Liv Retreats Reviews 

Cabin 16
Hot tub to near fence. Real issues getting in and out as have mobility issues.
Bed horrible- used quilt from other room as top cover, so had more comfort to lay on.
Settee and dinning room table to near each other to be able sit comfortably.
Pub. Food good. Staff friendly. Seats horrendous dirty and covered in dog hairs. One visit was enough.
Could not sit outside as dirty and messy
Will not be returning. Wish I had listened to reviews before going.

Avoid Liv Retreats – misleading, filthy, and unprofessional

Our stay at Liv Retreats was so bad we left before spending the first night—and we’ve been completely ignored since.

We arrived to find no key for our accommodation. Five people spent two hours replacing the lock, and during this time we weren’t offered an alternative place to wait or any kind of apology. There was no welcome pack, just a series of disappointments.

The lodge itself was filthy: bedding had mystery stains, the bathroom had toothpaste splatters, the shower was broken, and the kitchen was in a disgusting state, with filthy cutlery and cobwebs everywhere. Outside, we found chewed-up food around the hot tub, which was so over-chlorinated it caused skin burns.

Despite advertised quiet hours from 10pm, loud parties were still going on past midnight, and there was no staff on-site after 6:30pm to report this to.

The place looked nothing like the polished photos on Booking.com. When we left and tried to request a refund, we were ignored completely—even given a fake email address by staff.

Scam operation disguised as a luxury retreat. Avoid Liv Retreats at all costs

Me and my partner have been here 3 times but due to our most recent stay we won't be returning.
The lodge was absolutely filthy and was covered in dust and swarming with insects.
We also had no access to the hot tub and nohot water for the first night of our stay.
We were also placed in the lodge which we believe was a stag/hen night music all day and night this resulting in us leaving on the saturday evening instead of the sunday morning as it just wasn't relaxing. I have previously recommend to friends and family but due to our recent experience me / family members will not be coming back.
i am down for people having a good time but show some respect for others when you blast music from 7am in the morning all way through till 7am the following morning- that's beyond taking the piss.

We visited Little Eden last weekend having paid for a luxury lodge. I'd hate to see what the "standard" lodges are like if the one we were in was supposed to luxury. On arrival we were asked we planned on cooking which I thought was an odd question. I explained we had just come from the supermarket ready to cook our evening meal. She said "oh dear, there's no cooker or hob." Turns out it's been broken for 2 months and she's been telling Management they need to replace it. We asked what we were expected to do and she said she could get us a meal at the sister sites pub that evening FOC. We accepted this as we didn't want to spoil the weekend. 30 minutes later we received a text saying "The pub is closed. Sorry." There was a microwave and one half of the toaster worked, so beans on toast it was. The lodge, whilst mostly clean, was scruffy and unloved. The out door area was an embarrassment. Such a disappointment.

Shocking company who ever owns this shambles of a company clearly has no idea how to run a business lodges are a disgrace filthy and tacky need updating on the plus side the pub and restaurant side were excellent good food and service the people in the pub and restaurant side are clearly not appreciated by whoever runs it my advice to them is get out sharpish .

