mornings we would be greeted by a tx reminding us that if any cigarette butts where found our deposit with be taken, or any other info they want us to known like pool engineers when they are ment to turn up but didn't. We never felt welcome at all more of an inconvenience if anything. It was said that the place would be deep cleaned before and after us due to C-19 in which it wasn't, dirty cups and glasses, socks from previous holiday maker, old spiderwebs in every draw or cupboards, it was left cleaner when we left then when we arrived. Our last full day was an event in itself half our family went out for the day and the other half stayed at the Granary as they where going out to dinner that evening. It started to rain heavy and it poured thought the roof and window frames into the house flooding out bed covers, mattress and kids clothing, everyone who was left started the frantic clean up, they informed the owners who came to have a look but not help the clean up they then went to the Brimbles to check and found the pool had been flooded and so was our kitchen, our family at the Granary spent the next 2+ hours cleaning and mopping up missing their table appointment for dinner, the owners where told this and to which they replied "oh well!", No helping them out with needing food for the kids or adults but they did get shouted at for us leaving the windows open in the living room (first floor) at Brimbles. Thinking this was all over a member of our family was looking though Facebook and came across a status on the official Granary page showing the pool damage and comments below stating and I quote "hope your horrible visitors have gone running home" and "so sorry for you, has it washed your guests out 😉" so to say that we have been slagged off behind our back on social media is an understatement then the WIFI was cut off in both houses, yes we can be loud and like to enjoy ourselves but isn't that what this holiday home is advatised for "Group bookings of 20 or more hen/stag/large groups" so please make clear what you want in a booking. Not recommended and needs a lot of TLC!

We've just returned from Christmas at The Brimbles and we had a fabulous time. There were 8 adults, a 12 year old, 10 year old and 2 year old and we felt like we had so much space. The kitchen is very well equipped and the table easily sat us all, even with all of the Christmas trimmings in serving dishes. The lounge has 4 large sofas and a large coffee table which allowed us to play many board games! The whole barn is decorated to a very high standard and was toasty-warm! Little extras, such as tea, coffee, sugar and toilet rolls on arrival, plus in our case a real Christmas tree, mince pies, biscuits and Christmas pudding really show what thoughtful hosts Phil and Anne are. The swimming pool is an added bonus that the children really enjoyed. I'd thoroughly recommend staying at The Brimbles. 5 stars x