Shoyswell Cottage

We have been returning to shoyswell for our 5th year What a beautiful home Jolyon and Lawrence have They have always welcomed us back like old friends and have always made us feel so welcome Nothing is too much trouble and we are hoping to return again in November if they can put up with us again!! The doggies are so gorgeous and always make a bee line for us two softies We can highly recommend this beautiful peaceful of heaven stunning lake and gardens Thank you Jolyon and Lawrence for having us stay again it was so lovely to catch up with all your news

We stayed in the deluxe king suite and weren't disappointed. The room was wonderfully quirky, full of character and done to an outstanding level. All mod-cons were included i.e. USB power sockets, integrated central heating, lighting etc... We enjoyed Joylon and Lawrence's company immensely and the dogs too - (which my partner in particular loved)! They couldn't be more friendly, helpful with i.e. restaurant recommendations and local attractions. On the last day Joylon waited to feed the chickens & hens so my partner had time to sit outside and watch. It's things like that really meant a lot to us. To top it off the garden, pond & surroundings are gorgeous in a great secluded spot. We'll definitely be back.

Such a difficult review to write as top of our list would always be cleanliness, top class linen, comfortable and classy bed, super shower and beautiful surroundings and all of these were definitely achieved. However, when we arrived we were told a cooked breakfast couldn't be offered due to Covid?! We were confused but guessed with one long breakfast table distancing was difficult and separate sittings were not offered. Nor was a table on the patio but we requested one the first morning and was shown our own table. No choice of breakfast whatsoever, a yoghurt, one apple, one banana, beautifully home-made bread, a lovely croissant each, one boiled egg each, homemade apple compote, individual jam pots and lovely orange juice and great coffee (sorry we were offered a choice of tea or coffee). We agreed the second morning we would eat between 9.30-10 again on the patio, a knock on our bedroom door at 9 saying it was a little breezy so breakfast in our room would be more comfortable in TEN minutes, it wasn't! We sat on bedroom chairs leaning down to a glass coffee table and had exactly the same breakfast without choice again, without the apple and banana or jug of juice, though we had glasses of juice and sure we could have found Jolyon to ask for more if we had the energy. Shoyswell's mantra is 'they have travelled the world extensively and know what they like and what they don't' ... would they have enjoyed breakfast hunched over a coffee table - we think not - either close due to Covid or provide enough separate tables inside and outside so breakfast can be enjoyed comfortably please. Sorry to moan as truly everything else except our breakfast experience was first class.