AVOID AVOID AVOID. My partner booked the Acorn pod at Kings Lynn site as a surprise 3 night break for my 40th birthday with our small dog. We arrived just before 4pm, went to drop our bags and discovered our pod was the only one missing an outdoor parasol over our hub tub. As it was due to rain that evening, we went back to reception before it closed at 5pm to request one be put in place whilst we went for my birthday meal at the only restaurant onsite that was open on a Monday. When we returned, nothing had been actioned meaning we couldn't use the hot tub that evening without getting completely soaked, unlike our neighbours. Shortly after we discovered the bed was absolutely horrific to sit on, let alone sleep on. The mattress is thin, well worn and you could literally feel every single spring. This deemed it IMPOSSIBLE to get any sleep on. The "sofa" in the pod is tiny, unsupportive and when you sit on it you fall forward meaning you are almost sat on the floor. The floor was a more comfortable option. After trying to sleep for a number of hours, at 3.30am we stuck the lights on, sat up and both said "my back hurts". Our backs were in so much pain from the mattress that we deduced we could not stay on that for an additional two nights. The pod is so small that there is physically nowhere else to sleep, so by the time Friday comes, it would have been highly likely neither of us would have been fit for work due to the back ache and pain. So we gathered our items up, got ready at 4am, and hung around until around 7am when we left the site to go and get breakfast. We returned to the site at 8am feeling incredibly tired from zero sleep, and the receptionist Lisa was just walking in (reception opens officially at 9am). I walked in, apologised and said "I know you don't start until 9am but I have an issue I need help with," I proved to Lisa via my driving licence that we were there for my milestone birthday and weren't looking for an upgrade, merely a bed we could get some sleep on during our stay. She gave me keys to two different accommodation types, and BOTH mattresses were the same poor quality, well used with springs felt throughout. A maintenance guy came with us to the second property and I asked him to feel the quality of the mattress. Both he AND Lisa said THEY HAVE BEEN ASKING MANAGEMENT FOR NEW MATTRESSES FOR MONTHS!!! So this is a known issue by this company who are clearly unprepared to invest any sort of money here. We returned to reception and said it would be futile staying on the same hazardous mattress in a different lodge, so we had no option but to leave after just 15 hours on site. Lisa appeared empathetic, however also appeared as though customer complaints is a regular occurrence for her and something she is duty bound to deflect at all cost without the authority to properly and sufficiently compensate. Why you would put your staff in that position I do not know (Lisa, look for a better job with a company who value their staff!!) When I asked what happened with our parasol we asked for, she said "I asked for it, but those above said the parasols shouldn't be used over hot tubs anyway, and that's not my pay grade to deliver that message." I get it - she didn't want to deliver the bad news, but our neighbours managed to enjoy their evening using their parasols, however! Lisa then had a pre-printed piece of paper with customer services email and a number on telling me to contact them. I said I was reluctant to leave site without getting this sorted as I've read that a lady has been waiting 6 weeks for a refund. She said the manager "Samantha" wasn't around. I said "fine OK, but rest assured if there are any issues, I will be driving back here, regardless of it being over 2 hours away." Since we arrived home, we have spent the last 2 days being ignored by this company - the number is for rude reservations who will not entertain anything to do with complaints, nor give their name or any details about the company. The email address gets no reply and when you dial reception it goes to BT Call minder!!!!! I have since called the 0203 number on the main Liv Retreats website and managed to speak to 2 people who say they will call back, but don't. I've issued 2 complaint letters now and I've given them 24hrs to respond before we go to the small claims court. The illusive manager I suspect also runs "Samantha's Staycations" page on Facebook, marketing these lodges specifically - I put a comment under a photo warning of the mattress which was swiftly removed, and I was blocked. Speaks volumes. I will be driving back to take this up with them face to face and will not rest until we receive the full refund we are owed for breach of the Consumer Rights Act and Misrepresentation Act. Please do yourself a favour and avoid this company at all cost. You'll save yourself alot of aggro!!!!

Black Bull retreat, Barmston.
Don't waste you money booking with this company there shocking !!!!
Changed our lodge and location 4 weeks before our stay at New Year 2024.
The lodge number 3 was small and filthy. No WiFi, broken hot tub, dangerous decking full of holes and slippery. There was mould in the shower, radiators were rusty and dirty.
No welcome pack, no instructions on how to use the dishwasher, washer or digital cooker. We woke up on the 1st January 2025 to what can only be described as a small river in both bedrooms. We had rain during the night and the lodge was leaking. When I pulled the bed out the sheet came off the bed to reveal a mouldy mattress topper, this was on top of the most filthy, stained, mouldy mattress I've ever seen.
It actually turned my stomach, we decided to leave. I rang a number on my booking and they did send some bloke to see us, but he didn't seem interested or have a clue what he was doing. Told us to mop up the water with the towels we was provided with and he would bring fresh towels. We told him we wasn't staying a minute longer.
I've had to wait to write the review because they were refunding for the night we didn't stay.
AVOID AVOID AVOID

