What’s included

Included in the rental price are electricity, oil for the heating and the Alpha cooker, bottled gas for the gas hob and the barbecue, logs for the wood-burning stove, use of sheets and towels, and a supply of basic kitchen essentials.

Arrival and Departure times

The barn can be booked starting on a Friday or Monday and ending on a Friday or Monday.
The majority of our lets are for weekends, but at very short notice (3 weeks or less), if we are not booked, we will take any two nights for short breaks.
In principle we work on an arrival time of 4.00 pm or later, and a departure time of 10.00 am or sooner. However in practice we will be as flexible as we can, by arrangement. It all depends on how much time we have to get the barn prepared for the next guests.

Minimum Lets

Our weekend rate costs the same for either 2 or 3 nights
During the week it’s 3 nights.
Easter is 4 nights.
New Year is 4 nights.
Christmas is 6 nights.

Deposit and Confirmation

A deposit of one third of the rental is required to reserve a booking, with the balance paid 5 weeks before the start of the rental. Any booking made less than 5 weeks ahead will require the full rental paid to secure the booking. On receipt of the deposit we will confirm the booking and send out a pre-arrival pack, normally by email, with maps and other essential information. We prefer to be paid by bank transfer, but we can take credit cards with a 2.5% fee added. (Does not apply to Debit Cards.)

Cancellations

Most people with regular travel insurance will find that they have cancellation insurance included in the cover. This would cover, typically, medical problems or family bereavement etc. It would most likely include for the rest of the group having to cancel if others have to drop out. All cancellations must be in writing, or confirmed email.

Having said that, we would always try to re-let the barn and refund the client, wherever possible, and where we can’t, we very much hope you will have suitable travel insurance to fall back on. The client remains liable for the full rental less a refund based on the following rules.

• If we can re-let the barn, for the whole period, we will send back what you have paid less a £50 admin fee.
• If we can only get a partial re-let, you would be liable for the un-let period, plus a £50 admin fee. We would refund anything you have paid more than this.
• If we are unable to re-let, you would be liable for the full rental.

If a booking is cancelled 9 months or more ahead, it might be unreasonable to hold onto the booking fee for such a time, and we may well offer to waive our rights under this cancellation clause for a small fee.

Change of booking date

If you have to change dates, we will do our best to accommodate you. However you must try to give us adequate notice; 8 weeks minimum. A change made less than 8 weeks before a booking presents us with a problem. We may well have turned down an enquiry, which, at short notice will have gone elsewhere. We are unlikely to get them back, and thus that period of the year will become void. So, after 8 weeks we must regard a change of date as a cancellation, when the above rules will apply.

Eligibility

Because of obvious problems with stag or hen parties, we reserve the right to refuse single sex groups. It’s not a given so please ask, however, for Hen Parties and the like, we would ask for a refundable housekeeping deposit. We also insist on these groups taking our housekeeping service. The house keeper will come in at lunchtime to put the communal areas back into some sort of order. At the same time she will deal with any spillages etc before they become a problem. The rate is £50 per day, and it covers for general tidying up, but not cleaning or washing up.

Number of guests

The number of guest using the property is strictly limited to 24, unless we have specifically agreed to an alternative arrangement. This particularly applies to wedding groups. Renting the barn does not entitle you to bring the entire wedding group back for a party. It also applies to groups larger than 24, where some are staying in other properties locally, and wish to join the others for dinner. We do need to discuss arrangements in advance, as the additional usage will probable incur an extra charge. Also if you have some guest leaving and others arriving, we need to know so as to be able to supply fresh bedding, and we will be making a small charge for laundry. As a guide, we will usually charge £15 a night for extra bodies exceeding 24, based on the same number of nights as the main let.

Parties

The use of the barn is restricted to the number of persons booked. You can have a party and invite extra friends by arrangement. There is a world of difference between a large family group and a full-on party for 60 or so. The latter can involve a lot more wear and tear and a lot more cleaning up afterwards. We reserve the right to make a charge for parties, and we may require a refundable deposit, which will rather depend on the situation and the numbers. We will want the housekeeper to attend the following day (included in the above charge).

Pets

There are two cottages adjoining the site. In one, Richard has a spaniel gun dog. In the other, Mike and Carrie have two golden retrievers, Harry and Ebony, and two cats, Abbey and Spot.
If your animals will get along with this lot, they are most welcome. Eventually there will be wire kennels outside, under cover, for gun dogs. The Fox Inn at Barrington, by the river, serves great food, and also allows dogs.
Please explain to your dogs that sofas and bedrooms are not their territory. Furthermore if they are wet and smelly, please put them in the boot room. If the home becomes uninhabitable due to pet odours, we won’t be able to accommodate our next guests without a major clean-up, and we will have to send you the bill! Lastly please clear up any mess they leave, inside or out.
Guests with allergies should be aware that pets will probably have been in the barn at some point.

Smoking

We do sympathise if you are a smoker, many of us were once, but your non-smoking colleagues are a fussy lot, and they really don’t like to be in a room where someone has smoked. So please don’t smoke anywhere inside, including the Terrace (because it get into the family room and laundry, and can set off the terrace smoke alarm).
If anyone does, we will have to get the place cleaned up before the next guests arrive. It’s expensive, and we‘ll be sending you a bill (expect £300-£500 !)

