Here’s Little Story 4 of 13. Each considers (some of) why, I think, Old Post Office Riverside Holiday Cottages have spiking occupancy and 95% perfect 10/10 reviews.
4. Being weird.
Undeniably, this series of posts is about the hospitality sector. And as such, I suppose it should chatter on about cleanliness, ease-of-booking online and enquiry responsiveness.
The reason that none of these things appear in this particular series is for two reasons. First, they’re boring. Second, if you’re in the hospitality sector and you’re not delivering on these areas to exceptional levels, consistently, then you probably shouldn’t be doing what you’re doing.
And anyhow, I’d much rather be talking about weird. Weird and unusual.
Here are some weird and unusual things we do at Old Post Office Riverside Holiday Cottages in Northumberland.
1. Kneeling down to wallpaper a doggy hotel with dog wallpaper. That felt weird.
2. Curating a small vinyl record collection for Garden Cottage felt weird. Unusual.
3. Allowing guests to graffiti inside the cottages. Weird. We have these blackboards where we write welcome messages for guests. Guests began writing thank you messages back. Graffiti. So instead of wiping the blackboard, we added more blackboards. And on it goes.
4. Having Chesterfield Settees, outside, on the riverside. A lovely thing.
5. Old Post Office agreeing to appear in a film made by Royal Television Award winning filmmakers (see homepage: www.oldpostoffice.co.uk). A weird few days.
6. Co-developing a gym and wellness studio on-site, where guests can book supervised sessions.
7. Specifically catering for lone female travellers (https://lnkd.in/e24zQP4S). Unusual (and important).
8. Having a Tiny Riverside Gallery for local artists to display and sell work. 100% of income goes to the artist.
9. An ‘everything included’ pricing policy.
10. Outdoor pizza oven and herb garden. Includes all the ingredients you need to make your own pizza bases.
11. Yoga mats.
12. Do Book library in every cottage. (https://thedobook.co).
ENDNOTE.
Weird and unusual are our most talked about things. And all they really cost us is a little time, thought and imagination.
Guests don’t get particularly tickled by warm and cozy. It’s expected.
But Chesterfield Settees three metres from the riverside, inside a purpose built, tin roofed, bird-hide inspired shelter… yes!
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I’ll post 10 times throughout November 2026, about Old Post Office Riverside Holiday Cottages.
Because occupancy is spiking, the first 30-odd reviews in 2026 were a perfect 10/10 and 95% of ALL reviews (500+) are a perfect 10/10.
If you have holiday cottages, or want to have holiday cottages, this might help.
Please repost and tag if anyone you know might want to read the series throughout November 2026.
Thank you. And Merry Christmas.
Mychael.
Website: www.oldpostoffice.co.uk