Host & Stay | Hecklers Cottage, Barnard Castle — Guest Reviews

A great place for our family break in Barnard Castle. Very convenient for the town and walks from the door. Parking was on the street but never a problem. We loved the wood burning stove in the lounge. Close to the Bowes museum and the waterfalls at Low and High Force.

Positive: Good sized accommodation and perfect location in the delightful town of Barnards Castle. We were attending a wedding so had 2 nights here as a family of 4.

Charming modern cottage in Barnard Castle Positive: Fantastic location just off the main high street. Large and spacious with enough space and room to accommodate 4 adults and 2 kids. Cottage is modern with all the main amenities and a small courtyard at the back!

Lovely time spent with family in a warm cosy cottage Positive: We loved the location as were staying n Barnard Castleto visit family. The cottage itself is amazing, beautiful furniture, lovely decor, the beds were comfy Negative: Sadly the cleaning was below Satisfactory. We had planned to cook all our meals, spent a fortune on food however the kitchen was not clean, greasy plates and cutlery, cooker had not been cleaned at all which was disappointing. It felt like the entire cottage needed a deep clean. Having said that we adored the cottage and are already planning our next stay as I’m sure this was a one off

me, my wife and daughter used Hecklers cottage as a base to explore the Northeast. barnard castle is a beautiful little town, plenty to see and do. Every room was well sized and the cottage well decorated. Had everything we needed and the coal fire added to it. The hosts communicated everything well and we're very helpful. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend to people and the only downside was we didn't stay longer! Thank you again for everything!

I booked this for me and my children so we could visit High Force for my birthday and it housed us all perfect! The house was absolutely gorgeous, every room was gorgeous and even had a little garden to sit in with a glass of wine. My little boys wanted to stay longer as they loved the interior so much! The house was situated in the middle of town and close to Barnard castle so if you was wanting to visit there it’s a perfect location! High Force was 30 mins up the road and a lovely drive! Everything was fabulous and we will definitely be booking back in to visit again. Thank you!

We stayed here while attending a wedding at a nearby venue and couldn’t have asked for a better place. Check-in and check-out were smooth and hassle-free, which made everything so easy. The place was spotless and beautifully decorated—clearly a lot of thought has gone into making it feel homely. The hosts were very friendly and responsive when we raised an issue in the bathroom. The location in Barnard Castle was absolutely perfect. We’d happily recommend this place to anyone visiting the area.

Absolutely lovely place, decorated to a high standard and exceptionally clean! We were visiting for a wedding but the area seemed beautiful and we’d happily come back!

Perfect cottage Positive: The cottage was beautiful, decor outstanding, facilities and location for our friends wedding... just perfect Negative: Nothing

A perfect place for us to stay whilst we attended a family wedding. The property was decorated to a high standard. It was clean, cosy and had all the amenities we needed. The location is fabulous and convenient for shopping and town. We will certainly return to explore the area more when we have more time!

Charged full price for the place 63 days ahead of arrival which I was very unhappy about. Positive: Location was good. Good amount of living space for x4 people. Kitchen had good facilities, bathrooms both fitted nice. Living room cosy,especially in winter Negative: The beds were horrendous. Mattresses were awful in all x3 beds, felt like lying on concrete and we prefer a firm mattress! The x2 beds in the big room were so squeaky which meant every time someone turned over in the night (which was a lot because the mattresses were awful) the other person woke up. Also, if you are over 6 foot, the foot board in the other bed makes in uncomfortable to sleep as the person keeps kicking the footboard. Charged full price for the place 63 days ahead of arrival without warning which I was unhappy about. Only meant to be x30 days. Took hosts a while to sort out and get money back to me. Also we were staying here for a wedding, asked for late checkout which was not accommodated even though the cottage did not have anyone checking in that day. Only really wanted an extra hour or so as we were travelling back to Scotland.

Fantastic place to stay, well worth the price and the cleanliness was fantastic.