Catering

This is primarily a self catering holiday let; however we like to have a good selection of basics on hand. The kitchen always has salt, pepper, some olive oil, a range of spices, dried pasta, fresh herbs, and some fresh milk, tea, coffee and sugar. There will also be washing up liquid, cleaning materials and tablets for the two dishwashers. So all you have to do is bring the food you need, and if you forget something, then the small but important items will probably be there.
It helps if guests leave a few surplus items, so that we keep up a really great standard. Try not to be the one in a hundred who packs everything (theirs and ours !) and takes it home !
We can also do breakfast by arrangement. And there are a range of catering options ranging from a hot meal on arrival, to pre-prepared meals, to a country cook, all subject to prior arrangement.

Bed and Breakfast

We sometimes do B & B, by arrangement, typically for wedding guests nearby. For a simple continental breakfast please add £5 a head or £9 for a full English breakfast. It doesn’t matter which you choose, but it has to be for the whole group, (excluding small children)

Care of the Property

Please treat the barn as you would your own home. Kicking a football around the flower beds would not be appreciated. If you break or damage anything; please let us know so we can replace it. We probably won’t charge you, but we reserve the right to do so if we think it’s appropriate.

Cleaning up

We present the barn in really top class condition, and we price the barn on the basis that self catering implies self cleaning, so we ask guests to make a reasonable effort to ensure that following guests enjoy the same standard. And if you want to know what to do with the beds; stripping them is preferable to making them!
Having said that, the housekeepers will be coming behind you to wash the floors and make the beds and get everything spruced up and tidy. Turnaround times can be quite short, and the housekeeper may not have 2 hours to spare to clean the ovens, and wash the dishes.
However, you are on holiday, and we totally understand if you don’t want to clean up. Just tell us in advance and we will lay on the extra staff to get it all done for you. We will charge you, but it won’t cost much, and you can relax in peace. Also, you can have someone in during your stay to make beds, wash up, prepare a meal, whatever; just ask.
We would need to know at the time of booking which alternative you prefer.

Recycling

There are plenty of recycling boxes and dustbins, round the corner from the kitchen. We suggest you choose one box (or dustbin) for green bottles, one for brown and one for clear glass. They also take plastic bottles, cardboard, and newspaper, and washed cans. Other rubbish just goes in black bin bags, and gets picked up on Monday mornings, by the entrance.

Environmental Considerations

We have made a big effort in this area. We have rainwater harvesting, solar panels, ground source heat pump, under floor heating etc. Bedrooms have a master switch that will turn off everything including the bathroom. So please make an effort too, and turn off lights not in use. Likewise it will not help the environment, or our fuel bills, to have all the thermostats set at 30 and all the windows open.

Privacy

Our policy is to leave you in peace to enjoy your stay. Apart from welcoming you, we will make an effort to stay out of your way, but we reserve the right to enter the property if we think it absolutely necessary. Having said that, if you want to talk to us, or need help with anything, you only have to ask. You can dial 844 444 from the phone in the barn to reach us any time.
On our booking form we ask for name and address of the lead guest, their credit card details, and particulars of any special needs. We undertake not to divulge such data to other parties.

Telephone costs

We provide a phone in the barn for your convenience, and for emergencies, and to contact us. Calls to international numbers and expensive lines are barred. The number is ex-directory and it is not for general distribution. If you use the phone we reserve the right to charge the calls to your credit card. However if you only use it to make a reservation at The Fox, then we are not going to waste your time and ours billing you for a few local calls. The most important point is that if we do bill you it will be only on the basis of the itemised bill we get from the phone company. We don’t make anything out of the phone, so if you dispute the bill, please take it up with the phone company. We really can’t get into a three cornered fight with them on your behalf. Lastly it is the group leader, whose credit card number we hold, who will get the bill, and they will have to deal with the rest of the group. It this arrangement doesn’t suit you, then don’t use the phone !

Internet

We have a fast wi-fi internet connection for your laptop or PDA, and it’s free.
Or you can plug an Ethernet cable directly into the box.

Booking Form
We ask for details of your party, and an address and a credit card number for the party leader, in the same way as any hotel would do.

Credit Card charges

Unlike many holiday lets, we don’t take a housekeeping deposit ( except for parties; see above), but by agreeing to a booking, you also agree for us to bill your card for excessive phone use, breakages (exceeding the usual couple of wine glasses or what we consider reasonable), and excessive cleaning (typically oven or cooker, or wine stains). If you do not agree to this clause, please tell us, and we will agree a housekeeping deposit. We add a 2.5% fee to all credit card payments. (Does not apply to Debit Cards.)

Liabilities

We have proper insurance with the NFU, and we take our liabilities seriously. However Cats Abbey has as many risks as has your own home, added to which it will be entirely unfamiliar to guests and children alike. This, in itself, is a risk. We would ask you, therefore, to take special care of vulnerable relatives, friends and offspring. We can’t do it for you, and contrary to litigious perception, we can’t foresee every eventuality.
If you have young children, special needs, or frail elderly in your group, we would like to discuss with you anything we need to do to make their and your stay as safe as possible. Thus we would appreciate having this conversation at the time of booking. Please discuss!
If for some unforeseen reason, Cats Abbey becomes unavailable between booking and arrival, our obligation will be limited to using our best endeavours to find another property (but not necessarily at the same cost), or refunding all monies paid.

Plain Language

We have tried to write our Terms and Conditions in plain English. If you have any queries please ask.

And Finally

We have spent 5 years putting together a holiday home that should surprise and delight you, even if you have seen it all and got the T shirt! We sincerely hope you have a wonderful stay.

Mike and Carrie

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