Woodfarm Barns & Barges

4 days ago

‘Thought for the week’

Really sorry but it’s a variation/ continuation on last weeks thought on supporting your local businesses. This week though it’s actually purely focussed on us! Bear with me as there is a point to it, as opposed to the owner of the Woodfarm trumpet just blowing it loudly at you!

I just want to talk about taking pride in what you do, whatever it is. Please bear in mind that my ‘Thought for the week’ is just a prevalent topic going round and round in the tumble dryer that is my brain, and I just happen to share it with you. A bit like I did with the diary for 101 days and a bit. You seemed to like reading it, so this is I believe, the organic progression of that. If you get bored feel free to let me know, or just toddle along and find some more interesting content to keep you occupied for a few minutes, I don’t mind.

I’ve always believed in focussing on taking pride in what you do and, as I am a business-bloke, not feeling the need to run my competitors down. They do exist. Some are good, some aren’t so good. But they exist and that’s fine. I can’t be the only one offering holiday accommodation, just try to make sure we’re the best we can be. Actually I try to make sure we are the best that you can get. Whether I achieve it or not is another matter, but I feel that I try to be the best, then it’ll be good enough to secure me an existence.

A friend stayed somewhere with his family last, booked by his sister at the last minute, and it was shocking. I won’t go into detail but he sent me photos that I could not believe. This IS NOT difficult! It really is common sense for the most part. But I just ‘face palm’ when I see my competitors getting it wrong so often. I’m not saying we get it 100% right, 100% of the time, but there’s no excuse for not trying!

The first line of knowing if we are getting it right is our guest feedback forms, where we ask people to rate us and also offer the chance for suggestions on ways we can improve. I look at these, and respond to every one who has taken the trouble to let us know what their experience was like. We’ve had loads of amazing feedback since we re-opened, as you can see from the photo.

We’ve also been lucky enough to have eight new Five Star Tripadvisor reviews since coming out of lockdown. This takes us just a couple away from 400 on there now, which I am over the moon with! We also have a bunch of Five Star reviews on Google too since we emerged from hibernation.

We’ve made a big deal of what we are doing, to do our bit to keep our guests and ourselves safe. Remember our new slogan of ’Staycation, Stay Safely’?. It’s been really interesting to see how people are trusting us to simply do our best, and that’s what this is about. I’ve had several enquiries that have asked about our regime and what we are doing, and after a quick chat the response is always along the lines of “Well, you seem to have it covered”. One lady said to me a couple of weeks ago as I took her booking over the phone, “The fact that you immediately said all of the things that you are doing, I knew you were taking it seriously”.

I am immensely proud of what we have here, but it is so good to hear people shouting about us, and particularly in these ‘new times’. Don’t forget, although I used to run a Holiday Cottage business, it got wiped out for three months, and now it’s different. Very different. We felt as we were preparing to re-open, that it was vital to make our guests feel safe and secure. When I was talking about this on LBC, James O’Brien (Having shared a pic of me and Jimmy Doherty this week, I’m really not trying to namedrop, it’s relevant), he said that we were clearly going above and beyond, when Johnny Holiday Cottage (I think thats what he called him) down the road wasn’t bothering and would charge less, yet still be allowed to operate.

The thing is, we are not cheap. We have never tried to win customers by being so; we sell on quality. We do live in a throwaway world where everyone wants a bargain, me included. That’s fine for some things, but not everything. Some things we want to know that we are paying for something a little special. It really is very difficult to say this without sounding like I’m simply trumpet blowing, but it’s all we’ve ever tried to do. I want to make good money for doing something good. I could have set out to make ok money for providing something ok. But I don’t think like that. Some people do but I don’t. So if I’m going to work hard and build a great team around me who do the same, I want to charge accordingly. It’s called pride.

Anyway, I’ve probably banged on enough and I really didn’t start typing to do that, but I am trying to follow on from last week talking about us all supporting our great local independent businesses. But only the ones who deserve it. Yes you can buy cheaper, always. And if you don’t ever want to treat yourself, or you don’t have the resources, then that’s fine, I get it. But some things in life are worth paying for. I hope that makes sense? It will cost more to get great farm produce, or to shop in an awesome deli (I can recommend one if you’re stuck), and it’ll cost you more to stay here than where my mate stayed last week. But you get what you pay for in life.

