Guests say
The Smithy is a charming and cosy cottage in a peaceful Cotswold village, appreciated for its rural outlook and proximity to local attractions. Guests have enjoyed the well-equipped kitchen, comfortable beds, and the large garden, which is especially appreciated by dog owners. The property's traditional features and the thoughtful welcome gifts have been well received, contributing to a pleasant stay.
The property has received mixed feedback on cleanliness. Some guests found it clean and well-maintained, while others reported issues with dust, cobwebs, and unclean kitchenware. The inconsistency in cleanliness has led to a slightly above average score.
The location is highly praised for its tranquillity and convenience for exploring the Cotswolds. The proximity to local villages and attractions, along with the rural views, contribute to a high score in this category.
Comfort levels are generally good, with guests finding the beds comfortable and the property cosy. However, some guests mentioned issues with mattresses and seating arrangements, which slightly lowers the score.
Facilities are well-regarded, particularly the well-stocked kitchen and the garden. However, there are several mentions of maintenance issues such as broken appliances and lighting, which affects the score.
Guests have noted the thoughtfulness of the welcome gifts and essentials provided. However, as these gifts are not guaranteed for every stay, the score reflects the positive reception while acknowledging the variability.
About this property
The Smithy, Broadwell, is a true Cotswolds gem and one which we feel offers a wonderful and authentic experience in a location that is hard to beat. As the name would suggest, The Smithy was many, many years ago the home to the village blacksmith, with his workshop tucked next door, a cottage packed with history and well known by the older locals. In recent years, the house has undergone a wholesale update, but pleasingly, the house retains much of the original period charm, including the beams, mullion windows, and a flagstone floor. In fact, the old workshop barn next door hasn't been touched, so part of the original history remains intact.
Otherwise, the building has been transformed into a beautiful and stunning home for up to eight guests, with all the modern facilities you'd expect. Downstairs is an attractive kitchen/ diner and cosy sitting room, while upstairs across two floors are three good-sized bedrooms and two modern bathrooms. Outside, there is a huge garden too, and altogether, this top-notch cottage has plenty to offer. All this in a wonderful village that also has an excellent pub too (about 4 mins walk!) We feel this is an exceptional holiday cottage, ideal for families or small groups, in a location that is perfect for enjoying the best of the Cotswolds region.
Broadwell, a village in Gloucestershire, is quintessential Cotswold, complete with a quaint bar and beautiful stone homes. Stow-on-the-Wold, an ancient market town, is only 1.5 miles away, so you'll have easy access to grocery stores, shops, bars, and restaurants during your visit. Throughout the aonb, there are bike paths and bridleways, and there are also excellent walking trails along the nearby River Evenlode. Broadway, Bourton-on-the-Water, Stratford-upon-Avon, and Moreton-in-Marsh are just a short drive away and are some of the most well-known towns in the Cotswolds. In less than an hour, you can reach the nearby regency spa town of Cheltenham.
Accommodation
Over three floors and a barn conversation.
Main house: Three bedrooms: 1 x second floor double with en-suite bathroom with roll top bath, WC and washbasin, and TV with freeview, 1 x double, 1 x twin.
Wet room style shower room with walk-in shower, basin, and WC.
Ground-floor cloakroom with basin and WC.
Kitchen/diner.
Sitting room with electric flame-effect fire.
Utility.
Barn conversion: One king-size bedroom, shower room with walk-in shower, kitchen, and sitting room
Central heating.
Large electric hob, double oven and grill, fridge, freezer, dishwasher, microwave, washing machine, tumble drier.
2 x TV, one with BT view, DVD, video player, WiFi.
Fuel and power inc in rent.
Bed linen and towels inc in rent.
Travel cot and highchair available.
Large garden, terrace with table and chairs.
Ample off-road parking.
One well-behaved pet welcome.
Sorry, no smoking.
Shop 1.5 miles, pub 0.5 miles.
Note: This property requires a good housekeeping bond of £100.
Note: The stairs to the 2nd-floor bedroom are steep and may not be suitable for those with limited mobility
Reviews (45)
-
Kevin
Overall a lovely cottage parking is tight for / vehicles
-
Carol
I know we could have reported issues to the management but we were on holiday and didn't want intrusions. The kitchen work surfaces and table were grimy along with some of the crockery. The fridge door is broken so not able to store opened cartons. The fridge also froze the contents of the salad drawer. The microwave was very temperamental as was the cooker. I think the television also needs replacing/upgrading to a smart tv. The wall brackets seemed to be broken so the tv slants downwards. I know a lot of people won't be bothered by not having an up to date tele but they don't have to use it and that's their choice......but for those that do like to view then the facility of stuff like "catch up" should be available in a "high end" property such as this. One last moan.....the en-suite bathroom in the attic bedroom. It's a lovely room but please provide a bit of privacy in the form of a blind for the clear glass window. The attic bedroom can provide a bit of a challenge for the less mobile but at 73 years old I managed the staircase and the low bed. Our 2 grandsons shared the twin room and loved it. My Husband has health issues so he had the 1st floor double bedroom and was happy with it. . On the positive side the building was charming and sympathetically restored with lots of original features. It's a very quiet area as well so not much passing traffic. It's also located in a beautiful part of the country which is central to many other places of interest. . Sadly we probably wouldn't return to this cottage but what doesn't suit us might not be a problem to others. We've rented very many properties over very many years so have a lot of experience in rating. For us we would rate this property as "middle" because there is room for improvement in facilities and cleanliness.You can't alter the layout of the property but despite having a reasonable sleep in the attic bedroom I wouldn't choose to do it again. I've no doubt that younger people wouldn't feel the same way though.......they would probably love it. ;-)
-
Darrell
The property was clean,well maintained and well equipped. The listing does state parking for two cars,that is a little misleading as the driveway is rather tight and not a lot of room on the front for a second one.