4-Star cottage near Malvern, Worcestershire

walkers welcome

  • Four star gold award for Rhydd Barn

    4-Star plus Gold Award logos

    We are proud to announce that Rhydd Barn has again been awarded 4-Star Gold Award status by VisitEngland for 2024. And, in addition to our Walkers Welcome accreditation, we are now also a Cyclists Welcome accommodation. The inspection was carried out by VisitEngland on 7 March 2024. The criteria that apply to the Welcome schemes can be seen on the VisitEngland Welcome Schemes web page. VisitEngland is the official tourist board for England.

    Rhydd Barn scored particularly highly on Cleanliness (a 100% score!) and Management (93%, which includes the ‘welcome/arrival procedures’ and ‘in-unit guest information and personal touches’). So, we must thank our excellent cleaner, Sharon, and Rosemary‘s sister, Andrea, for all their hard work. Rosemary, the owner of Rhydd Barn, well deserves this award for all her hard work and her insistence on the highest standards throughout the year.

    This is a link to the summary page of VisitEngland‘s latest assessment.

    Below are selected highlights from the conclusion to VisitEngland‘s report:

    • A great location for exploring the Malvern Hills and surrounding area.
    • The Proprietor is to be congratulated on the continued investment and maintaining of standards.
    • This past year as well as ongoing internal redecoration, a great deal of investment has gone into the compliance of the new Fire Regulations for holiday accommodation with a Fire Advisor being employed to offer advice. A real credit to the owners in showing their commitment to the safety of the guest.
    • External paint work of the barn continues to be attended to on an ongoing basis ensuring that the excellent initial impressions continue to be maintained throughout the year.
    • Great to see all the various items purchased and facilities now provided for cyclists.
    • Again, the ongoing replacing and upgrading of kitchen utensils helps to further meet with market expectations.
    • Great to see that the web site is being updated on an ongoing basis with new pictures added as and when along with “news”.
    • Special mention should also once again be given for the very high standards of cleanliness noted on this visit, and for which Sharon and Ms Boaz are to be congratulated

  • Four Star Gold Award again for Rhydd Barn in 2014

    four star logoRhydd Barn had its annual assessment by Quality In Tourism on 11 April 2014. We are very pleased to announce that we have maintained our Four Star rating and our Gold Award (given in recognition of exceptional quality within a property’s star rating). We have also maintained our Walkers Welcome accreditation (please refer to the Walkers Welcome leaflet for more information about this).

    Some highlights of our assessment include:

    “The property enjoys some excellent views even from the ground floor windows”

    “Guests appreciate the flexibility of layout of the living areas in particular”

    “The barn is specious for the numbers accommodated”

    “Excellent standards [of cleanliness] observed—high and low surfaces are pristine and kitchen equipment and kitchenware is immaculate”

    “The guests continue to benefit from a shower room to the ground floor as well as an en suite facility on the first floor”

    “Guest information continues to be comprehensive and is up to date”

    One point that we have already improved on since the assessment  is to make sure that the emergency information is more clearly displayed.