We stayed at kings lynn for 2 nights after new year. Our 2 parties arrived, my accommodation had no heating and was freezing ( it was minus outside ) and smelt very strongly of bleach and my sisters hot tub wasn’t working in her accommodation. Someone arrived shortly and fixed both issues, we thought nothing more of it. My sister then had a complete power cut and was in pitch black for approximately an hour with children. There was damage caused to her accommodation which we were told by staff was caused by the people that stayed there over new year. In the morning I noticed our ice bath was not outside ( as stated in listing ) which was frustrating as it’s one of the reason we booked that lodge. We went for a walk around the site and passed the Asian, it looked nice and we asked if we could come for a drink once our walk had finished and was told yes. We returned approx 20mins later and it was shut. I asked at reception and was told it has nothing to do with them which seemed to be the theme when asking them anything. The other restaurant jacks was also shut so was left with no options at all. We returned to my sisters lodge and tried to make dinner. Her lodge was the executive sleeping at least 6 people. The oven dish was so small it wouldn’t have fed 4! I went to the reception to ask for something more suitable and the lady told me there wasn’t anything. I said it’s not really good enough an that there should be adequate cooking materials for the size of the accommodation. Another member of staff in reception at the time said he would find one and bring it to us. Night 2 jacks had a private party keeping my sister and her children awake till gone midnight and I had a neighbour who’s dog barked outside for hours. There is an emergency out of hours number that doesn’t work so we was left with no choice but to put up with it. In the morning when checking out the receptionist said she could also hear the dog but did nothing about it and that they were aware the lines weren’t working but once again just shrugged off the situation. In summary our accommodations were broken, had missing items, lack of kitchen equipment, no open restaurants on site or locally, very bad receptionist who only ever responded with yes it’s bad but there’s nothing I can do, the woodland walk had no lights on, and apon contacting customer services have been fobbed off.
I would not return or use this company again

Terrible company!!!
My son booked a two night stay for his girlfriends Christmas present. The main reason for booking this lodge was that it wasn't too far away and also had a hot tub which is what he was looking for.
On arrival they realised that the hot tub was not working and reported it to reception. They said they will send someone to fix it but in the two nights they were there no one turned up.
My son emailed the company to let them know what happened and to see if they might give him a part refund but they ignored his email so I telephoned them and still after promising to contact him they have not. I rang them for the second time and they promised to email him and again have not.
So it looks like their policy is if a customer complains ignore them.

My fiance arranged a surprise family get-together for my 60th on December 13th 2024 @ Little Eden, Bridlington via Liv Retreats.
There were 2 lodges No 18 & 20.
All I can say is what a let down. Dirty, broken items, we have photos as proof. We complained whilst onsite numerous times & not once did a manager pop their heads in to say sorry!!!
We have since put in an official complaint, where they did offer us a discount, which we declined, then received a very curt, last & final offer, again which we don't want to accept & let them know that fact!! Since then, nothing in return!!! They aren't interested so long as they get their money, us that want a nice relaxing time away, totally ignored!!
These ARE NOT luxury lodges, they need professional cleaners/maintenance team & to actually give a care....I wouldn't advice anyone to stay here!
Apparently this site has been taken over by Hoseasons - maybe they should actually have a walk round & get it sorted!!

Date of experience: December 13, 2024

Trying to alter booking and get zero response back through email

Absolutely fantastic customer service by a lady called Hayley. She helped me and my family book a late last minute vacation ☺️

Poor customer service. Bought wowcher for a particular cabin, arrived and placed in basic dirty cabins which we later found out are usually for fishing breaks. We were moved on our second night to a cabin which we should have had, it’s was miles more acceptable. Why not give people the experience they paid for? I’ve sent complaint to customer service email address and not even had a response. This ruined our pre Christmas family break. Don’t buy any wowchers with this company, they treat you like second class citizens to those booking direct.

