Toad Hall Cottages Reviews 235

Millstream , Colyton - had a fantastic week in this wonderful one level accommodation. This is our 3rd visit and It has all items , homely feel ,you need , upgraded Smart TV with access to Prime. The patio area is a sun trap and so quiet , with the occasional sound from the adjacent camping area. Walking distance to Seaton tram , town for 2 pubs with fabulous food & small shop / supermarket. Couple of coffee venues & tea shop , butcher’s . Ideally located to either coast .

We found Bella Nites very well positioned for exploring Lyme and the surrounding area. The arrival welcome package was much appreciated and provided us with a well-earned cuppa after our long journey. However, we were somewhat disappointed with the overall look of the bungalow, compared to the lovely photographs on the website. Sadly, there were dead flies and cobwebs in the conservatory; dead and dying house plants both inside the property and out; a kitchen window that wouldn't open; bath towels that had seen better days (no hand towels were provided) and a garden that could have done with some weeding and general tidying. Additionally, the property has a Residential Care Home directly behind the rear garden which we were not aware of, where lights are left on all night and there is a noisy air-con operating for most of the day. Also, unfortunately, at the time of our stay, the Home were having their roof replaced, which spoiled outside breakfasts and sunbathing - there is also little privacy from an alleyway along one side of the garden due to shoulder height fences. It's a great shame because we were really looking forward to sitting out on the patio, as we don't have a garden at home. On the positive side, the kitchen was spacious and well equipped; the lounge was cosy with warm throws provided for the cooler evenings, which was a nice touch, and bathroom is equipped with a nice powerful walk-in shower. In the end we made the most of things and enjoyed our stay, but overall, due to the problems mentioned above, didn't feel it was particularly good value for money. Some definite TLC is needed at this property to make it a tidy, bright and high-end coastal property.

The flat seascape in Charmouth was excellent in every way clean.Very comfortable amazing views out off every window. The hosts helped us in every way .Would highly recommend it. Also Toad Hall Cottage.

Toad Hall Cottages is a very dodgy company! I recently stayed at a house in Torcross (Toorak). The house it self is very nice. There were issues with something’s which I listed in my review that Toad Hall asked for. The 3 star review was taken down after a couple of hours. I spoke to a lady at the office who informed me the review was being looked into. Maybe they thought I was Lying! Two weeks later still nothing.
Can only be interested in 5 star reviews & not the Truth.
I will not use again.

We recently booked Homelands in Dittisham through Toad Hall Cottages. They had failed to mention there is a large construction project opposite, which involved large lorries blocking the turning points for our drive and lots of loud shouting from the workers, even before 8am.
When we flagged it up, Toad Hall claimed to be unaware of the activity, even though it had clearly been going on for some time. There was no offer of compensation, as there should have been. Holidays are supposed to be a time to recharge and relax, especially when you work hard the rest of the year. They also didn't give us the opportunity to review the property, which was very calculating. I wouldn't use them again, when there are so many other better cottage rental companies around.

We have just returned from a fantastic family holiday at The Old Cider Press in Colyford, booked through Toad Hall Cottages. The accommodation was excellent. Spotlessly clean, beautiful decor, a real home from home, and a great base to explore this stunning coastline.

