Leisure Hour

Reviews (7)

• Confirmed Guest

  Leisure Hour is a beautiful and genuinely special property in an idyllic position on the River Bure. With its distinctive thatched roof, early-20th-century Broads character and Grade II listed status, it has a history and individuality that you simply couldn't recreate. Sitting on the veranda watching the boats and wildlife go by is wonderful, the gardens are lovely and the whole setting is incredibly peaceful.We really enjoyed our week here, but there are several things prospective guests should know and, particularly at the price I paid for the week, I think both the property and its description could benefit from some attention.The most important issue for us was the accuracy of the accessibility information. The description states “3 steps to entrance". Then "All on the Ground Floor” and specifically lists the living/dining room, kitchen/dining room, all three bedrooms, shower room and separate toilet beneath that heading.Before booking, restricted mobility had been declared and I specifically queried the steps with my booking agent. I was told there were three steps and that it was then all on one level.Unfortunately, that isn't the actual layout.There are two steps up to the main entrance. Immediately inside, over the door threshold the shower room and separate toilet are on the entrance level, but there is then a further internal step up into the main living and sleeping area. The shower room/toilet and the rest of the accommodation are therefore not on the same level, despite the way the description is presented.This isn't simply being pedantic about the meaning of “ground floor”. For someone without mobility difficulties, one internal step may seem insignificant. For someone specifically choosing accommodation with as few changes of level as possible, it can make the difference between a property being suitable and unsuitable. Every trip from the main living or sleeping area to the toilet or shower requires negotiating that step and then negotiating it again on the way back.The steps from the veranda into the garden were clearly visible in the photographs and we knew about those before booking. The internal change of level was not visible, and there was no photograph of the rear/main entrance that would have allowed us to identify it ourselves. The description really does need correcting so future guests can make an informed decision.The hallway lighting is another slightly odd arrangement. Both the hall light itself and its only switch are by the entrance door, with no other lighting or switch along the hallway. This means that if you need to use the toilet during the night from the main living or sleeping area, you either have to negotiate the hallway in the dark or turn on a kitchen, lounge or bedroom light. This wouldn't necessarily require any rewiring – even a couple of simple battery-operated push lights or motion-sensor lights along the hallway would make a considerable difference, particularly for anyone with reduced mobility.Although Leisure Hour sleeps six, the comfortable communal seating doesn't really cater for six people. There are six indoor dining chairs, but the sofa/lounge seating realistically accommodates around five, so six guests couldn't all relax comfortably together in the living room. Outside, the garden dining table has four appropriate chairs. There are another two plastic chairs on the veranda which could be carried down, but I wouldn't really consider them suitable or comfortable for sitting at the table to eat. For a property accommodating six people, providing comfortable lounge seating and six suitable outdoor dining chairs would be a relatively simple improvement.Likewise, “private parking for 3 cars” is optimistic. Two cars can be accommodated comfortably and you might squeeze three in if they're small, but three larger modern vehicles certainly wouldn't fit comfortably, particularly if anyone has a 4x4 or SUV.The advertised private dyke is also worth checking before booking if you intend to bring or hire a boat. During our stay it was extremely overgrown, with branches and vegetation extending into and over the dyke and various objects in the water. There is also wire fencing between the garden and dyke, apparently to keep geese off the lawn, which makes access awkward. In its current condition, I personally wouldn't regard it as a realistically usable mooring.Fishing from the property is possible, but I wouldn't necessarily book specifically for the fishing. There was the wire fence to negotiate plus a lot of bankside growth and an enormous amount of weed in this particular stretch of river during our stay, which made fishing difficult and losing tackle rather easy. Obviously river conditions can vary, so this may be very different at other times of the year.In my opinion, the advertised “serene 10-minute walk” into Wroxham is also rather optimistic. Having driven the route, I certainly wouldn't describe it as a serene 10-minute walk unless you're fit and fully mobile. For slower walkers, I think it could easily take closer to 20 minutes. Brimbelow Road is only a single vehicle width and has no pavement, so pedestrians have to share the road with passing traffic and