All Dad wanted for his 60th birthday was to spend quality time with our kids, their partners, and the dogs—just making memories together. Three out of our four rescue dogs joined us (they’re family, after all!). Each comes with their own triggers, but none are aggressive—just a bit noisy at times. From the moment we arrived, the warm welcome from Tim and Tricia immediately put us at ease and set the tone for a relaxing stay at The Farmhouse. All of our dogs have very different backstories. ReKa is a crossbreed from North Macedonia (possibly an Illyrian Shepherd). Bob is our little old man with a huge personality. And DeeDee was taken on by our daughter Charlotte, who hand-reared her after she was abandoned before her eyes and ears had even opened—around the time of the XL Bully regulation changes. Charlotte took full responsibility for her care and educated herself so thoroughly that she’s now the XL Bully lead at the veterinary hospital where she works (apologies for the proud parent moment!). The Farmhouse itself is fantastic—four large bedrooms and three bathrooms. As a family, we spent most of our time gathered around the pool table, sitting at the kitchen table, or playing darts together. We didn’t really make use of the additional playroom with roulette, table football, and table tennis, or the snug—but it’s great to have those options. The heart of the home is definitely the kitchen/dining area. It’s very well equipped and opens via a charming stable door into the conservatory, which then leads out to the beautiful garden. The garden is fully secure, with 6-foot fencing (perfect for an XL Bully), and a back gate that locks from the inside. There’s also a second smaller gate and a fully enclosed front driveway. The front fencing is lower (around 4 feet), so a muzzle would be needed there for an XL Bully, but our other two dogs were completely secure with no risk of escape. The garden is brilliantly set up for dogs too, with a dog shower, agility equipment, poop bags, and more. Tim and Tricia have truly gone above and beyond, thinking of everything to make your stay as easy and comfortable as possible—first aid kits for both humans and dogs, helpful information on dog-friendly places, dog tags with The Farmhouse address, and even “give me space” bandanas available to borrow. We would all highly recommend The Farmhouse. Need to add the fabulous snacks and nibbles for both humans and dogs and the all essential pint of milk. SG March 2026