We booked a week’s stay at Fleur, Five Acres, Charmouth which, on arrival at the property seemed an idyllic situation. However, we were rather concerned at the climb up to the house which was quite steep and, although we were aware that it was not suitable for people with disabilities, my brother-in-law did have difficulty getting up to down from the house with the aid of his walking stick due to the steep gradient. What also concerned us was the fact that, when making the booking, the agent I spoke to said that as it was one of the properties she hadn’t visited, she would welcome our feedback on any access issues. We think this is definitely something that the agent should have made it their business to assess so that the description of the access to the property could be more specific in detail.
Having said the above, we found the view out to sea from the property really lovely, it was a very quiet spot and it was nice to have the welcome pack on arrival.
The facilities were acceptable with the exception of what we feel are some items which could be included to improve the overall amenities available and comfortable feel of the house: No mattress protectors / no soap tray in the shower / no umbrella for use with the patio table and chairs / no First Aid Kit / no labels to identify the keys / no splatter guard for the frying pans / replace louvre blinds with blackout roller blinds and the addition of curtains would be more aesthetically pleasing and give a more homely feel to the rooms
Also, there were several areas of housekeeping by way of attention to detail that should definitely be addressed i.e. Debris, including a peanut, underneath one of the sofas / debris under the rug in the Lounge area and dust underneath other sofas where they had not been moved when cleaning / finger prints on kitchen cupboard doors / dishwasher needed emptying / there were cobwebs to the rear of the small table in the dining area and the table cloth needed cleaning / a couple of the saucepans had very loose handles which rendered them unusable until we tightened up the screws so that we could use them safely.
It looked as though Ant powder had been used around the entrance door and the mat inside which we would like to have been notified of.
These comments are only intended as constructive criticism from people who have, until recently, been the owners of a holiday let rated 5-star by Visit England and are intended only as what we believe may be helpful observations. We would definitely consider re-booking this venue if something could be done to improve the accessibility, i.e. handrail alongside the pathway from the small gate to the top of the path plus consideration being given to implementing many of the above suggestions we have highlighted as this may also allow you the opportunity to raise the star rating of this property.

Bella Nites in Lyme Regis - beautifully presented accommodation, would definitely stay here again. Generous hamper on arrival. Property has everything to make guests feel very welcome. Lovely conservatory to relax in, all very homely indeed.

My husband and I recently stayed at East Hill House for what was meant to be a joyous occasion - the arrival of our first grandchild. However, our experience at this holiday let fell far short of our expectations.

Initially drawn to the property for its convenient location near our family, we were excited to combine visiting our new granddaughter with some relaxing dog walks. Unfortunately, due to a last-minute change in plans, we had to bring our elderly cat along. While we understand that we should have informed the hosts beforehand, we did not anticipate any issues.

From the moment we arrived, we felt a sense of unease as the hosts seemed overly interested in our activities, constantly observing our comings and goings.

The situation escalated when we received an email from the letting agency expressing concerns about our pets being left unattended. Contrary to their claims, our dog was not whimpering, and the sighting of a cat in a top window was impossible given the property's single-story layout.

Feeling uncomfortable and unwelcome, we made the decision to cut our stay short and leave the cottage early. Toad Hall lettings did not respond to our emails. It's regrettable that the hosts did not communicate directly with us to address their concerns, as we would have appreciated the opportunity to clarify the situation and discuss any issues.

In summary, whilst the location of East Hill House may be convenient, our stay was marred by intrusive behaviour and miscommunication.

This company needs to be checking
properties regularly and with decent set
of eyes and sense of smell, not
pretending there's no issues and being
in denial that they're dealing and letting
are very inadequate. We stayed at Foxenhole Dittisham NR Dartmouth,on arrival we were told we couldn't use the ensuite bath and shower because it was leaking and we could use the other shower but no bath, there was a damp smell around the cottage, The television was hard to watch as there were at least 9 white spots on the TV ,we were offered another TV but this was much smaller than the one advertised in the booking, we were also told that we would have to leave sitting room door and kitchen door open all the time or the heating would not work, three days into are stay we were asked if it was ok if someone could be call at 10 am Friday to do electricity checks , this was our holiday so we said no. We realise that it is hard to rectify these problems while people are staying there but Toad hall should not of let this property while there was a leak ,we should have been told and offered alternative accomodation.We would like at least a part refund if not full.