Perfect Holiday Cottage and Great Value for Money Positive: Was given the wrong PIN code to access the key safe but managed to contact the host after a short while and gain entry and the issue was recitifed immediately

Lovely cottage, fabulous location for walking to all amenities and lovely walks from the doorstep. Only issue was the parking, we had to pay to park in the Morrison’s car park, however this is no fault of the owner and it was a busy bank holiday weekend. We would definitely return and recommend to friends.

When our Christmas plans fell through at the last minute, we needed somewhere to stay as a family. Hexkler’s Cottage was perfect. Spacious, cosy and just what we needed. This was our first visit to Barnard Castle - what a lovely town! Thank you for making our Christmas so wonderful

Stylish & convenient but take care with steps! This is a very nice property which has been renovated and decorated very beautifully. However, I was on holiday with my 83 year-old mother and there were numerous trip hazards in the property. The upstairs bathroom in particular had two very steep steps down which was quite nerve racking for both of us. Other than that, it was a very convenient location in a nice town. The only other complaint was that I had to get in touch with the agency twice to receive codes for check-in. After the first time I had been told that I would receive information six hours before check-in however this was not received until around three hours before checking which made me feel a little uncomfortable, but once we received the information everything .told okay.

Lovely cottage, full of character and very tastefully refurbished to a high standard. Great location, only few minutes walk to Barnard Castle town centre. On street parking a bit hit and miss but Morrissons literally at back of property and parking there for through the day after 2pm. Just be aware the there are two steep steps into the bathroom which could be a problem for elderly or those with mobility problems as no handrail. Really enjoyed our stay and would certainly go back again.

Spent a couple of nights here for my wife’s big birthday. It couldn’t have been more perfect, it was just what she wanted. Thank you 🤩

Avoid this cottage whilst building works are going on (which will be months). Totally ruined holiday. Absolutely no mention of this beforehand, we would have cancelled our trip had we known. Once paid full amount, key code was withheld until we paid more money for ‘insurance’, this detail was hidden in small print. Both bathrooms smelt of drains. Such a shame as it was a birthday celebration, one guest never stayed at all and one left early. Completely useless ‘customer service’.

Positive: Nice little house, comfy beds, very close to town. Quirky decor and furnishings. Quick response from Host & Stay. Negative: Very dusty in places. Pet hairs on the throws on the sofa. The small courtyard needed a good clean and there was a few bags of dog poo on the ground. We were told they’d be removed but they were still there when we checked out 2 days later!

This is a beautiful place. So well decorated it feels luxurious staying there. Lovely little touches with the toiletries. We would definitely recommend.

Excellently located, beautiful cottage in the heart of town. Positive: Location, location, location. Such proximity to shops, restaurants, cafes, pubs and local landmarks. We had a couple of issues with lack of storage and the back yard area not being cleaned. But they were immediately addressed to our satisfaction. Lovely interior design and a beautiful stove fire. Would definitely recommend as a unique bolthole in Barnard Castle. Negative: The cottage is not particularly user-friendly for those staying 2 weeks or more. We asked for a clean midway through our stay but were told it would cost extra, which didn’t seem too fair. There should also be more supplies provided for a 2 week stay such as bin bags. Finally, the decor - while very tasteful - is very dark toned. It would be fantastic if more lamps were added in the ground floor rooms. But, over all, very few complaints at all. Thanks for a great visit.

Positive: Bathroom was great. Shower room also makes it good when there's 2 couples. Room cosy with log burner would be great for a winter break. Negative: Not much to dislike. Road works outside made parking a little awkward especially as it's a residential area. But that can't be helped; we were just unlucky to book at that time. I did complain that I had to pay an insurance premium AFTER I'd confirmed booking and paid. Think this should've been made clearer.

Good location, clean property and well equipped Positive: Property had everything I needed. Good facilities, warm and spacious. The old style of the property was great and good to see original structures in the property. Negative: I requested a late checkout by 2 hours and was denied it. I think if people are travelling for work etc it would be nice to have the option.

