“Sadly we struggled to enjoy our stay at Worthy House.”
It very much felt that the owners were less interested in the comfort and enjoyment of our stay, and more interested in us helping to financially support their holiday home. There were really dark water stains on many of the carpets where radiators had leaked, one thin pillow per bed in three of the bedrooms (requested more but owners refused), tiny towels which barely covered an adult let alone any larger persons (again, owners refused request for larger towels). Chipped and dirty paint, filthy cushions on the dining room chairs, cobwebs and dog hair galore, an Aga which heated the kitchen to an uncomfortable level yet was unable to retain internal heat and took years to cook bacon. The downstairs seal on the shower was loose, the fridge small and too warm and the downstairs WC sink was loose and the loo had a broken seat. Oh, and we had no gas for the BBQ until half way through our stay.
John Bray were responsive and understanding but we felt their hands were tied by the owners' instructions. We have been visiting the area for more than 20 years and we felt ripped off and unvalued as 'customers' by Worthy House. I would not recommend a visit here, but I would thank JB for their efforts in trying to improve our stay. Their staff were pleasant and polite. We are not the type to complain normally but we felt that Worthy House was not keeping up with their side of the transactional bargain per se.
FROM THE OWNER : thank you for your honest feedback. We would like to stress that we have always tried to respond to feedback in a constructive way. For example, last year we purchased an additional fridge which is situated in the laundry, which we hope you found useful. In addition, we spent significant sums last year on re-landscaping the back garden to offer additional parking, more privacy, and an attractive place to sit in the sun and in the evening. We also spent a substantial sum to carefully sand and refurbish the wooden floor in the sitting/dining rooms - we hope you agree it looks lovely.
We know that there are unfortunately a few water stains on the sisal floor, which was replaced only three years ago. We also had the entire house re-painted inside and outside in that same year. Sisal is, however, a forgiving floor covering for the sand which is often brought in by ourselves and our guests.
We don't understand why there were fewer than two pillows per berth, as we have always ensured that we had sufficient. However, we have bought an additional supply of new pillows in case any have disappeared. For that matter, we have also bought 20 brand new large white bath sheet towels in light of recent comments, and these should have been supplied to guests by now. And there are also now two sets of new dining chair cushions to replace the ones that you found defective.
The Aga is quite old and occasionally temperamental now, having been carefully maintained by us for 21 years and counting. As with all Agas, the oven temperatures vary if the lids are left open for any length of time. Therefore we suggest that hob cooking is best done on the four electric hobs also supplied in the kitchen, and indeed things like roast potatoes or Yorkshire pudding are better in the full size electric oven, where higher temperatures are more easily retained.
We ask John Bray every year to clean the house to the highest possible standard, including a full spring clean. What has been our much loved family home these last 21 years inevitably has signs that it is a home, rather than an anonymous hotel. In light of recent comments, we will empty all drawers and cupboards that have some of our things that we're willing to share with our guests. We will also take down family photographs and replace with generic art if that is what our guests now prefer.
As previously said, thank you for your honest feedback. It is very much noted, and has already been acted on. We have invested every year to make it a clean and comfortable house, and will continue to do so.
Property Owner