I’ll let our guests explain it in different words to mine, as I can only say the things that pop into my head, as I just believe in being really honest and open with you. I can confirm I didn’t pay any of these to say nice things, but here’s half of our recent Five Star Tripadvisor reviews. You don’t have to read all four but you can if you like.

Sorry if this week’s thought went off in a number of directions but I know what I was trying to say. If half of you get half of what I was trying to convey, then winner, winner, tofu dinner!

Have a lovely Saturday folks and stay safe. Oooh, see you at the Woodfarm Arms tomorrow evening at 6.30pm on Facebook Live for the Pub Quiz!

x

“Just what we needed”

Left on Jul 25, 2020 for a stay in Jul 2020

“After 110 days shielding and looking after 2 vulnerable adults this was just the break I needed. Only left the premises to visit Woodbridge and take the dog for local walks!! I chose Woodfarm Barns out of complete trust in Carl to do the right thing to ensure Covid guidelines were met and the stay would be 'safe' for us. Our first visit. Everything had been thought of. Even forgot my book and found one in the 'library' that had me completely engrossed and gave me a great break 'escapism', reading it while soaking in the hot tub. Loved the gardens and overall ambience. Lots of personal touches. Will come again and explore more of Suffolk next time, I would happily recommend, The pooch loved it too. The doggie field is brilliant. Thank you Carl”

This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.

***

“Sooooo relaxing, great hot tub!”

Left on Jul 24, 2020 for a stay in Jul 2020

“We had a wonderful time in Stour Barn, it really was pure luxury. Carl was there to greet us when we arrived, he was very friendly and made us feel very welcome. He observed social distancing to a tee and didn’t even come in the barn but he made sure that we knew where everything was and how everything worked. The barn was spotlessly clean and we found the bed to be super comfortable. We loved all the little added extras and the breakfast basket was amazing. The bacon and eggs were superb. Although we didn’t take a dog, the barn is perfect if you wish to take a dog away, the doggy shower looked really good. The hot tub was a really good size and temperature, it made us feel so relaxed”

This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.

***

“Did not want to leave!”

Left on Jul 26, 2020 for a stay in Jul 2020

“After working flat out since February and a cancelled birthday break in June we were in need of some rest and relaxation. Having followed Woodfarm Barns on Facebook for a while, after a friend's recommendation, I really enjoyed Carl's lockdown diaries and the way he interacted with his 'Woodentops' so when given the green light to go away there was no hesitation in ringing him to book. Hoping we now qualify to join the Woodentops! Carl and his team seem to have thought of everything to make the stay as COVID safe as possible. The welcome was distanced but very friendly, the barn was spotless and well equipped, the goodies were lovely. The hot tub was easy to operate and great to sit in every evening. We were lucky to have a dog sitter at home so didn't take the mutts but we were impressed with the dog friendly touches and know that next time they will love the field. I got up at the crack of dawn to watch the sun rise from the field one morning which was stunning. The option to borrow bikes is there and we loved the well equipped 'shed' for DVDs, CDs, books and info. I also have to mention the eco credentials - really liked that we could recycle everything we would at home, including compost. For a peaceful, get away from it all break, it was perfect and we did not want to leave! Looking forward to our next stay already”

This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.

***

“Social distancing retreat”

Left on Jul 28, 2020 for a stay in Jul 2020

“We have just returned from a much needed break at Woodfarm Barns. We were lucky enough to book one with a hot tub... a real treat. Everything is designed to make a luxurious staycation and was beautifully clean with all extra measures put in place. We were supposed to be in Italy but did not want to risk it. Also living on a tourist island, we wanted to support our economy. This was a perfect base to explore beautiful Suffolk. We had cream tea in a crooked house and even found a fairy shop. Sadly we lost our dog in January but this would have been ideal for him with a fully enclosed garden and a special doggy meadow for poochies to run free in. Apart from each barn having its own mini pooch parlour outside, it was the only tell tale signs that dogs could stay there as inside and outside was spotless. Thanks to Carl for making our few days so perfect and especially for the amazing breakfast hamper. Want to try the barges next!!”

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