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We stayed at Holly House in Beaconsfield for a short break with our dog. There were some positives, but also several areas that could be improved.
On the plus side, the property is genuinely dog-friendly, which we really appreciated. Our dog was able to roam freely, making the stay more relaxed. Breakfast itself was lovely, and the owner shared helpful local tips, including recommending the Red Lion pub about 10 minutes away, which we enjoyed.
However, the experience felt more like staying in a private home than a traditional B&B or hotel, which may not suit everyone. The dĂ©cor is dated (ânanâs houseâ style) with a musty smell throughout. While generally clean, it wasnât to hotel/B&B standard, with cobwebs behind furniture and skirting boards not fully clean. The room wasnât made daily.
Practical issues included no coat hooks, limited bedside plug sockets, a small travel kettle with minimal tea/coffee, no fridge, and a very small, tablet-sized TV. Temperature control was difficult: thereâs no room thermostat and heating only seemed to be on when the owner was home. We returned from a December dog walk to a freezing room and had to shower to warm up. The breakfast room was also cold. WiFi was very poor and network details werenât explained.
There were maintenance and access concerns: the door key often stuck, we couldnât contact the owner on arrival, and no name or contact