Timbers Country Lodge

The food was delicious, but the rest of the evening was a mess. We waited over two hours before going downstairs to pay, and even then staff at the desk ignored us. The bar was piled with dirty glasses and crowded with people trying to pay, while a young couple was attempting to have a romantic evening nearby. We paid for our drinks and were surprised that a small Sauvignon was £9.70, while a medium Shiraz was £6.70. When I questioned the price, the drinks menu was waved at me rudely. I’d have raised this on the way out, but the manager was busy with other very unhappy customers. At the start, there was nobody greeting guests. At least three people ignored us before one finally said they’d be with us in a minute. Our first table hadn’t been cleared, and a confused staff member moved us elsewhere. There were no table numbers, and plenty of tables stayed uncleared all evening. Staff seemed untrained, carrying plates around and asking who’d ordered them. It became a joke among the guests. People kept having to ask for missing things like cutlery and drinks. A bottle of wine was brought to a table but left unopened, without glasses. The food took far too long. We sat with dirty plates in front of us for at least half an hour. The table to our left had the same wait, and the guests to our right gave up and left while waiting for their drinks bill. This wasn’t the Valentine’s evening we’d been promised. We’re new to the area and hoped to find special places to take visiting friends, but The Farmhouse won’t be one of them. I’d read reviews saying the business didn’t take criticism well and replied rudely to customers. I tried emailing privately first, but messages to several addresses came back undeliverable, so I’m posting here instead. Kind regards, Donna Wilson (Pullen)

Breakfast was delicious, and we slept peacefully in the quiet location. Our room and bathroom were clean, and the bed was very comfortable. We stayed one night at the Farmhouse at Fincham to see a performance at nearby Sandringham Estate. Getting there was straightforward with Google Maps and the signs, and parking and finding the room caused us no trouble. Check-in was easy too.

The barn conversion has such a beautiful feel to it, with decor that’s clearly been put together with care. We had a fantastic Sunday lunch here. The beef was tender, the gravy was a proper jus, and there was a generous side of green and other vegetables with cauliflower cheese included, which some places charge extra for these days. The chef did a great job. We’ll definitely come back, it was one of the best Sunday roasts we’ve had within an hour’s drive.

The response to my review is what really shocked me. Farmhouse tried to deny and deflect instead of accepting what happened and apologising. Their reply makes clear what kind of people manage this place, and their other responses seem to blame guests whenever there’s a problem. Is that the sort of business you’d trust? Avoid it at all costs. You’d be better off sleeping on the road. Get away as fast as you can. My stay itself was very disappointing. It was cold and raining when I arrived, and the woman at the desk pointed me toward the room. The place is laid out a bit like an American motel, with several buildings. The room numbers are confusing and the route wasn’t clear, so I had to go back twice before I got a map and realised I needed to take a completely different path. When I finally got to bed, I found it was broken. Every time I moved, the broken legs made a loud thumping noise. The worst part was the overwhelmingly strong smell in the room, from either polish or air freshener. I woke after a few hours and could barely breathe, so I asked to switch rooms. The second room was better, with no smell and an intact bed. Breakfast was below average, but edible. They said they’d do something about the price to apologise for the bed and smell, but I ended up paying the full amount, with no discount. It wasn’t worth it, and I wouldn’t stay again. If you’re considering bringing your dog, I hope you reconsider. Dogs are around 100,000 times more sensitive to smells than people, and whatever that smell was, it was unbearable. It would be torture for a dog.