Sykes cottages
Cedar Cottage Chesterfield UK via Sykes Cottages – Filthy, Unsafe, and Misleading
We booked Cedar Cottage through Sykes Cottages, expecting a relaxing and well-maintained property.
Unfortunately, our experience was anything but. From the moment we arrived, we were met with a foul odor throughout the house—likely from unclean carpets, rugs, and soft furnishings. The vacuum was full and filthy, with no spare bags provided.
The main bedroom lacked extra bedding and pillows. Dust flew from the ceiling fan, curtains were stained, and the fitted sheet was wrinkled. There was no top sheet, and one bedside lamp didn’t work. The en suite light flickered and buzzed dangerously, and the smoke detector was non-functional.
The kitchen was unhygienic: dirty floors, fridge seal, faucet, and counters. We had to clean everything ourselves with purchased supplies. The oven tripped the breaker repeatedly, and the hood exposed electrical wiring. Appliances like the kettle, toaster, and washing machine were worn out and dirty.
The conservatory was unusable due to a broken fan, missing bulbs, and smelly curtains.
The downstairs bathroom was unacceptable—black mold, broken blinds held with tape, broken toilet seat which was dirty, and filthy fixtures. We removed the rug and avoided the space entirely.
The TV didn’t work initially. The owner brought a replacement but couldn’t set it up. We installed a new antenna and rearranged furniture ourselves. The living room smelled terrible, with dusty couches, cobwebs, and dirty curtains.
Outside, the property needed pressure washing. Garbage bins were half full on arrival, and the gates were broken and couldn’t be secured.
We’ve stayed at other properties in Derbyshire and had great experiences. Cedar Cottage, booked via Sykes Cottages, was overwhelming and disappointing. It desperately needs a deep clean and refurbishment. We stuck it out only because we’d prepaid, but we wouldn’t recommend this property to anyone.
Sykes Cottages should seriously reconsider listing this property until it meets basic standards. No one should have to endure this after spending their hard-earned money and looking forward to a holiday.
Have contacted Sykes Cottages via email and follow up phone call for a full refund but no response.
