Thoughts on the accommodation
When Michael and I were looking for somewhere to stay, we didn't have a great many requirements. The only things we really needed was a reasonable price, a good location, a washing machine because we were going to be there for 4 weeks, and internet access. After some searching, I found the self catering studio apartment that we ended up staying at. This was Archangelos, 84 Pennine Road, Horwich, Bolton, BL6 7HW. Not long after we'd arrived, we made a list of the good and bad points of the place, and this is what we ended up with after 4 weeks there.
✔ Nice view out of the back of the house.
✔ Clean and nicely decorated in neutral colours with no pink or chinz.
x Too many cats! Magnets on the microwave, oven gloves, tablemats, tray all had pictures of cats.
x The bedroom had 7 pictures of cats over the beds, 3 over one and 4 over the other.
x Decorative plates all over the kitchen, some of which were in the way and liable to be knocked off.
✔ Nice bathroom which was big and modern. And had no cats in it!
✔ Comfy beds.
x My bed started to creak and squeak very loudly when I moved or breathed and kept me awake.
✔ Close to the shops, Co-op, Somerfield, Aldi and Iceland all within walking distance.
✔ Binoculars provided.
x Most of the pans, plates, cutlery etc were filthy and needed scrubbing before we could use them.
x Not enough pans or lids. Four pans and four lids provided but only one lid fitted one pan.
x No storage boxes (Tupperware etc.) supplied, just cling film.
x Not much storage space just one small cupboard with two shelves (it had three but we couldn't reach the top one or the back of the second).
x Not much counter space except for a small bit free between the sink and the cooker.
x The only freezer space was the small icebox compartment in the fridge which we could barely fit anything in.
✔ Washing machine provided along with washing powder, fabric conditioner, maiden, pegs, iron and ironing board.
x £2.50 charge per load to use the washing machine which was not mentioned on the website.
✔ Lots of information provided, such as maps, bus and train timetables, tourist leaflets, etc.
x A lot of it was really old, some was dated 2001 and so it was useless.
x No obvious map of Horwich. We finally found one in the town guide which was hidden on the kitchen windowsill.
x Tiny television which was badly placed in the bedroom. The only way we could watch it was to sit on one of the beds.
x No DVD player, just the television/video recorder combo and Freeview.
x Only twin beds provided. Even the 3 bedroomed house that was available did not have a double bed and had twin beds instead. What is this, the 1950s?
x The dog was allowed to use the patio outside the back door as a toilet and it was not cleaned up.
x The dog was left alone most of the day which made it bark and whine a lot.
x Lack of toilet roll. There were 2 rolls when we arrived (one in use and one spare) which we used up in the first week, but we were only given one roll after that provided the toilet roll was empty.
✔ Milk, butter, bread, jam, orange juice and cereals provided as well as the usual tea, coffee and sugar (the website also said they provided yoghurt and grapefruit but we didn't get any of those).
x None of it was replenished once we'd finished it.
✔ The website specifically said wireless internet was included.
x There was an extortionate charge to actually use the internet which wasn't mentioned. The charges were £2.00 for 15 minutes, £5 for 1 hour, £10 for 24 hours and £30 for a week.
✔ Parking available.
x The driveway was too steep and slippery to park on safely.
x The heating was constantly on and not very controllable.
x A vacuum cleaner appeared in the kitchen after the first week - it felt like we were being told to use it - but there was nowhere to put it so it didn't take up space or get in the way.
x The kitchen bin was only emptied after the first week.
x The front door was difficult to shut and lock.
x The gas cooker was filthy and didn't work properly. Some of the lights didn't ignite and others went out if you turned them down too low.
x No baking tray for the oven, just a grill, a pizza tray and two roasting tins.
x No measuring things provided (scales, measuring spoons) apart from one glass measuring jug.
