Arnside Apartment

Reviews (10)

• Linda Marriott

  ⚠️ PLEASE READ BEFORE BOOKING ARNDSIDE APARTMENT — OUR HOLIDAY WAS RUINEDStay: 22 August 2026This was, without question, the worst holiday break we have ever experienced. We booked Arnside Apartment for a peaceful, relaxing week away, hoping to escape the stresses of everyday life and enjoy the stunning views. Most importantly, the break was intended to provide some much-needed respite for my partner, who has serious health issues and is facing a kidney and pancreas transplant.Instead, our holiday became a week dominated by an overpowering, foul smell that ruined our stay, caused considerable distress and ultimately forced us to abandon the room we had specifically booked to sleep and relax in. The smell was so bad that, after just one day, we had to stop using the living room and sleeping area altogether. We even resorted to placing three large bath towels under the door in a desperate attempt to stop the stench spreading throughout the apartment. It made no difference.A week of complaints, excuses and failed attempts to resolve the problemI first complained on Saturday evening. The site manager visited on Sunday and acknowledged that he could smell something, although he said it did not bother him as much as it seemed to bother us. He suggested it might be the fire retardant in the furniture reacting to the recent hot weather. To us, the smell was foul, resembling bad breath or something rotting. The manager covered the furniture with a sheet, but this did not solve the problem. We were left with no choice but to abandon the room.The manager then asked us to give him an opportunity to put things right and promised to clean the sofa on Monday if we could go out for the day. However, on Sunday, the booking platform emailed to say that the remainder of our holiday could be released, but they had nowhere else to relocate us. In effect, we were being told to go home.We live in Nottingham, approximately three hours away. My partner was not physically well enough to undertake that journey, and forcing him to abandon the break and travel home could have jeopardised his health. We therefore stayed, in the hope that the site manager would honour his promise to resolve the problem.On Monday morning, I contacted the agency again to explain what had happened since my previous call. I was told to call back later to see whether anything further could be done. We went out for a drive to escape the situation, but even our time away was overshadowed by constant conversations about the smell and the dread of returning to the apartment. When I contacted the agency again, we were told to return because the site manager believed the problem had been sorted. The sofa had indeed been cleaned. Unfortunately, the smell remained, returning by the evening and seemingly getting worse.The next suggestion was to provide air fresheners and arrange a deep clean. The air fresheners supplied were extremely strong, and two were placed in the apartment. Rather than resolving anything, their overpowering fragrance mixed with the foul smell that continued to seep under the door. At this point, I was losing faith that anyone was taking our concerns seriously. The site manager even asked whether I was psychic and suggested I might be smelling ghosts because he could no longer smell anything himself.An independent guest confirmed what we had been experiencingBy Wednesday, I felt completely defeated and contacted the booking provider again to ask what could be done. After yet another unplanned trip out, we returned to the apartment. The moment I opened the door, the stench hit me and turned my stomach. I approached the site manager and asked him to check the room again. Once more, he insisted he could not smell anything.I then asked an unrelated guest staying on the caravan site if he would be willing to check the room and give an independent opinion. His immediate reaction was: “Eww, what is that smell?” He said it was definitely unpleasant, that he could not even begin to describe it, and that he would certainly not want to sit and relax in the room. He also questioned the site manager's assertion that there was no smell, saying that something was clearly not right.This was incredibly validating after days of feeling dismissed and having our experience questioned. However, rather than feeling that our concerns were finally being taken seriously, the situation became even more upsetting. The site manager angrily told me that I should have left when I had the opportunity and that my partner's health should have come first, despite the fact that we had stayed because we were trying to give him the opportunity to resolve the problem and because my partner was not well enough to undertake the journey home. We had been trying to find a solution, not create a problem.Deeply disappointing corporate responseAfter repeated complaints and failed attempts to resolve the issue, the holiday agency eventually acknowledged in writing that: “The smell continued and ultimately remained unresolved.”Despite this acknowledgement, they refused to intervene further or offer compensation because we had decided to stay. This was particularly distressing given the circumstances. We had not stayed because the accommodation was acceptable. We had stayed because my partner was seriously unwell, was not physically fit to drive home, and we had been encouraged to give the site manager time to put things right. We had reported the problem repeatedly, cooperated with the proposed solutions and given the opportunity to rectify it. Yet we were left to endure a holiday that bore no resemblance to the peaceful break we had paid for.Previous reports raise further concernsSince returning home, we have found reviews dating from 2025 relating to the same accommodation that reported sewage or drain smells. One review reportedly described staff witnessing a horrendous drain smell. We cannot confirm whether those earlier reports are connected to the problem we experienced. However, finding them has understandably raised serious questions about whether similar issues had occurred before our stay and whether the underlying cause had ever been properly identified and resolved.Our advice to anyone considering bookingPlease ask questions before committing to this property. Have there been previous complaints about foul smells, drains or sewage? If so, what was the cause, and what action was taken? Has the underlying problem been identified and permanently resolved? Can the provider confirm that the accommodation is currently free from the issue?Do not assume that covering furniture with a sheet, cleaning a sofa or introducing air fresheners means the underlying problem has been fixed. We booked Arnside Apartment for its stunning views, a comfortable place to sleep, and a peaceful escape from everyday stresses. Instead, we spent the week worrying about the smell, repeatedly complaining, making unplanned trips out and dreading returning to our accommodation.The room we had booked specifically to sleep and relax in became unusable to us after just one day. The promised respite never materialised, and the experience caused us considerable upset at a time when my partner needed rest and tranquillity most. This was not the holiday we paid for, and it was certainly not the holiday we needed. I am sharing our experience so that other prospective guests can make an informed decision before booking. Please ask the questions before you book. We wish we had known what we know now.

• Mario Padilla

  ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Lovely stay in ArnsideWe had a really enjoyable stay at this apartment in Arnside. The accommodation was very spacious, spotlessly clean and comfortable, with everything we needed for a relaxing stay. The beds were especially comfortable, and the apartment felt bright and well looked after.One of the highlights was the beautiful view and lovely garden, which made the setting feel peaceful and relaxing. The location is also very convenient, particularly if you’re planning to explore the Lake District and the surrounding area.Overall, a fantastic place to stay — comfortable, clean, spacious and in a great location. We would happily stay here again and definitely recommend it!

• Confirmed Guest

  Quiet location. Local shops a couple of miles away.