Why our guests love to stay at North Cottage Cromer
3 minute read:
When we first started to rent North Cottage Cromer to guests for thier holidays we decided we wanted every guest to have the same personal experience we look for when we go on holiday.
For us that means greeting all our guests personally, showing them around the house, answering any queries and suggesting things they might want to see and do during their stay. We love to share our enthusiasm for Cromer and North Norfolk. We also enjoy hearing where our guests have previously been on their holidays and why they’ve chosen to come to Norfolk.
Our guests come from all over the world: Hong Kong and Singapore, California, France and Germany. But mostly guests drive no more than three or four hours to stay at North Cottage Cromer. Many of them already know the area because they have family nearby who they’ve come to spend time with, or they once came on holiday here when they were young, or because they come back to Norfolk year after year.
What’s our guests’ reaction when they arrive at the house?
One of the most unexpected things for us is the genuine glee and excitement our guests show when they arrive at the house. ‘Oh it’s much bigger than it looks in the photos’ or ‘Wow look, you can see the sea!’ The master bedroom, with its huge en-suite and the Garden Room especially evoke a very strong response. The table football is definitely an instant magnet for teenagers who often have to be dragged away to help unpack the car.
Funnily enough these reactions were exactly our response too when we first saw the house. We couldn’t believe how close it was to the beach, and how it appeared to almost be hidden away in a quiet corner of Cromer, unseen from any roads. We often stand on Cromer Pier sure that you must be able to see North Cottage Cromer – because it’s such a big house and it’s so close to the beach. But no, you really can’t see it, it’s completely hidden from view. Recently we had some drone footage filmed by local photographer Lloyd Birch. When we saw the birds-eye view video we were even more amazed you can’t see the house from the Pier. It’s so huge and so close to the Pier!
We also enjoy seeing guests at the end of their stay. We like hearing their stories and what they’ve loved about their stay. Whether it’s their amazing catch while crabbing off Cromer Pier, Go-Karting at Cromer’s Karttrak, or learning to Surf at Cromer’s Glide Surf School. Or they’ve ventured further afield and taken a boat trip from Blakeney to see the thousands of seals, or ridden the historic Poppy Line steam train from Sheringham to Holt.
Children love the nearby play area in North Lodge Park and of course the boating pond right outside our gate. The café provides some small toy boats. Many of our younger guests can’t resist a final sail before they climb into the car and head for home. They hope the boats will still be here next summer (clue, they will).
What do our guests love most about their holiday in Cromer?
Our guests love the choice of pubs, cafes, restaurants and take-aways. Where did they buy their fish and chips – No.1 or Mary Jane’s? Some of them tell us they tried both to put the local rivalry to the test. We’re not saying who comes out on top! Many guests tell us they’ve fallen in love with the food and atmosphere at the award winning Gunton Arms at Thorpe Market. Then there’s usually a lively discussion about the restaurant’s world class art collection – including provocative works by Tracey Emin, Lucian Freud, Gilbert & George and Paula Rego.
Of course last summer there was another artist to talk about, who had been to Cromer on his ‘Spraycation’. Banksy left his mark on the sea wall at the end of the Promenade. He sprayed images of banner waving hermit crabs. Many of our guests were eager to see the artwork that had made the national headlines. The council has attempted to save it from the ravages of the sea by coating it with a protective coating. The artwork is still there to see this summer.
What do our guests say in their reviews of North Cottage Cromer?
After our guests drive away we get to read their reviews. We ask everyone to let us know how they’ve enjoyed the house. They always do – either on our google review page or Airbnb. We’re thrilled to have around 60 reviews, all of them five stars. They all mention how fantastic the location is and how big the house is. They love how they could all find a quiet space – but also enjoy being together in the huge garden room, or seated around the dining table.
Christmas dinner in August for one family!
One four generation family even told us they’d enjoyed Christmas dinner together – in August – because they’d missed the December festivities due to restrictions. The sparkling cleanliness of the house is another topic often singled out for special mention. One of our guests was so impressed they noted it would almost be a challenge to find a trace of human DNA. We enjoyed that immensely! We’ve also had departing guests ask us if they were the first people ever to stay in the house – because everything seems to be so fresh and clean. We really appreciate those comments, especially as we often touch up paint work between guests to keep everything looking its best.
We hope you’ll enjoy your stay in North Norfolk, hopefully at North Cottage Cromer. We’d love to welcome you, and hear all about your holiday at the end of your stay.