I had the best time here with my grandad and my sister and my dogs The lodges were lovely and cozy. The site was lovely. very peaceful and relaxing the scenery was absolutely gorgeous. We also tried Jack's restaurant that was absolutely amazing. The food portions were absolutely massive. The food was absolutely amazing best bbq ribs ever , Would definitely visit again. Can't wait for summer now.the lake was lovely and the staff was very friendly and very helpful thank you guys. See you again From Jayne x

Very run down. Basic, tatty and dirty. Pool was disappointing and very uninviting. It was supposed to be a luxury lodge, but was far from it. Reception lady was miserable and uninterested. I wouldn't go back

We stayed at Liv Retreat near Lincoln. The place looks lovely as you drive in, but our cabin was less than lovely. There was a strong smell of urine in the bathroom, so strong it reminded me of a boys urinal at school. There was rips in the lino, covered by an enormous table that you could only just reach sat on the settee - that room does not need a dining room table. A coffee table would be sufficient. The kitchen tap had to be held, it swung round so you couldn't even turn it on without holding the thing in place. There was a broken piece of glass in the sink - we didn't break any glasses, so obviously not cleaned sufficiently.
It's such a shame as this place could be so much better but we won't be returning.
On a plus, hot tub was lovely.
Literally in the middle of no where, at the end of a 5 mile dead end single track road. But this wasn't an issue - just something to be aware of.
Not much WiFi. So couldn't access the tv other than normal digital channels, but wasn't there for Netflix etc.

We have booked the 2 nights stay in LivRetreats Woodlakes Park King's Lynn. Such a wonderful place!!!we have stayed in Woodlakes Acorn 8XL pod-amazing, so cosy,warm and clean! Hot tube and fire pit outside - great! We loved the place, great food in the LivPan Asia restaurant, great place. Nice service, no issues.Really recommend.

I arrived at my Lodge in sherwood forest, only to find they had given me the keys to the wrong lodge and the one they had put us in was Harry Potter theme and extremely dirty looks like it hadn't been cleaned for weeks! Tried to get this sorted to be told to ring the people we booked with to no help as obviously I was already there and driven 3 hours to get there, they now will only give me a 35 % discount on another stay which i won't be using as I'll never use them again and are refusing to refund or partially refund anything from this it was over £500 for 2 nights and If by choice I wouldn't have even paid £40 a night. Disgusting place and even worse customer service i have taken photos of the dirt and will be sending to trading standards

Absolutely amazing stay! Hot tub was amazing, lodge was amazing, staff was amazing!! No complaints at all!! Had tea at jacks one night and the food was incredible and the staff was extremely friendly and couldn’t do enough for us. Will definitely be staying again!

Absolutely shocking experience.

After a difficult few months for our family of 4, I booked a weekend (2 nights) break at Applegrove ‘Country park’. I paid an initial £25 deposit, followed by the remaining £498.68 a week later. After a 3 hours drive, we arrived on Friday at 4pm, offloaded the car and unpacked our kit. However, It soon became apparent the lodge was very cold. I went to turn the radiators on but the thermostatic valves had been removed from EVERY radiator and there was no thermostat on the wall, it was blanked off. I called customer services to fix this and had people in and out for the next 2 hours. It’s now 6pm and we are all cold and very hungry. It was eventually confirmed the hot water and heating were both broken, but we could not be moved to any alternative accommodation. Having paid over £500 for 2 nights away, my family and I all agreed the accommodation was not fit for purpose, so we insisted on a full refund. I got a call from Livlodges confirming they would reimburse me in full, which was also confirmed in an email. So, we packed our bags, loaded the car back up again, in the rain, and headed off back home in the rain, at night, on empty stomachs. Very disappointed to waste our holiday entitlements for absolutely nothing. I got an email on Monday saying the refund had been made, only to find the deposit had not been included. 5 days later, the money is not even showing as pending in my account!! As for the deposit, I have spent all this week trying to get the deposit back, 12:00 on Friday, and it still has not happened. The whole experience has been nothing other than an utter waste of time, effort and potentially, money. Save your money and book a weekend at Centre Parcs. Over £500 for a glorified caravan for 2 nights with no facilities and no pub/restaurant within reasonable walking distance is just extortionate. I have given Livlodges until 12:00 today to resolve the refund before I publish this. They have not resolved the issue, so this is my feedback regarding this business