Guests say
The Old Sweet Shop is a well-received cottage with guests praising its cleanliness, central location, and spaciousness. The property's charm and thoughtful touches, such as a welcome hamper, are appreciated, though some guests noted areas for improvement in comfort and maintenance. Overall, the cottage offers a pleasant stay in Newark.
Most reviews highlight the property's spotless condition, with only one mention of it being 'tired and dated,' which seems more related to style than cleanliness.
The location is consistently praised for being central, quiet, and convenient for exploring Newark and the surrounding areas, with easy access to local amenities and transport.
Guests find the beds comfortable and the bedrooms spacious. However, some guests mention the furniture being old and uncomfortable, and the stairs being a challenge for those with limited mobility.
Facilities are generally well-regarded, especially the bathroom. However, concerns about maintenance, such as the roof window not closing properly and the high sink, suggest room for improvement.
Guests appreciate the thoughtful touches like the welcome hamper and sweets, although it's noted that such gifts are not guaranteed and may vary.
About this property
This Grade II listed two-bedroom property is in a conservation area within Newark-On-Trent, Nottinghamshire, and is the perfect place to come if you are looking for a relaxing stay. The property has been carefully restored to its former glory, with beam ceilings and beautiful furnishings providing traditional character. Parking is provided for guests with a Guests permit, to take advantage of Residents permit parking on the adjacent Balderton Gate, just paces away from the threshold. The property has a homely sitting room with Smart TV, and well-appointed kitchen on the ground floor. Enjoy meals together at the drop leaf dining table which can be unfolded to comfortably seat 4 people. At the rear of the property is an enclosed suntrap courtyard which is accessed through a traditional stable door; across the courtyard is a lockable outbuilding with secure storage for bikes, also containing a washing machine, with clothes airer. Head inside and up the stairs for a bubble-bath in the contemporary bathroom, or if that's not for you, there is a separate luxurious bespoke shower. The first floor offers a spacious double bedroom with large built-in wardrobes, and exposed beams in the high ceiling. On the top floor, there is a twin bedroom with zip-link single beds that can be arranged to provide a super-king bed, beneath a Velux window to watch the night sky. Wake up with a morning brew and home-cooked breakfast, before exploring the lovely Market Town; Newark hosts a traditional market with greengrocers, flower stalls, and a whole host of beautiful things to browse and buy. The main market days are Wednesday, Friday and Saturday for the general stalls, but there are also Antiques and Collectables stalls on Monday and Thursday. The Market Square is always a vibrant hub of the community with a popular Starbucks, and other friendly local coffee shops to enjoy the ambience, admire the traditional buildings that line the square, and simply watch the world go by. There are many charming restaurants and bars in Newark, including The Prince Rupert, Oscars Inn, and Thai Sabai. The towns' main attraction is Newark Castle which dominates the skyline and offers a beautiful garden and grounds to explore. The National Civil War Centre is also located in Newark and tells the story of the English Civil War through interactive exhibits. Sconce and Devon Park is a recreational park in Newark, with a walk beside the river, and children’s' swings and slides. It is the location of Queen's sconce, an earthwork fortification that was built in 1646 during the First English Civil War, to protect the garrison of King Charles I, based at Newark Castle; it is a listed ancient monument and at certain times of the year there are Civil war battle re-enactments. The property is only a short walk to the train station, where you can catch a fast train to Nottingham for a night out to enjoy the popular bars and clubs, or for a day visit to the city. The National Ice Centre is perfect for a winter visit. The city's restaurants and bars are top-notch, and Petit Paris is highly recommended. Be sure to explore the city of Lincoln, hosting a magnificent cathedral to admire architecture, shopping to suit all budgets, as well as a Victorian prison for history buffs. The property provides a great base for exploring the Lincolnshire Wolds and is only a 48-mile drive for a day out at the seaside. There are nearby outdoor centres such as GO Ape and Sherwood Pines, for mountain biking, walking enthusiasts, and adventurous souls. For all this and more, escape to The Old Sweet Shop, Nottinghamshire
Newark-on- Trent, sometimes known as 'Newark,' is a market town and civil parish in the Nottinghamshire district of Newark and Sherwood. Its location, between the River Trent and the famous Roman road of Fosse Way, provides plenty of opportunities for visitors to investigate. The town is now bordered with a plethora of old structures waiting to be explored, growing around the historic Newark Castle, which is now ruins that showcase lovely gardens and a thriving marketplace. The Church of St. Mary Magdalene, a Grade I listed building notable for its tower and octagonal spire, is just one of many architectural delights in the town.
Accommodation
Over three floors.
Two bedrooms: 1 x double, 1 x second floor twin, Bathroom with bath, walk-in shower, basin and WC.
Kitchen.
Living/dining room
Central heating.
Electric oven, gas hob, microwave, fridge/freezer and washing machine.
Smart TV, WiFi.
Fuel and power included in rent.
Bed linen and towels included in rent.
Permit parking for use in Residents Permit Holders Only on-street parking on Baldertongate.
Enclosed rear courtyard with patio and outbuilding with lockable storage.
Sorry, no pets and no smoking.
Shop 0.3 miles, pub 0.1 miles.
Note: This property is in a conservation area
Reviews (11)
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John
It has been well modernised and facilites are excellent. It is in a terrace but neighbours were very quiet. Super sized bathroom and comfortable beds in roomy bedrooms. Kitchen provided every need. The house was warm as the Spring weather has hardly sprung!!! Sadly not the weather to make use of the patio.I can understand that welcome baskets could prove difficult, with gluten free demands and allergies rife, but simply two small bottles of Amstel beer did strike as rather bizarre. There may be a parking permit but street parking everywhere these days means there is a likelihood of not parking near unless in a paying car park. Luckily our son lives in Newark and he has a parking space available. We had a nice texting engagement with the owner, Julia, all about tunnels and history. She was very helpful. The cottage is beautifully located for the services and sights of Newark. There could be clearer information on bin collection day. We missed the recycle collection but took it all in a black bag and used our son's bin to be collected the next day. Disabled people may like to know that the stairs are steep. I hope this is balanced and fair. We enjoyed our stay.
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Kevin
The outdoor space was lovely, we had a few nice mornings and evenings with a brew and the birds. If you have limited mobility the stairs are a real challenge, with very steep uneven steps to the 1st floor, these should be mentioned in the listing we would have reconsidered booking if so. The sitting room was inconvenient with no side table for cups or glasses, we used a table from the top bedroom. The bathroom was cosmetically great, but practically not, if you are under 4ft 5 tall the sink is way too high to use effectively, the shower control panel and shower head are placed to make showering under the stream of water challenging with the water pressure low. We cut our break short, my husband has cancer and all the little quirks of the cottage made our stay less of a holiday and more of a chore, however the things that were not right for us may not be a problem for others and are challenges that the owner if contacted would have been unable to overcome, the fabric and design of the cottage are what they are. We did however have some lovely meals out and explored Southwell Minster well worth a visit, Lincoln Cathedral and Castle again, well worth a visit, and Newark itself had some lovely walks around the town and a duck race event for Easter, great fun.
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Dominic
Would recommend to anyone who would like a quiet home away from home.