Devon holiday let owners win awards
Two pairs of local holiday home owners, Gillian and Steve Miles and Mike and Julie Carpenter, have been recognised in a new awards scheme by Sykes Holiday Cottages that celebrates standout owners.
The owners of two separate holiday lets located in Devon were named winners in the holiday let agency’s Sykes Stars programme after receiving excellent guest feedback.
Gillian and Steve first welcomed holidaymakers to Crooke Barn, a one-bedroom holiday home in Withleigh, near Tiverton, in December 2020. The couple converted a barn on their farm after being inspired to take the leap into holiday letting.
Crooke Barn has become a firm favourite amongst couples and dog owners over the years. Surrounded by private fields and a secluded stream, guests often reference the hot tub, cosy furnishings, and tranquil rural views in their feedback.
Meanwhile, Mike and Julie also converted a barn on their land in Sampford Courtenay into a holiday let in 2019 in a bid to help bolster their retirement fund. The couple opened Langdale Barn to holidaymakers in August 2020 after almost a year of renovations, transforming the rundown cob barn into a spacious and airy home away from home.
Equipped with a log burner, patio for al fresco dining, and enclosed garden, guests often reference the private lake, wildlife cameras, and resident animals in their feedback, as well as the peaceful village of Sampford Courtenay.
The Sykes Stars programme aims to recognise holiday home owners from across the UK that have achieved glowing feedback scores in the last 12 months from guests.
To be eligible to receive an award, owners must get consistent perfect feedback throughout the year.
Gillian Miles, said: “We’re extremely proud and delighted to have been awarded a Sykes Star. When we first converted the barn into a holiday home, we made sure to choose the interior and furniture carefully so that it matched our rural setting.
“Our guests often comment on what a peaceful retreat Crooke Barn is and how quiet the location is. We feel we’re able to provide holidaymakers with a tranquil escape without them feeling totally remote and it is great to see people enjoying everything Devon has to offer!”
Julie Carpenter, said: “Being awarded a Sykes Star is fantastic and it is lovely to know we’re getting it right with our guests. We try to pay attention to the little details to ensure holidaymakers feel welcome and comfortable.
“We’re lucky enough to have six acres of private land on our farm for guests to explore and have set up wildlife cameras which feed footage directly to Langdale Barn’s TVs so they can see our resident animals up close from the comfort of the living room!
“We feel our area of Devon, Sampford Courtney, is special and it is great to be able to share it with others through the world of holiday letting.”
Bev Dumbleton, chief operating officer at Sykes Holiday Cottages, said: ““These awards allow us to showcase the best of the best when it comes to guest feedback, with the commitment and hard work of our Sykes owners never going unnoticed.
“Its owners like the Miles’ and Carpenters that make Britain’s staycation market the success it is today and their passion for holiday letting has led to some unforgettable breaks for their guests.
“With Devon being a real hotspot for staycationers in the UK, we’ve seen many new holiday let owners come onboard recently. Hopefully they’ll soon be on our Sykes Stars list too!”
To view the full list of Sykes Stars for 2023, visit https://www.sykescottages.co.uk/sykes-stars.html
To find out more about Crooke Barn, visit: https://www.sykescottages.co.uk/cottage/Devon-Tiverton/Crooke-Barn-985308.html
To find out more about Langdale Barn, visit: https://www.sykescottages.co.uk/cottage/Devon-Sampford-Courtenay/Langdale-Barn-1050940.html
