Lakefield House

Dear Zoe We are very pleased to hear that you enjoyed your stay at Lakefield House. Many thanks for your feedback. 1. Heating - if you put the heating on (the boost button on the boiler room as per the instructions) as soon as you arrive, the house, if it is not already, should be nice and warm by the time you have unpacked. 2. There is an array of leaflets in the bureau in the main sitting room. In addition, our arrival instructions suggest places to eat, cafes with great views, shops and walks. 3. Noted re the bedding. We'll try to simplify the instructions. 4. We are sorry to hear that the 10:00am checkout felt too early. We have discussed this with Sykes/Lakelovers and also checked more widely on the Internet and it appears that this time is completely standard across most UK holiday rentals. We also discussed it with our housekeepers but they feel that they simply could not manage to clean the house in time if the checkout were later. It is essential for our cleaning team to have enough time to prepare both Lakefield House (a large 5 bedroom home with multiple living spaces and bathrooms) and the adjoining Lakefield Cottage for the next arrivals and having a later check out time would put them under even more pressure than they are at present. Generally, when we stay, we pack up most things on the Friday evening, leaving just overnight things, the bins and the fridges etc to be cleared on Saturday morning. Many thanks. Guy and Jane

Dear Susie: We are delighted that you enjoyed your stay at Lakefield House - thank you for taking the time to leave this review. We hope you will visit us again soon. Guy and Jane

Dear Chris: We are delighted that you and your family enjoyed your stay at Lakefield House. We were very grateful that you took the time to leave these very kind comments. Come back and visit us soon!. Best wishes, Guy and Jane

Dear Alice: Thank you very much for your kind comments, which mean a lot to us. We hope that you will return to Lakefield House in the future. Guy and Jane

Dear George, Thank you for these kind comments. We are delighted that you enjoyed your stay at Lakefield House and hope that we can welcome you back before too long. Guy and Jane

We are very pleased that you enjoyed your stay. Not sure what to make of the boot room comment. The utility room contains a washing machine additional deep freeze, central heating boiler , coat rack, boot rack and a drying pulley.

Dear Lisa We are delighted that you enjoyed your stay at Lakefield House . We certainly recommend eating at the places you mention and it is a good idea to book in advance. We are always happy to recommend walks and restaurants/pubs/cafes. Come back and visit us soon!

Dear Winifride: Thank you for these kind comments. We are delighted that you enjoyed your stay at Lakefield House. Yes, the Ospreys on Esthwaite Water are nesting as usual. We hope to welcome you back in the near future.

Dear Bethan: Thank you for your kind comments and we are delighted that you liked the house and enjoyed your stay. We are very pleased indeed that you have booked another week at Lakefield House in 2026 - we look forward to welcoming you back! The Tower Bank Arms (Near Sawrey)and Cuckoo Brow Inn (Far Sawrey) are great pubs and do good food and many of our guests have eaten there. Sawrey House is a great find for afternoon tea as you discovered. Guy and Jane

Dear Diane: Thank you for your kind comments. We would be delighted to welcome you back to Lakefield House for a third time! Guy and Jane

Dear Rhianna Many thanks for your kind comments – we are delighted that you enjoyed your stay at Lakefield House. We look forward to welcoming you back before too long. Guy and Jane

Dear Deborah We are so pleased that you enjoyed your stay. We are sorry that our agents failed to tell you about the ironing board and iron - they did not check with us. We try to give all our guests our contact details in advance of their stay so that they can contact us with any questions or queries. Yes, our housekeeper is wonderful and is a great fund of local knowledge! We hope you will come and stay at Lakefield House next time you visit the Lakes and are always delighted to help with any queries guests may have. Best wishes, Guy and Jane

Dear Kate Thank you very much for this - we are so pleased that you enjoyed your stay and would be delighted to welcome you back to Lakefield House.

Dear Petra: Thank you very much for your kind comments. It was a pleasure to have you stay at Lakefield House and we are very pleased that you enjoyed your holiday. We hope to welcome you back in the not-too-distant future.

Many thanks for your comments – we are delighted that you enjoyed your stay at Lakefield. We do have a large drying room in the boiler room next to the entrance hall but we shall certainly bear your comments in mind. We look forward to welcoming you again to Lakefield House.

Dear Richard Many thanks for this - we are very pleased that you enjoyed your stay at Lakefield House and we look forward to welcoming you back for another (4th) holiday.

Many thanks for your kind comments. We are delighted that you enjoyed your holiday at Lakefield House. We look forward to welcoming you back in the near future!

