What does '5 Star Gold' Actually Mean? Visit England Assessment Explained

The seven areas that they mark on are; Exterior, Cleanliness, Management and Efficiency, Public Areas, Bedrooms, Bathrooms and Kitchen.

There are minimum entry requirements for each category and then for each star rating that are things listed to obtain that level.

Some examples of Minimum Level requirements are;

- Dressing Tables in each bedroom

- Non flammable waste bedroom bins

- Sufficient hangers, wire hangers are not acceptable

- Mirror above or adjacent to the bathroom wash basin

- Additional cooking facilities for more than 12 guests

A few examples of requirements for 5 Star are;

- One bathroom for every four guests, but all of our bedrooms are en-suite.

- Washing Machine, Tumble Dryer, Freezer, Dishwasher

- Hairdryers provided in every room

- Choice of lighting levels, we have high (spotlights) and low (lamps) options controlled by a switch at the bed and the door of every bedroom.

- Good quality linen and mattress.

- If providing a Hot Tub it needs to be private

- The inventory for the kitchen is very extensive (in as much detail as a toast rack, tupper ware, cafetiere, gadgets such as food processor, electric whisk and pestle and mortar, different size teapots, egg cups, champagne flutes etc.)

You need to score between 87% and 100% overall to be awarded 5 Star. You need to score 87% in each of the sections apart from for cleanliness you need to score 90%.

Pasture House scored as follows;

Exterior - 93%

Cleanliness - 100%

Management and Efficiency - 100%

Public Areas - 96%

Bedrooms - 100%

Bathrooms - 92%

Kitchen - 97%

Overall 97%

The Stables scored as follows;

Exterior - 93%

Cleanliness - 100%

Management and Efficiency - 100%

Public Areas - 96%

Bedrooms - 97%

Bathrooms - 96%

Kitchen - 95%

Overall 96%

We also received the Gold Award for both cottages which is for 'Exceptional quality of accommodation and customer service'

We are not 100% sure whether the assessor was allowed to tell us this but he said they were the highest rated cottages he had ever assessed!

Even though very few know this, there are big differences between Visit England 5 Stars and Sykes Cottages 5 Stars for example, each holiday cottage marketing company will have their own grading system.

Sykes use this grading system for new properties;

1 tick / star - Simple, practical, no frills.
2 ticks / stars - Well presented and well run.
3 ticks / stars - Good level of quality and comfort.
4 ticks / stars - Excellent standard throughout.
5 ticks / stars - Exceptional standard with a degree of luxury.

They then average out the score of the first three reviews the holiday cottage(s) receives.

Here is a link to the VE full standards brochure if anyone is interested;

3.10-Self-Catering-Standards.pdf (visitenglandassessmentservices.com)