So basically, it was all right if you only wanted to stay there a few nights and not actually use any of the kitchen facilities. It just wasn't set up for a longer stay. When we looked through the guest book, it seemed that most visitors had been local anyway and only stayed for a weekend. It was not at all what we expected and the hidden charges for the things that we'd wanted most really pissed us off. So I've posted this in the hopes that anyone else who is considering staying at Archangelos will find it and get the true picture of the accommodation.
✔ Nice view out of the back of the house.
✔ Clean and nicely decorated in neutral colours with no pink or chinz.
x Too many cats! Magnets on the microwave, oven gloves, tablemats, tray all had pictures of cats.
x The bedroom had 7 pictures of cats over the beds, 3 over one and 4 over the other.
x Decorative plates all over the kitchen, some of which were in the way and liable to be knocked off.
✔ Nice bathroom which was big and modern. And had no cats in it!
✔ Comfy beds.
x My bed started to creak and squeak very loudly when I moved or breathed and kept me awake.
✔ Close to the shops, Co-op, Somerfield, Aldi and Iceland all within walking distance.
✔ Binoculars provided.
x Most of the pans, plates, cutlery etc were filthy and needed scrubbing before we could use them.
x Not enough pans or lids. Four pans and four lids provided but only one lid fitted one pan.
x No storage boxes (Tupperware etc.) supplied, just cling film.
x Not much storage space just one small cupboard with two shelves (it had three but we couldn't reach the top one or the back of the second).
x Not much counter space except for a small bit free between the sink and the cooker.
x The only freezer space was the small icebox compartment in the fridge which we could barely fit anything in.
✔ Washing machine provided along with washing powder, fabric conditioner, maiden, pegs, iron and ironing board.
x £2.50 charge per load to use the washing machine which was not mentioned on the website.
✔ Lots of information provided, such as maps, bus and train timetables, tourist leaflets, etc.
x A lot of it was really old, some was dated 2001 and so it was useless.
x No obvious map of Horwich. We finally found one in the town guide which was hidden on the kitchen windowsill.
x Tiny television which was badly placed in the bedroom. The only way we could watch it was to sit on one of the beds.
x No DVD player, just the television/video recorder combo and Freeview.
x Only twin beds provided. Even the 3 bedroomed house that was available did not have a double bed and had twin beds instead. What is this, the 1950s?
x The dog was allowed to use the patio outside the back door as a toilet and it was not cleaned up.
x The dog was left alone most of the day which made it bark and whine a lot.
x Lack of toilet roll. There were 2 rolls when we arrived (one in use and one spare) which we used up in the first week, but we were only given one roll after that provided the toilet roll was empty.
✔ Milk, butter, bread, jam, orange juice and cereals provided as well as the usual tea, coffee and sugar (the website also said they provided yoghurt and grapefruit but we didn't get any of those).
x None of it was replenished once we'd finished it.
✔ The website specifically said wireless internet was included.
x There was an extortionate charge to actually use the internet which wasn't mentioned. The charges were £2.00 for 15 minutes, £5 for 1 hour, £10 for 24 hours and £30 for a week.
✔ Parking available.
x The driveway was too steep and slippery to park on safely.
x The heating was constantly on and not very controllable.
x A vacuum cleaner appeared in the kitchen after the first week - it felt like we were being told to use it - but there was nowhere to put it so it didn't take up space or get in the way.
x The kitchen bin was only emptied after the first week.
x The front door was difficult to shut and lock.
x The gas cooker was filthy and didn't work properly. Some of the lights didn't ignite and others went out if you turned them down too low.
x No baking tray for the oven, just a grill, a pizza tray and two roasting tins.
x No measuring things provided (scales, measuring spoons) apart from one glass measuring jug.
So basically, it was all right if you only wanted to stay there a few nights and not actually use any of the kitchen facilities. It just wasn't set up for a longer stay. When we looked through the guest book, it seemed that most visitors had been local anyway and only stayed for a weekend. It was not at all what we expected and the hidden charges for the things that we'd wanted most really pissed us off. So I've posted this in the hopes that anyone else who is considering staying at Archangelos will find it and get the true picture of the accommodation.