We note the comments made by the guest. We consider the comments to be unfair, misleading and incorrect. We observe that none of these comments were made during the guest’s stay despite guests being invited to get in touch immediately with any concerns. We reply in detail as follows: 1. Decor and Maintenance: Lakefield is kept in excellent condition with significant expenditure every year (over £50k last financial year). Visit England inspect annually (the latest inspection was 15 May 2023, 2 months before this guest’s stay) and were very happy with the way in which it is maintained, awarding it a comfortable 4 star rating. It is kept decorated on a rolling basis e.g. the main sitting room has been redecorated twice since we purchased the property in 2007. Some re-decoration in the hallways and one bedroom is already scheduled for the close season. The main kitchen, the main sitting room curtains and sofas have all been replaced in the last 4 years in addition to significant other work and expenditure. All the windows have been replaced with modern double glazing. All the bathrooms and bedrooms have been thoroughly renewed/updated during our period of ownership. We aim to provide a comfortable family home experience rather than a minimalist environment. We are sorry if this guest was looking for something different from what was advertised and apparent from the photos. 2. Cleanliness: Our cleanliness was highly rated on VisitEngland's report in May, with a 5-star rating. None of the guest's comments are supported by the report - indeed they are contradicted. Our housekeeping team puts a great deal of effort into cleaning Lakefield to a high standard, including dusting picture frames and other higher areas. Visit England’s comments were: Cleanliness Overall housekeeping continues to meet a high standard across the accommodation. In the lounge and dining areas, the flooring and furniture are cleaned very well. In the kitchens, deep cleaning of the appliances and other areas has been undertaken to a high standard. The bedrooms are maintained well ensuring all light fittings, ledges and furniture are cleaned well. The beds are neatly presented, with carpets, furnishings and furniture cleaned well. In the bathrooms, detailed attention has been given to silicone, grouting, and ensuring all chrome, glass and mirrors are polished. 3.Electrics and safety: Lakefield's electrics were thoroughly checked by a qualified electrician and any recommended upgrades immediately implemented about 2 years ago, and an Electrical Installation Condition Report certificate (EICR) issued. Lakelovers have our current EICR certificate. PAT testing is carried out annually on all electrical appliances and Lakelovers have the PAT-testing certificates. We assume that the extra wiring of which the guests complain are the extension leads (all PAT tested) we have placed for guests' convenience. The purpose of these is to allow a number of guests wishing to charge mobile phones/laptops/tablets simultaneously. Most guests appreciate this extra amenity. There is one electric shower with a notice asking guests to turn off the switch to the electric shower when not in use. No other guests appear to have had a problem with this simple request. We have installed the latest mains-operated fire alarm system and other fire safety equipment. The property is inspected regularly by a fire safety specialist to ensure it achieves a high standard of fire safety. 4. Welcome pack/bin liners: We consulted Visit England in May 2023 about what is considered appropriate as a welcome pack. They informed us that we already provide significantly more than most owners of self-catering properties. Specifically, there is a caddy under the kitchen sink with cleaning materials, including a roll of black bin liners. If the guest had looked in the caddy she would have found the bin liners. 5. Knives: We provided at least 4 brand new, good quality sharp kitchen knives in May 2023. We also provide a knife sharpener. Most guests comment on how well-equipped the kitchen is. 6. Table tennis table: The table tennis table is stated to be in the garage rather than a purpose-built games room. If it has become dusty, it is a matter of a few minutes to wipe it over and most guests are glad to have the extra amenity. 7. Games: The extensive collection of games is supplied as an extra. Guests are requested to replace games with all pieces but unfortunately this is not within our control nor is the manner in which they replace games in the cupboard. 8. Photos and Lakelovers website: The guest complains about the photos of the interior of the house. The photos of the property on the website, taken by Lakelovers, provide an accurate representation of the house. This guest gives no indication of any way in which they are misleading. 9. Carpets: The carpets throughout are in good condition. Rugs (high-quality Persian, Turkish and Afghan rugs) are placed on top in some high-traffic areas to protect the carpets. The carpets are not threadbare. Visit England’s comments were: “The carpets and sofas continue to be maintained and present very well.” 10. Visit England Report: As noted, Visit England, performs an independent annual detailed inspection of Lakefield, carried out by a highly experienced inspector. In addition to the comments regarding cleanliness referred to above, Visit England’s report (May 2023) stated: Public Areas The main lounge and small sitting room upstairs, provide a comfortable level of space. The areas are neatly decorated with painted and papered walls. A good selection of artwork and personal touches are displayed. The carpets and sofas continue to be maintained and present very well. Ample lighting and heating including the open fire. Bedrooms The bedrooms continue to be maintained with painted décor, quality carpets and very good furniture and furnishings. Ample space in the rooms. Ample lighting and heating provided. Some of the lamps have been replaced. The beds are firm and supportive with quality mattresses. Bedding and linen provided. Bathrooms Again the space in the ensuites and house bathrooms has been used well. In all bathrooms the décor, flooring and fixtures are maintained very well. Ample lighting and heating fitted. Kitchen The space in each kitchen has been utilised very well allowing ample surface and storage space. The units are of a very good standard and are maintained very well. All appliances are maintained well with a wide range of very good quality crockery, cutlery, and kitchen ware in place with plenty of quality pots and pans provided.

We are delighted that you enjoyed your stay at Lakefield House. Yes, the views are spectacular! We look forward to welcoming you back and thank you for recommending us to others. We have located and returned the missing item. It is a 40 min round trip to the nearest post office we assume this is why the Lakelovers cost of £15 is charged.

Thank you for these kind words. We are delighted that you enjoyed your stay at Lakefield House - come back soon!!

We are glad that Mrs Shubrati enjoyed her stay at Lakefield House and we would be delighted to welcome her back. 1. We have been discouraged about leaving non-stick frying pans because, on a regular basis, so many have been completely ruined within a short period of time. Therefore, we leave out high-quality stainless steel frying pans. We will, however, reconsider whether to leave out a non-stick frying pan. 2. There is a hair-dryer in the house for use by guests. Guests tend to move it from room to room but it is usually in one of the chests of drawers in the bedrooms. 3. Dustiness: we will raise this with our housekeeper. The property should obviously not be dusty and we are sorry if on this occasion we fell short of the high standards of cleanliness which our very hard-working housekeeping team seeks to achieve. However, if the guest had raised this concern at the beginning of their holiday, we are confident that our housekeeper would promptly have rectified any problem.