Our first stay was in Dec 2008 to Jan 2009 (see review here on Trip Advisor and please see that review which is still valid, and I have not reproduced it all here). Somewhat surprisingly the chalet, which I know has been booked-out for most of the time as I tried to book and couldn't get in, had that 'new' feeling just as it did two years ago. Everything is squeaky-clean and bright. The kitchen equipment and washing machine were just as you'd have at home -- we cooked full roast dinners for family guests - four adults and two children - and had everything we needed. There is a good family-sized as- new fridge freezer that is immaculately clean. Even digital cooking scales and an electric hand mixer.
In this chalet you don't find dirt... unlike many holiday lets.
The TV system is excellent with Freesat, and a DVD player - the TV is decent quality.
A welcome upgrade since our last visit was wired broadband Internet, free of charge, with a wireless router so you can use any number of laptops, smart phones or i-Pads (we have two laptops and a tablet).
I would challenge anyone to find fault with this chalet. Everything works and is in good condition but I have no doubt that Gill (the proprietrix) would sort anything out immediately as they live in the main farmhouse around 80m down the track and they are very friendly, helpful and accommodating.
Things I didn't mention last time -- this is a very equine area and while Gill and Peter don't run stables themselves (though there are horses, sheep and chickens on their land) there are loads of stables in the area and it would be a good place for hacking. In addition to several local pubs there is a truly excellent restaurant in nearby Dorking -- see 'Two to Four' which I have reviewed here on Trip Advisor. It's very easy to get to London or elsewhere by train -- Dorking, Guildford or Woking have all the connections you need including connections to all of London's airports. It is also an easy car journey down to Portsmouth where the Continental ferries run to France and Spain (Santander - Portsmouth, 24 hour passage with Brittany Ferries very modestly priced).
I can't think of anything negative to say....other than if you like being in the middle of a large town or city, this is not for you. It doesn't get more rural than Lockhurst Hatch Farm but with the benefit of major towns just fifteen or twenty minutes away by car.
Since we no longer have a home in the UK, this is our preferred short-let when we come back. We have stayed in many others having been unable to book into Lockhurst Hatch Farm as they were full. Many have a combi-microwave instead of an oven. Some don't have their own 'front door', you walk through the landlord's home. Most are cleaned to a superficial level and you tend to find bulbs missing, lamps that don't work, dull lighting, tatty or deficient TV systems, useless or non-existent Internet and last year we stayed in a place where slugs came out to play in the bathroom in the night! That probably explains why this chalet is so often fully-booked.
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC
