Character Cottage Moments from Brixham Harbour

Total disaster

1.0

Leaving

− We were threatened and attacked by elderly neighbours. Pre-arrival communication was helpful and the cottage was clean. My wife, son, disabled daughter and I met friends, attended the Sardine Festival, walked around the beautiful harbour, watched the boats, swam in the sea, and caught fresh mackerel to cook on a BBQ. This caused the incident. We knocked on the doors of 3 neighbours, two of whom answered and were happy and thanked us for being considerate. We started to cook the fish until a rather agitated elderly resident from number 4 came out and shouted that we had to immediately put the BBQ out as it would burn down the house. We tried to placate him, explaining that it was “just a BBQ and there was no risk to the house”. He continued to shout that his wife was having chemotherapy, with the implication that somehow BBQs had caused the cancer. We were very sad to hear this news and my wife as a nurse tried to reassure him, having earlier chatted with his wife and offered to help with the weeding. The man then entered our property and was very aggressive. I asked him to “please go away”. This didn’t help. His wife ran out and started screaming and swearing using words that were quite surprising. We avoided any further engagement and any eye contact to deescalate the issue. The argument presented as far as I could pick out among the swear words appeared to suggest the BBQ had caused her cancer, the smoke was killing the local animals, she hoped my wife and I would get and die of cancer, that may son (who looked a little shocked by the event) would be adopted, and that we should promptly return to London (we’re not from London) or else they were going to make our stay hell. We were then soaked by the elderly lady who had turned on the hosepipe and targeted us and the BBQ from over the fence. After some more screaming and swearing the couple returned to their house. Our night, and mackerel, were pretty much ruined, and we left early the next day.

okay

4.0

Comfortable bed, easy communication. Dog friendly

− no hot water in bathroom sink Damp in kitchen and lounge paint peeling off General cleanliness poor - indoors cobwebs outdoors furniture filthy Dirty stair carpets Poor tv

Despite a few shortcomings we enjoyed our stay. The cottage has character. There was an issue with a blocked pipe and we

8.0

Location was good, fairly short walk to the town and slightly longer to the harbour. Beds were comfortable and inside the property was clean. Fairly well equipped.

− The stairs are very steep, particularly those that lead out to the road at the back. The outside areas were a little tired and could do with a clean up. There was no washing up bowl for the sink, but I was informed this would be rectified. The smaller bedroom does not have windows only a door to the utility room.

Superb

9.0

Not as it seems

2.0

− Claustrophobic living area,certainly not for anyone with mobility issues as the stair from living room at 45 degree angle.Dangerous step from living room to kitchen.Extremely dangerous step coming from the 1st bedroom onto the stair.The view as described is looking into the back court of the Fire station and onto the water training tower.The decking at the back is split on to 2 levels access to the top level is by another set of steep angled stairs.Parking is a great problem.

Exceptional

10.0