Bay Tree Cottage, Pickering

We were very surprised to read the previous visitors' negative and derogatory review - in our experience it is totally unfounded. Having stayed immediately after these people, we read their appreciative comments in the guest book which has been quoted by the owner in their response on Sykes website "First impressions last, this is a gorgeous wee cottage with everything one could wish for - the welcome tray, the bottle of bubbly, the biscuits. Thank you". This is obviously totally at odds with their on line extremely negative review. We found Bay Tree Cottage warm and welcoming. The heating was on when we arrived and we only had to put a match to the stove which had already been laid, plus additional logs provided. The log burner provides additional heat to the double front bedroom (which already has an efficient electric radiator), as heat rises up the open stair case and we were certainly very warm in bed. In total contrast to these previous visitors. Perhaps they didn't use the log burner, although offered free unlimited logs by the owner after they complained plus 24 hour heating! It seems the owners bent over backwards to please them! We certainly found the owners very helpful and pleasant and nothing was too much trouble. Our experience of Bay Tree Cottage was very positive - it is spotlessly clean, newly furnished and equipped and is in easy walking distance of all Pickering's amenities - shops, pubs and the N.Y. Moors Railway. An ideal cottage for a wonderful holiday. We would thoroughly recommend it and are pleased to give it a 5 star review along with all other visitors who booked with Sykes.

The first impression opening the front door, is it is the perfect little cottage, compact and bijoux. The decor is beautiful in that 'English cottage tourist style' muted sage greens, grey and magnolia. You notice the wood-burning stove, anticipating a cosy evening by the fire after a day out - on the hills or trains. There's the standard 6 logs and firelighters. A companion set assembled with the top upside down so the tools slide off as you look at them. (My husband re-assembled it for you. You're welcome.) It certainly looks the part. But it was noticeably cold. it was 3pm. It would get very much colder. Opening the door into the kitchen was like stepping into morgue - yes, I actually know how cold a morgue really is - again, pretty to look at but horribly cold. None of the radiators were on. Not in any of the rooms. I couldn't find a thermostat. There isn't one. Turns out the owners control it. From a distance. Using an app the owner said she was unfamiliar with. Clueless. It is NOT acceptable when you book a cottage - anywhere, not just through Sykes, when you find the cottage is bitterly cold and that THE OWNER HAS REMOTE CONTROL OF THE HEATING! AFTER I PHONED, THEY AGREED TO PUT IT ON 24/7 BUT DIDN'T. They gave us some more logs - (note in the info pack - when you use the 6 logs we supplied, go to Lidl and buy more) - but this DIDN'T heat the kitchen, bathroom nor the bedroom. They said the cottage was 18*. NO IT WASN'T. NOT IN ANY OF THE ROOMS WE WERE IN. My husband is used to the cold, to working out doors. He was 'chittering' ie, shivering. I had to sleep with my downy jacket on and the hood up because my head was so cold. When you said yes to putting the heating ON, it should at least actually be on hot enough to heat the rooms comfortably. My advice? DON'T BOOK IT. Sykes - you need to get on top of this. We've been your customer for a very long time. Not in the least bit impressed with how you handled my complaint. I left a neutral comment in the visitor book as the owners might be very new to the holiday letting market - we were the third guests - and everything has a learning curve, but now, wish I had left this one instead. Give this one a huge body swerve. Pickering has more to offer than this!