My wife and I like to think that we are fairly "clued-up" about consumer matters - between us we've been consumers for nearly 140 years!
The deviousness of some UK Holiday Cottage lets has just brought us down to earth.
In August 2022, we booked, and paid a deposit for a weeks holiday in Cornwall through "Toad Hall Cottages". We subsequently paid the balance to "Toad Hall Cottages" in August 2023. In September 2023 we travelled to "Gypsy" - a cottage off Marine Drive, Looe, Cornwall. The instant we entered the hallway the smell of mould overwhelmed us. All rooms, cupboards and drawers throughout the property smelled to varying degrees. Neither of us suffer significantly from pollen induced hay fever, but within a few hours we both had red, swollen eyes; severe hay fever and felt decidedly unwell. It was clear that the owners were aware of their damp problem. There were chemical dehumidifiers, washable wallpaper, louvred cupboard doors, open top cupboards, slatted shelves etc. etc. So we sent them a polite WhatsApp. A couple of hours later they signified their contempt by sending us a screenshot showing that South West Water had discharged sewage into the bay. Sorry? It only smells INSIDE - we've got the windows and doors open to let the indoor smells escape! That was the last communication from them.
Just to illustrate that we're not making it up we attach a photo of one mouldy wall and damp, wet carpet and another of one mould stained bedside cabinet.
We phoned "Toad Hall Cottages" and two staff turned up within 30 minutes. We took them straight into the worst smelling bedroom. They both said they could smell nothing! They both said that the furniture was "stained - not mouldy" - apparently that made it OK. Both said there was no mould on the washable wallpaper in the photo. Even when we applied a wet-wipe to a tiny patch of washable-wallpaper and the wet-wipe blackened - neither would admit that it was mould. One took a photo of blackened wet-wipe and has subsequently refused to share it. Then, without prompting one of them walked over to the window, peered over the top of a chest of drawers, pulled back the curtains and declared she could see mould. Hmmm! We had seen it ourselves but it was nothing compared to elsewhere. What prompted this? - See later for the answer.
We told them that the harmful (even deadly) effects of mould and mould spores were well documented and that we felt forced to leave early. They expressed their "sorrow" at our decision but volunteered nothing.
Oh! Well. So be it, we thought. Even if the letting agent and the owners are unscrupulous, we paid for this by Credit Card and we'll probably be covered by Section 75 of the Consumer Act (which we've never previously used). And if not, our travel insurance (which we've never previously used) will be a backstop. We left early - because in our opinion it was too potentially harmful to stay.
On returning home we tried to resolve matters with the letting agent and owners - but met with an early email from Toad Hall Cottages stating that "the owners are not prepared to engage with you directly on this matter" and we confirm that we "could not see or smell any significant damp issues/smells". But then the piece de la resistance "save for a small area of mildew in the corner of the master bedroom, but this could have been very quickly addressed with the appropriate cleaning product and would not have had any impact on your enjoyment/health for your 7 night visit" - SO THATS WHY THEY "DISCOVERED" THE LEAST SIGNIFICANT AREA OF MOULD!
So, for the first time in our lives, we took our case to our credit card company. Unfortunately, we discovered that Section 75 of the Consumer Act ONLY applies if there is a direct link between the Debtor (ourselves), the Creditor (Credit Card Company) and the Supplier (the owner of the cottage). Apparently, the small print of our "terms and conditions" with Toad Hall Cottages (who we paid) stated that our "contract" was between us and the owners. Since the credit card company had paid an intermediate, and not the "supplier" / "owner", then Section 75 of the Consumer Act does not apply. Our Travel Insurance Company had a similarly slippery let out clause.
So, to conclude, we've had dozens of wonderful stays in UK cottages over several decades - most agents and owners are excellent . Unfortunately, in our experience, Toad Hall Cottages, and Gypsy Cottage, Looe are an agent and cottage to avoid.

We booked a property in Salcombe for Christmas to be with our family. We paid in full. Today we had an email cancelling our booking due to works needed on the kitchen. This should never have been done if work was upcoming. It has led to a ruined Christmas and of course they have a get out clause. We were offered two totally unsuitable alternatives, both of which are a hill climb away and my husband is 86. Thank goodness I know the town. Yes we are offered a refund but that in no way compensates for a Christmas that we will now spend on our own
We are bitterly disappointed and feel that no consideration was paid as to our dilemma if the work was begun. Proceed with caution with this company

Had a problem with their website; but when called the customer service was good. They kept us well informed about our booking and provided good instructions re getting to our location etc.
After leaving the property we gave feed back regarding an improvement; which they emailed us back and thanked us for stating they would inform the cottage owners.
Easy to contact via phone, friendly and nice to talk to people in person rather than deal with a chatbot.
Based on my experience I would certainly use them again.

Cannot fault the service from Toad Hall Cottages very efficient, kept us informed. Very clear instructions and directions
Lady on the phone was helpful and polite. When we go lost en route due to major road issues I called Toad Hall who said she would contact the owner of the property and he would be able to give us directions using local roads. He called straight away. An excellent service. Cottage exactly as described. An information pack supplied with lots of useful guides and even a welcome goody bag for our dog. Cream tea waiting for us. PigLet in Cornwall was amazing. Would definitely use Toad Hall Cottages again.

