Harewood House

There’s loads of room here, with five bedrooms, three doubles and two twins, and a shower bathroom for each. The big kitchen and dining area works well for a family meal, especially with the table seating ten. It’s well equipped too, with an American-style fridge freezer, dishwasher and washing machine. Downstairs, the pool table and arcade games are handy for filling the time. The house is on the old Torquay road, so it’s quieter now, and there’s parking for 3+ cars on the drive. The place feels tired and could do with fresh paint and a bedroom refresh. There were blackout blinds instead of curtains, and they’ve seen better days. One mattress sagged badly in the middle, and its bed squeaked whenever you moved. The upstairs floors creaked with every step, which made getting the kids to sleep harder. The pool table room could use a door to keep noise from travelling up the stairs, and the kitchen door slammed shut, waking people upstairs. The showers were unpredictable. The one in the main bedroom was nice, but the others weren’t great. They worked until water was used somewhere else, then dwindled to a trickle, which isn’t much use halfway through a shower. We also couldn’t recycle during the week unless everything had been sorted after the commercial bin was collected. Only one cloth and two dishwasher tablets were provided, so bring cleaning supplies. It’s an okay place to sleep, and I’ve stayed in worse. With a bit of care, some curtains and a rug or two, it could be a top place.