Didn’t sleep well. Positive: Great location, spacious rooms, quiet. Negative: Cobwebs in the bedrooms. Dog hairs everywhere. Could smell dog poo near the stairs.

The images on the website are clearly well lit as the property was very dark inside and actually oppressive. So much so that when we spoke to our neighbours they had also stayed previously and they agreed all rooms were dark and dismal. This is such a shame as the property is beautiful and could be so welcoming and cosy. You can clearly see the owner has spared no expense with the fixtures and fittings. I raised issue immediately with VRBO to advise that cleaning was questionable and this had been commented on in previous reviews. The town is lovely and we can’t wait to return to the area again. This review does not detract from VRBO who have been exceptional with advice, instructions and assistance throughout our stay we would definitely book via them again.

An enjoyable stay despite the difficulty of finding anywhere to park. Positive: It was convenient for our purposes. Probably v cosy in the winter. Plenty of hanging space. Clean and sensibly organised kitchen. V comfortable lounge. Negative: Although comfortable overall, there are a number of points worth noting: Parking is VERY difficult. The steps down into to the upstairs bathroom are tricky and potentially dangerous without any grab-handle. The height of the bathroom sinks and mirrors are v inconvenient if you happen to be more than 4’ but less than 5’ 7” tall. The pervasive smell of drains /dampness in the downstairs bathroom was a bit off- putting. Failure to provide a tea towel (glasses didn’t fit in the dishwasher) or kitchen towel seemed penny-pinching. Couldn’t see the point of two double beds in the same room when that meant there was inadequate space each side- just one v small impractical table squeezed between the two. It is a v dark cottage (inevitable for its age and location) therefore electric lights were needed at all times. Finally, we felt the beds had been made very sloppily and the stairs had either not been vacuumed or vacuumed perfunctorily.

Very nice place, great location, parking not the best but cannot be helped

We recently stayed here the cottage had a great location, making it easy to access local attractions. However, our experience was marred by cleanliness issues that significantly impacted our stay. Upon arrival, we discovered that the property had not been cleaned from the previous guests. The bed had been used, which was particularly disappointing. Thankfully, there were two extra beds available that hadn’t been used, but the overall impression was still affected by the lack of cleanliness. The kitchen and bathroom bins hadn’t been emptied, and we found used towels and a bath mat with dirty marks. Additionally, there were crumbs scattered on the kitchen floor, which made it feel unwelcoming. We contacted Airbnb for assistance, and they instructed us to leave the key in the lockbox so the cleaning team could come in the next day. Unfortunately, when we returned, the property was exactly as we left it that morning, with no sign of cleaning having taken place.

Perfect, central location. Positive: Spacious, lovely bathroom. Perfect location Negative: Too dark.

Location was very good Positive: Very spacious Negative: Nothing much

Lovely cosy, modern central cottage with everything you could need Positive: The cottage was modern, well decorated and nicely furnished, plenty of room and added bonus of a downstairs shower room as well as main bathroom. Everything you need for a short break away Very central for the town within a 2 minute walk Negative: The BT TV service kept flashing on and off so was impossible to watch terrestrial TV, but only a problem once home on an evening. Cottage is very dark with the dark paintwork and thick voil so needed the lights on all the time - left the bathroom light on at night as even the carpet was black so was afraid we would fall downstairs in the night 😀

We had an excellent stay at Hecklers Cottage and couldn’t recommend it more highly. The property was spotless, beautifully presented, and had everything we needed for a comfortable and relaxing visit. The attention to detail really stood out, and it felt like a true home away from home. The location is fantastic, with stunning surroundings and plenty to explore nearby. It was the perfect place to unwind while still being close to local attractions. Communication with the host was smooth and friendly throughout, making the whole experience even better. We wouldn’t hesitate to stay here again and will definitely be recommending Hecklers Cottage to friends and family.

Great location perfect for just walking around the town.

Lovely property with a mix of modern and character. Well stocked with welcome pack(tea coffee shower gels etc) and nice and clean. Near local shops and supermarket. Parking on street was busy but we got parked every time, just not right outside the door which was no problem.