move aside to allow vehicles through. A pavement only appears once you reach the junction with Marsh Road. That's definitely worth bearing in mind, particularly for anyone with reduced mobility.The cottage itself could do with some sympathetic TLC. The carpets are noticeably worn and discoloured in places and the beds could benefit from replacement. The double bed is extremely hard and didn't do my back any favours, while the single beds were also found to be hard on the edge and lumpy in the middle. I also noticed similar comments about the condition of the carpets had already been made in the visitors' book in 2025, so this doesn't appear to be entirely new feedback.The kitchen is another area where a very small, sympathetic change could make the cottage more practical without taking anything away from its character. I would estimate the ceiling as approximately 8ft high and some items are stored on shelves close to ceiling height, putting them well beyond comfortable reach for many people. A small stepladder is provided, but that isn't particularly helpful for anyone who has difficulty using steps. I certainly wouldn't suggest adding conventional wall cupboards, as the open shelving is part of the kitchen's charm, but perhaps adding a third, lower shelf in some areas would provide somewhere more accessible to keep frequently used or essential items without altering the character of the room.One other thing that needs correcting is the arrival directions. The supplied directions omit Marsh Road and don't accurately describe the final route. From Church Road, you actually turn onto Marsh Road straight after Norfolk Marine Chandlers, follow it around to the Meadow Drive sign, turn right onto Brimbelow Road, continue past the Summercraft boatyard and, after approximately 100 yards, take the left fork. Leisure Hour is then at the end on the right.Having written all of that, I really don't want these points to give the wrong impression of how we feel about Leisure Hour.Some people have said that the property needs “updating”, but I don't think modernising it in the conventional sense is the answer at all. Its age, history, individuality and slightly quirky character are precisely what make it so special. It doesn't need to be stripped out and turned into another generic modern holiday let.However, preserving character and maintaining a property are two very different things. Comfortable beds, serviceable carpets, sufficient comfortable seating and attention to the advertised facilities wouldn't detract from its heritage in the slightest. Nor do improvements necessarily have to involve major alterations – some of the things that would make Leisure Hour more comfortable and practical could be achieved very simply while leaving its character completely intact.Most importantly, the advert needs tweaking so that it accurately reflects the property – particularly the internal change of level, realistic parking capacity, walking information and current usability of the private dyke.Despite these points, we loved the peace, the gardens, the veranda and simply watching life on the River Bure go by. Leisure Hour is a beautiful and very special piece of Broads history in a location that's difficult to beat.As it stands, though, I can only give Leisure Hour 3 stars. That's not because the property lacks charm – it has that in abundance – but because at the price it cost for the week, the inaccurate information in the advert, particularly regarding accessibility, together with the condition of some furnishings and advertised facilities that aren't realistically usable, are significant enough that I couldn't justify a higher rating.Could I recommend Leisure Hour? Not to anyone with mobility issues, certainly not based on the way the property is laid out. Having to negotiate the internal step every time you need to access the toilet or shower could present a real difficulty for anyone with limited mobility.However, if you have no mobility issues, aren't intending to use the property primarily as a fishing base, and are looking for somewhere peaceful, characterful and wonderfully positioned on the River Bure, then absolutely – Leisure Hour could be the ideal place for you. Its setting and character really are very special.Leisure Hour doesn't need reinventing; it just needs looking after, a little love in places and an advert that accurately tells people what they're booking. Address those relatively straightforward issues while preserving everything that makes this historic cottage special, and I could very easily see it deserving a much higher rating.

• Confirmed Guest

  A delightful, characterful holiday home on the banks of the River Bure. The garden was beautiful and idyllic. The property had a homely style but could do with some modernisation such as better quality mattresses and linen. Also, a more modern television with better signal. A dishwasher would also been an advantage, especially if staying as a group. The location is well placed for all the amenities of Wroxham and the broads and I would definitely return.

• Darrell Dainton

  This cottage and location is stunning !! We have stayed 4 years running and have already booked for next year…So relaxing we just love it.