Visit Scotland Grading Report

General Comments

It was lovely to meet with you Karen and I would like to thank you for your time in showing me around Grove House. I had a very comfortable stay and it was great to see the high standards evident throughout. I believe that you are continuing to welcome a number of bookings and it was great to hear that many of these are returning guests. You offer an excellent level of accommodation with many personal touches helping to enhance the property throughout.

Rating Comments

I have proposed that Grove House achieve a Four Star Award. I am aware that you were perhaps looking to achieve a Five Star Award but I believe that without investing further at this stage you could offer guests an excellent level of accommodation and exceed their expectations in many areas.

Cleanliness

An excellent level of cleanliness was noted at the time of my visit with attention to detail being evident throughout.

Hospitality & Friendliness

The booking was handled in an extremely friendly manner, with an excellent impression being given in terms of the comfort and hospitality expected on arrival in your home. A very warm welcome was received throughout my stay and it is evident that you enjoy interaction with your guests.

Service & Efficiency

Once again an excellent service was provided at the time of booking with all details being taken and directions being offered. The help with carrying bags along with the offer of a welcome drink on arrival is a gesture your guests should appreciate. An orientation of both the house and room facilities was also welcomed. It was pleasing to see that registration and breakfast forms were in use and a fire action plan was also displayed on the wall. An excellent information folder was available and presented to a very high standard and the offer of a complimentary newspaper served with coffee before breakfast is a gesture your guests should also appreciate. Breakfast was served in a timely manner and check backs were made. Departure was also efficient and a pre written receipt on headed paper was available.

Exterior

The exterior of the house is in an excellent condition, with evidence that the grounds and gardens surrounding the property are maintained to a high standard. The house is well signposted from the main road and a large parking area should be welcomed by your guests. Colourful hanging baskets create an excellent first impression and I believe the hot tub also proves popular with many guests.

Other Public Areas

These areas are in an excellent condition with framed prints and personal touches enhancing the decor in this section. A welcoming porch with an arrangement of flowers and plants is a lovely touch. The bedrooms are of a very good size where a mixture of emulsion and wallpaper decor appears to be in an excellent condition. I would suggest that you monitor the paper in the single room where splits were beginning to appear at some of the joins. Quality carpets have been fitted throughout and again offer an excellent standard of comfort under foot. A mixture of high quality fitted and freestanding furniture is evident and creates plenty of storage space as well as acting as the dressing tables. These areas are enhanced with framed prints and many personal touches compliment the overall look of the rooms. Beds are well presented with firm memory mattresses and along with the fresh 'Next bed linen and throws should add to the comfort of your guests stay. Providing king size duvets to double beds is also a thoughtful gesture. Excellent spot light fittings, various lamps and controllable wall heaters could also be appreciated. There is scope to introduce a lamp to dressing tables where space allows which I believe guests could appreciate. A well stocked tea tray is available which I believe your guests will enjoy and along with an excellent variety of accessories including a TV, DVD player, fridge, music system, WiFi and hairdryer to mention just a few, could help consolidate the scores in this section.

Bathroooms/ Ensuites

Bathrooms are finished to an excellent standard with a mixture of tiled, papered and emulsion decor. I would advise that you monitor the wallpaper in some areas where splits are beginning to appear and in doing so will be in keeping with the excellent standards noted elsewhere. The wet wall cladding as seen in the private bathroom looks great and as discussed, should you decide to refurb the upstairs en suites, I would suggest going for a similar style. There are ceiling spotlights in place with further task lighting available above the basin. Heated towel rails should help add to the guests comfort and a full range of quality towels, bath robes and family sized toiletries are also available for your guests to enjoy.

All Public Areas including Lounges

A lovely area for guests to relax with the option of enjoying the conservatory with comfortable wicker furniture or the welcoming lounge room with a feature stone fireplace and excellent decor throughout. The leather settee and oak dresser add character to the room and I believe guests enjoy the library of books available to them. Ceiling spotlights along with various lamps could help create mood lighting.

Dining Room/Restaurant

A high quality dining table and chair set greets guests with fresh linen table cloths, quality napkins and an excellent standard of 'Dudson' crockery and silver cutlery. An excellent provision of lighting also enhances the selection of framed prints and the oak dressers act as the buffet table with a set of labelled stainless steel cereal containers which guests could appreciate.

Food

An outstanding variety of cereals, mixed seeds/dry fruits, fresh fruit segments and fruit bowls were available on the buffet table and the range of preservatives also likely to be appreciated with the tasty selection of home made breads to accompany. The extensive option for a cooked breakfast was very well presented on a hot plate and had been garnished accordingly. There is something to cater for everyone's tastes from kippers to stuffed mushrooms and I believe that your smoothie of the day is always popular amongst guests.