Guests say
Frater House in Norfolk receives high praise for its modern, clean, and spacious design, with a private garden that attracts wildlife. Guests appreciate the peaceful location, ideal for both relaxation and exploring local attractions. The property's light and airy atmosphere, well-equipped kitchen, and thoughtful touches like a welcome basket contribute to a comfortable stay. Some guests suggest improvements in maintenance and clearer signage for locating the property.
Guests that stayed at this property said
The majority of guests report the property as spotless and very clean, with particular mention of the bathrooms and bedrooms. However, a few guests noted areas that could benefit from deeper cleaning, such as the kitchen and outdoor furniture, which slightly lowers the score.
The property is appreciated for its peaceful and quiet rural setting, with proximity to local amenities and attractions. Some guests found it difficult to locate, and the village itself is described as not particularly picturesque, which slightly affects the score.
Guests find the beds comfortable and the property warm, with a wood fire adding to the cosy atmosphere. The spacious design and privacy of the garden are also highlighted. Some guests mentioned issues with light in the bedrooms and noise carrying due to the open design, which slightly impacts the score.
The property is well-equipped with a good kitchen, snooker table, and wood supply for the fire. However, some guests experienced issues with the hot water system, TV signal, and suggested the addition of items like a hot tub or BBQ. Maintenance concerns, such as door locks and cleanliness of outdoor furniture, are noted.
Guests frequently mention thoughtful gestures such as a welcome basket and fresh flowers, which enhance their stay. The host's helpfulness and responsiveness are also commended. It should be noted that while these gifts are appreciated, they are not guaranteed for every stay.
About this property
Harleston 6.4 miles. A fantastic, contemporary house located in the village of Denton nestling in the beautiful countryside between Harleston and Bungay. This well-furnished property offers spacious, light accommodation perfect for families or couples wanting to relax in a well-appointed location great for exploring the Waveney Valley and beyond. Step into the double height entrance hall, which leads through to the open plan sitting and dining area featuring a wood burning stove and wide doors opening out onto the garden. The dining area carries a contemporary feel, ideal for enjoying breakfast through to dinner. French doors will take you out on to the deck where you can enjoy some alfresco dining on a warm evening. The kitchen opens onto the dining area and is well equipped for holiday catering. On the other side of the entrance hall there are two good-sized bedrooms, one twin and one double, arranged close to the bathroom and utility room. Each bedroom has a door to the outside so you can step out directly into the sunshine. Completing the downstairs layout, the study offers a collection of books and games for a rainy day or a quiet get-away space for those who need a moment or two to check up on their work. The stair leads up to the grand first floor suite over-looking the living area. Enjoy the luxury of a super king sized bed and convenience of the ensuite bathroom. Wake up to the morning sun and open the doors onto a balcony with views of trees and sky. Why not enjoy a glass of wine in the garden after a day exploring? The Waveney Valley is a place of great beauty for gentle walks with special interest to artists, photographers and nature lovers. The local towns of Harlston and Bungay are rich in history, fine churches and excellent local produce. Children will enjoy the playground just a field away and the aviation museum at Flixton is on the door step. Within half an hour you are in reach of Norwich, the Broads at Beccles or the East coast. Whatever your age and interests you will find plenty of opportunities to make lasting memories while you are staying at Frater House.
Located on the Norfolk/Suffolk border, Harleston lies within easy reach of the Suffolk Heritage Coast. This town boasts ancient inns, restaurants, cafes, an art gallery, a local museum, and a weekly market. There are plenty of walking opportunities through the countryside and day trips to include; Aviation & Steam Train Museums, Castles, Cathedrals, Breweries, Vineyards, the famous Norfolk Broads, and the Sandringham Estate.
Accommodation
Three bedrooms: 1 x king-size with en-suite bath, shower over, basin and WC, 1 x ground-floor double, 1 x ground-floor twin.
Ground-floor bathroom with bath, separate shower, basin and WC.
Open-plan living area with kitchen, dining area and sitting area with woodburning stove.
Utility.
Study
Central and underfloor heating powered by woodburning stove.
Electric oven and hob, microwave, fridge/freezer, washing machine dishwasher.
TV with Freeview, WiFi, table top pool table, selection of books, games and DVDs.
Fuel, power and starter pack for stove included in rent.
Bed linen and towels included in rent.
Ample off-road parking.
Private lawned garden with patio area and furniture.
Sorry, no pets and no smoking.
Shop and pub 5.2 miles
Reviews (41)
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Kirsten
The photos are showing a very modern house, but in fact it's been built in the 90s and frankly, it feels a little bit tired and could use a little love. The good things first: the beds were very comfortable, with clean sheets, no problems there. The bedrooms were of a good proportion too, with enough space to put clothes etc, and clean. The living-room space is nice and airy, great for a family of 5. The garden was lovely. But: The weird self-made front door was a bit off-putting; the lock was quite hard to use. It was impossible to lock the door from the inside; we locked it from the outside and then got back in through the back. Not ideal. The house could have been a litte bit cleaner overall: the bathroom fittings were all very clean, but there was quite a bit of dust in the corners of the bathrooms and the living area. And there were dead flies and moths lying around literally everywhere! The kitchen, sadly, needs a good deep-clean. The floor was sticky and the counters and sink had been only hastily wiped, leaving ugly streaks. The electric kettle was disgusting - encrusted with thick layers of scale. The small tiles on the back of the wall under the window were really filthy, particularly behind the sink - when I wiped them down even just gently, layers of grime came off. That's not the kind of hygiene I like in a place where I make food. (Also, there was no cafetière for making coffee; luckily we brought our own). Well-equipped, as others stated, the kitchen is not. The stove is an old electric one, taking ages to get water to boil, and the dishwasher had a setup that made it impossible to load the pint drinking glasses without falling over. Also, it's in desperate need of de-scaling. All the glasses and crockery had a gritty, chalky feel after having been "cleaned" in it. The kitchen was the biggest let-down for me. The outdoor furniture would have been nice to use, as it was a very hot couple of days, but it was dirty, covered in bird droppings and cobwebs. I don't want to have to clean the garden furniture in a house where I only stay for three nights! In the heat it was especially bad that the three doors in the living space (two downstairs and the one in the big mezzanine) could only be opened all the way, not just tilted so we had to close them completely at night, making the room insufferably hot for my daughter. The vent that we opened didn't really help. As there were no insect screens, in the evening the house was teeming with moths and grasshoppers. There were lots of spiders, too; not ideal for my somewhat arachnophobic daughters. When I got the owner's 26-page instructions of how to care for the house, I wasn't expecting a property that has obviously gotten so little love recently. The village is ok, we did manage to take a decent walk, but it's not your picture-book English village. The neighbour's property across the street with its strange wolf-head effigy and "up yours!" sign was downright creepy. We did enjoy driving to Kessingland beach, visit the fab aviation museum and taking a day trip to Norwich; however unless this house gets the makeover it needs, I wouldn't really recommend it, I'm afraid!
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Veronica
Very conducive to groups who want to spend time together. Highly recommended.
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Tazkia
It was quite hard to find the cottage first so signage could be clearer - the outside could also do with some cleaning as there were cobwebs everywhere. The inside was mostly clean and every consideration taken into account.