This company is a complete shambles, and does not listen whatsoever.
They are working on behalf of their clients to make bookings and take your money, but when the problems start all the blame is then on their client and not them.
This company needs to be checking properties regularly and with decent set of eyes and sense of smell, not pretending there’s no issues and being in denial that they’re dealing and letting are very inadequate.
They expect you will put up with mould, damp and dirtiness and respond with “it was easily solved with an airing and freshen up clean”
We’re talking unsafe standards that could not be solved in 10 minutes like suggested, and when offered a second property that was also unliveable, they think they have acted like “god” and moved heaven and earth.
Apparently mould on curtains for instance isn’t a problem in their eyes.
If you wouldn’t stay there, neither will we! Unless you live in a a pig sty or??
And you can say your inspection was a satisfactory one, I smell pure lies!
We got our money back so fast because you knew you were renting out a hell hole that was unfit.
Definitely to be continued, once I get to finish the rest of my holiday.
Please stay away with you hard earned money from Toad Hall cottages!!

If I could have given no stars I would, this business is not even worth 1 star. We booked a weeks holiday (back in January) for September, we received an email this month asking for the balance to be paid which we did, a few days later we received another email telling us the holiday had been cancelled!!..what!!...I was astonished and appalled, how can they treat people like this, they didn't even have the decency to ring us and speak to us person to person, that would have been the right thing to do, what's happened to good customer service?.. They've given us one month to find another holiday, which for us is impossible due to the fact we have a large dog and some places won't accept him. If you want to be sure you're going to get your holiday which you booked months ahead and fully paid for, don't use Toad Hall cottages...

If I could I would leave 0 stars which would reflect the terrible customer service they provide. That's being generous as I'm not sure they can even say a service has been provided. AVOID they have not responded to my complaint in over a month. The below reviews are correct avoid using unless you want to waste money and be ignored.

The cottage 'Old Thatch' is a beautiful looking thatched cottage in Slapton. We booked it for a special anniversary with our two adult daughters and their partners. When we arrived half the lights in the kitchen didn't work making it quite dingy. We were also a bit surprised that the only cooking method was an electric aga with a damaged temperature guage. However , a quick chat to a friend with an aga and we soon got the hang of it. We rang about issues straight away. The 'caretaker' Charlotte was nice and the kitchen lights were fixed first thing Monday. We reported the blocked shower and sink monday and it was fixed the same day thankfully. The layout is a bit odd. There is one bathroom upstairs but to access it you need to go through one of the two double bedrooms so at night you have to go downstairs if you are in the Master Bedroom . The bathroom downstairs has a nice walk in shower. There is a great utility room full of Miele appliances. The AGA needs to be on the whole time the bedrooms above it can get hot but turning it off overnight seems to work ok.
We tried to use the nice gas barbecue but it was rank. Encrusted rancid fat in carbon concretions all over the grill. We rang Toad Hall Cottages who said it 'isnt our problem if the previous occupiers didn't clean it' However they have since written us a nice email hence my edited review. We did speak to the cleaners at changeover who confirmed Toad Hall should sort it. Positives are that the kitchen is huge with a long table great for family dinners and a nice Sonos music system. The conservatory also has a big table good for board games and lovely on a rainy afternoon. The gardens are massive and really lovely with lots of little places to sit and outside tables. It is also a walkable distance to the beach , cafe and the pub. All of which are really good.
So it's a beautiful place and we had a special family week undampened by the weather!

DO NOT USE! They cancel bookings at the last minute (less than 2 weeks to check in date) and offer no compensation or alternative accommodation. They have a clause that allows them to cancel your booking for any reason they like at any point with a clear statement they are not liable for anything.

We rented Sandpipers in Dartmouth. It's the middle of a row of chalets and it was beautifully decorated with comfy beds and sofa. The kitchen was fully equipped with everything we needed. The place was beautiful and in an area where we could get to everything and everywhere we wanted to go and see. Beautiful little chalet, would highly recommend