Positive: Clean, good location, quirky decor

Brilliant! Would definitely stay again! Positive: Beautiful property and very easy to find. Even though it was on a busy street, it was very quiet. Underfloor heating was lovely! Enough facilities available to us including toiletries/tea and coffee! Very central in Barnard Castle and Morrisons 2 mins round the corner. Plenty of parking available on the street free of charge as well!

Lovely place to stay, very cosy, plenty of everything you need in the house, and superb location - quiet yet central

We enjoyed our stay, lovely decor, nice fire and cosy cottage. The pillows and mattresses weren’t the best quality, there were some dirty crockery and glassware when we arrived and there was some ash in the fireplace. However the hosts responded quickly and have said they will rectify the problems!

A beautiful house on a terraced street in the centre of Barnard Castle. Nice and quiet. Close to pubs, Costa Coffee, fish and chip shops and Morrison’s was only a one minute walk away. The house was clean, warm and welcoming. Beds are cosy and spacious. Plenty of wood and coal supplied for the fire, also teabags, coffee, sugar and milk. Thank you Trevor for making the house spotless before our arrival. An additional lamp in the lounge may be a welcome addition. Everything else - perfect!

A lovely cottage, just around the corner from the centre of the town. Very well equipped, beautifully clean and very cosy. Two bathrooms was a bonus, as was the dishwasher! Thank you for a lovely stay!

Adequate Positive: The bathroom upstairs was a lovely size, the shower room downstairs could’ve had better ventilation. The kitchen was very modern. Negative: Very poor mattress & the lighting wasn’t brilliant. Bathroom smells weren’t pleasant, even on arrival! Street parking was congested.

A very lovely stay, in walking distance of everything for us

A lovely cottage- very nice interior in a good central location to explore the town

A lovely stay from start to finish. The space was clean, comfortable, and exactly as described. Great location, thoughtful touches, and a warm welcome made it feel like a home away from home. Would happily return.

This place was wonderful. The location was perfect. Two minute walk to grocery. Beautifully decorated and nice linens. Shower was great and giant soaking tub was fantastic. My only complaint was we messaged the host that we were arriving one hour earlier than planned and asked if it would be possible to check in early. I believe the response is AI generated. They said it would be Forty pounds more to check in an hour early. So we declined. The place was very nice and we would still stay there again.

We really liked Heckler's cottage. It felt rather swanky with it's modern Victorian esc decor. The living room was a comfortable place to socialise and the bathrooms were great to relax in the bath / shower in. Bedrooms were well decorated, furnished and bedding was clean and comfortable.

Great stay Positive: The house was clean, comfortable, and central. Everything we needed for a relaxing stay.

Very good for 6 guests. Positive: Two bathrooms Spacious Quirky decorations

beautifully decorated cottage right in the middle of town. couldn’t have wished for more.

Heckler's Cottage is perfectly located in a quite road just 2-3 minutes walk from the centre of Barnard Castle. The decor is superb and everything has been well done. The host is incredibly responsive. Very much enjoyed our stay.

Maison de ville très cosy et décorée avec goût. Situées en plein centre mais dans une rue très calme; l’emplacement est parfait.

Positive: Everything the house was lovely, bed ,shower was great Negative: The living room was very dark

The Hecklers Cottage is tastefully and sympathetically restored with a modern feel.. very comfortable with great surroundings and a beautiful market town feel. We had a lovely and restful stay in Barnard Castle

we had a fantastic weekend Positive: fab location beautiful little cottage with beautiful decor credit to the owner

Perfect

Positive: Everything absoloutley perfect Negative: N/A

Perfect central location in a beautifully decorated cottage Positive: The furnishings and decor were top Quality could not fault anything Under floor heating definitely a bonus

A lovely cottage, great location for the town and some beautiful walks. We really enjoyed our stay. Thank you

Fabulous. Positive: Beautifully decorated Negative: Only one shower working during our stay.

