Phoenix House

The grounds are calm and green, with chickens wandering about as if they own the place. We loved having coffee and watching them stroll past. There are walks nearby around Castlemorton Common, and Upton-upon-Severn is close enough for a riverside wander and tapas. Mobile reception was patchy, which made it feel nicely removed from everyday demands. Phoenix House itself is a spacious, modern barn conversion near the Malvern Hills. The high ceilings, big windows, sunroom, soft furnishings, and cosy corners made it easy for our two couples and one child to spend time together or find a quiet spot. We arrived and immediately felt at home. Jonny and Charl made the stay especially memorable. They were warm, funny, attentive, and thoughtful, and we felt like welcome guests. We were already talking about booking again before we left. The hardest part was having to go, and we're planning to return. It might even tempt us away from city life. Bring snacks for the goodbye! Phoenix House is a real sanctuary, and we had such a good time there.

We're only halfway through our stay, but it's already shaping up to be a really relaxing family holiday. The hot tub is fab, and the converted barn is spotless and in great condition. There's room to hang out together as well as find a quiet moment. The owners have been friendly and welcoming, and there's plenty to see and do nearby. Highly recommended.

We had a very relaxed stay with our group of nine and would absolutely recommend the place. The interior feels luxurious, the setting is lovely, and the hot tub is a great extra. The owners gave us a warm welcome on both of our visits, and there was complete privacy.

We chose Phoenix House for my dad's 70th birthday, expecting a luxury celebration for our group of ten. Instead, a sewage problem cut the stay short, and this was the worst birthday break we've had. On the first morning, while one of us was in the downstairs bathroom, liquid bubbled up through a drain and flooded both the bathroom and bedroom. The person showering had to rush out. We later learned that what was coming up through the shower was sewage. At the same time, two upstairs showers lost all water while they were in use, leaving one person with shampoo in their hair. We had to heat kettles and use whatever utensils we could find to rinse people off. Dyno Rod said the cesspit was too far from the building and estimated that fixing it would cost the owners about £25,000. They could offer a temporary repair, but warned the sewage problem might happen again at any time. We had no running water for several hours. We went out for the birthday lunch we'd booked, feeling miserable, and water was working again when we returned. But the sewage smell kept getting stronger, so we had no choice but to leave halfway through our paid stay. We were also worried that our two young grandchildren might touch or swallow something contaminated and become seriously ill. At first, the hosts seemed horrified and deeply apologetic. They brought a rug to cover the leak and offered either a full refund or a free long weekend as compensation. The next day, after talking it over as a family, we asked for a refund because we weren't comfortable returning to a place with sewage problems. They refused our calls. We tried to resolve it amicably through Sykes Cottage, but they denied ever offering a refund and told us to take legal action if we wanted our money back. We were shocked by how sweet the hosts had seemed until we asked for what they had promised. There are plenty of luxury stays available, and I wouldn't spend my money here.