Butley Barn

There was plenty of room for a big family reunion, but we won’t be going back. The barn itself could be a great place to stay, yet it needed a proper clean and much more attention to detail. Cobwebs and dirt were everywhere, and the welcome hamper had several items up to 6 months out of date. The advertised dog hamper was missing too. One toilet needed cleaning before we could use it, and there was no soap in the bathrooms. At least 4 bathroom sinks were cracked; one was so damaged that turning on the tap flooded the floor. We mopped it up with toilet roll because that was all we could find, and the floor was clearly very dirty, as if it hadn’t been cleaned for months. There were no tea towels or oven gloves, so we dried dishes with a bath towel. Most of the crockery and cutlery needed washing before use because previous tenants had put it away dirty, and the dishwashers weren’t very good. We also couldn’t find kitchen roll or a cloth to wipe down the sides. Both BBQs were dirty and still full of ash, so we had to clean them before using them. There was no charcoal, even though it had been promised, and I won’t repeat the owner’s response when we asked about it.

We arranged to hold our wedding reception at the venue, but they cancelled a few months before the wedding. They had insisted that our suppliers visit the site, then didn’t cover the money we lost because of the cancellation. Do not book.

I paid in full after booking Butley Barns through HomeAway 4 months ahead. At the last minute, the owner cancelled in favour of someone booking more nights. She said HomeAway had double booked, but HomeAway confirmed that wasn’t true. My husband’s 40th birthday was ruined. Do not book this accommodation.

The building is lovely, but inside it all feels rather tired and needs updating and a thorough clean. For the cost, that was disappointing, and there were lots of irritating little things.