Great stay, well located and well equipped Positive: Loved the quirky style . Even though it was in the town centre rooms were very quiet Negative: Nothing

Fabulous cottage in central Barnard Castle. Toasty warm on arrival - lovely underfloor heating and wood burning stove . Plenty of space for the 4 of us . Great to have downstairs loo/shower as well as luxury bathroom upstairs. Would 100% recommend and would definitely go back.

A great week will be back Positive: Very well presented and cosy. Negative: Shower not in use upstairs

We enjoyed the property very much. Minutes on foot to a large supermarket and many restaurants. Friendly and responsive hosts once they were finally contacted (see below) through Host and Stay. The only downside was the management firm Host and Stay. They were very inflexible on the 4 pm entry, and they would not even allow us to place our luggage in the foyer prior to this time. When we asked for help with heating and using the clothes washer, all we got were text messages. It took an entire day for them to relay our needs to the hosts, who then drove over and sorted things out. This is unacceptable. We also did not appreciate the coercive manner in which we were 'asked' to buy damage insurance for our stay. Note that each bathroom only had 1 toilet paper roll and we were expected to purchase more. How cheap! The hosts kindly provided more. We will be avoiding Host and Stay in the future.

Elegant and convenient. Beautifully decorated. Close to shopping and attractions Positive: Clean, cosy, beautifully decorated. Negative: We couldn’t stay longer!

Lovely cottage in centre of Barnard Castle. Very close to local supermarket and within walking distance of local pubs. It was very clean and a lovely place to stay. Parking is limited on street but plenty of parking available within walking distance.

I’ll start of by saying the cottage is absolutely beautiful! Stunning location a short walk from Barnard castle, everything that you may need is already in the house. We really enjoyed our stay :)

Immaculately clean and beautifully furnished, our cottage was a delight. Just a couple of things to be aware of - some room doorways have a step, also there is a £60 cleaning charge and a £30 damage waiver so you need to add £90 to the first price you see, quite a lot if you are only staying a couple of nights.

Beautiful cottage which was close to everything and was extremely clean, and beautifully decorated. We loved our stay

Amazing Positive: Excellent location. Shops bars and supermarket minutes away. The house was beautiful and very clean. The facilities and equipment were amazing. Negative: Everything was perfect.

This is a very special place to stay. The cottage is decorated beautifully and the town is so picturesque. Charlie is an excellent host and always quick to reply to messages and help if needed. We would definitely recommend the cottage and location. The photographs do not lie!

Lovely property in a great location. Positive: Excellent location Beautiful property - really cosy and well maintained with everything we needed. Negative: Request for further payment for insurance before they would send the key safe details. The extraction fan in the kitchen was very noisy There was a faint smell of drains in the kitchen and shower room end of the house.

Great,comfortable, well decorated it was just the parking Positive: Very comfortable Negative: Parking was difficult, plus it was dark as we couldn’t enter property until after 4pm

Positive: The location was perfect and the decor is lovely! Negative: The bedding smelt a little bit foisty, as though it had been dried on a radiator.

Lovely place, really well decorated. Heated flooring was a nice surprise!

Great comfortable cottage in good location Positive: Great central location, very well decorated throughout. Negative: Nothing to dislike

A very well decorated, comfortable and well equipped house in a very central location of a nice town with a great curry house.

Good location and very convenient check in

Overall the property is as described and perfect location for a break in Barnard Castle. However, we had to vacuum the floors in the kitchen and dining room on arrival, clean the dining table, and the master bed had animal hairs and marks on the bedding.

Lovely place to stay!

Lyndsey Beautiful property. Spotlessly clean. Very well equipped kitchen and comfortable sitting room. Only one thing is bedroom with 2 doubles, beds a little hard but that is just my preference. Great location for day trips. Would highly recommend

Clean, comfortable and cosy - the cottage is a lovely place. It’s a short walk into town, castle, museum, shops and restaurants/pubs. Morrison’s supermarket is also around the corner to pick up bits and pieces which was handy!