admin, Author at The Forge and Smithy Holiday Cottages

"Thank you both for a lovely restful week, despite the changeable weather, we have had a great time, no phones!! A real home from home, warm and comfy. Slowly getting to know the area, just love it up here. See you both again in 2024 xx"

Oct 23 - A&A Kent

"1 of 2 Thank you both for a wonderful stay. Thoroughly enjoyed the area, and the Smithy is both cosy and a welcome retreat. Also well equipped and spotless. Plenty to see and do, can recommend the Bomber Command memorial and Aviation Centre at East Kirkby ........."

Sep 23 - S Kings Lynn

"2 of 2 ............ Very much looking forward to a return visit in 2024. Many happy memories until then. Thanks again S"

Sep 23 - S Kings Lynn

"Another lovely trip is nearly over. Not enough time but great to be at the Forge (jigsaw and dancing house - private joke). Lovely to see you both and have long chats. Hopefully we will be back. At last we managed to bring Thomas - he also enjoyed it (especially our private air show). Thank you for the welcome basket - love C,H & T xxx"

Sept 23 - C,H&A Sheffield

"Another brilliant stay at the cottage, everything we needed and a lovely welcome basket too! Nothing too much trouble for Alan and Johanne, always make us feel welcome. Thank you and will hopefully be back soon!"

Sept 23 - L&A Carlisle

"1 of 2 Thank you for a wonderful week the cottage is just perfect. We really appreciated how clean and welcoming it is and its close location for so many things to do. Kinema in the Woods was just brilliant - great atmosphere and really comfortable seats. "

Sept 23 - G,A,N&D Essex

"2 of 2 ...... The boys loved the karting in Tattershall, and we really enjoyed looking round Woodhall Spa and Horncastle. Can’t wait to come back - thank you"

Sept 23 - G,A,N&D Essex

"Thank you so much for a wonderful stay. Johanne and Alan have been amazing - so helpful and so friendly. Amazing place to plane spot in the sunshine. Check out "Ted Coningsby" on YouTube for all plane spotters - may even catch him at Gate 2! We will be back. Thank you xx"

Aug 23 - J,J&C S Wales

"1 of 2 Thanks to Johanne, Alan and Zara for another wonderful stay at the Smithy! It's been lovely to see you all again and with your vast local knowledge we've had an amazing holiday and some fantastic days out. The Smithy was spotless as usual ............."

Aug 23 - D&D Essex

"2 of 2 ....... and the hosts have gone above and beyond to make sure we enjoyed our stay. We look forward to seeing you all again soon. PS: Zara was amazing at Butlins!"

Aug 23 - D&D Essex

"1 of 2 Huge 'thank you' to Johanne & Alan for this "gem of a cottage", the welcome basket & your wealth of local knowledge. Despite the unpredictable weather we had a great time and were very busy during our short stay........"

Aug 23 - A&A Kent

"2 of 2 ..... Look forward to staying again in October, when we will visit more places of interest ......The cottage is cosy and spotless. Thank you"

Aug 23 - A&A Kent

"1 of 2 Thanks to Johanne, Alan & Zara for another wonderful stay at the Smithy! It's been lovely to see you all again and with the vast local knowledge we've had an amazing holiday and some fantastic days out. The Smithy was spotless as usual....... "

Jul 23 - D&D

"2 of 2....... and the hosts have gone above and beyond to make sure we enjoyed our stay. We look forward to seeing you all again soon. PS Zara was amazing at Butlins!"

Jul 23 - D&D

"My 5th stay at the Smithy has been as good as the previous 4 - Thanks once again Johanne & Alan. Nice Sunday roast at the Blue Bell Tattershall Thorpe. Mixed weather but once again have loved seeing BBMF flying and the the typhoons. See you again. Nice Friday steak lunch at Royal Oak Mareham le Fen"

Jul 23 - AC Essex

"Lovely to be back another great few days Weather good (most unexpected) - always a great welcome. See you soon"

May 23 - S&B Essex

"1of2 Lovely to be back! Thank you Johanne and Alan for such a warm welcome! Great hosts full of local knowledge and so helpful and friendly. Cottage is a real gem! Cosy and absolutely spotless! Visited the Int Bomber Command Cen, Gunby Hall, Louth, East Kirkby to name but a few!! Also a couple of hours in Skeggy! ..."

May 23 - K&J

"2of2 ... Good meal in Horncastle - at Monte Bello (Italian), also good pub lunch in Louth at Ye Olde Whyte Swanne! Loved the night flying by the Typhoons! As Arnie says "We will be back!!! xxx" PS: Congrats to Zara xxx PPS: Loved the goodies!x"

May 23 - K&J

"Lovely hosts & immaculate cottage! Lots to see, Belton House, Gunby Hall, Gibraltar Point nature reserve (great cafe), Tattershall Castle and Boston Stump tower (for "exercise" and great views). Dobbies at Boston has a great Waitrose concession within. Missed loads, hope to be back!"

Apr 23 - F&R Chipping

"Thanks to Alan & Johanne and great to be back at our second home. Everything spotless as usual and as always a warm welcome. Congratulations to Zara on her new career. PS: Actually saw Alan doing some weeding, not a mirage!! :-)"

Apr 23 - I&V York

"1 of 2 Returning for the 2nd time: The Forge is the perfect holiday home. Johanne + Alan go above & beyond to make our stay more comfortable. The local tourist information is helpful & helped us to plan our days. We had a busy week travelling to many of these ........."

Apr 23 - M&E B Milton Keynes

"2 of 2 ...... and the weather was kind to us too. Thank you again Johanne + Alan. I can not wait to get home and re-book another trip."

Apr 23 - M&E B Milton Keynes

"Thanks to Johanne & Alan for their great welcome again to stay in this lovely cottage. Weather forecast not best but mostly rained at nights. Great free airshows at Coningsby and Friday at Waddington W.A.V.E., revisited Parrot Zoo (bigger!), Wolds Wildlife Park closed until Easter. Good luck to Zara in her new venture"

Mar 23 - H&M H Norfolk

"Hope you had a good time in London and Zara did well with her dancing. Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year……….. xx"

Dec 22 - LS Staffs

"Thank you for a great week in a great cottage. Lots to do here, and we've done it! "

Oct 22 - L&D Deeping St J

"A lovely week in a beautiful cottage. Visited many places we knew in the 70's (& 60's!). Thank you Johanne and Alan"

Oct 22 - L&C Norfolk

"Thanks for a really comfortable stay. Loved visiting the local aviation museums and watching the Typhoons overhead. Thanks for your warm welcome and goodies!"

Sept 22 - H&D Henlow

"1of2 We have had a lovely stay in a beautiful cottage, which is immaculate, so you feel instantly at home. We loved the Lincolnshire coast and were lucky enough to enjoy a warm September day walking for miles on the sand....."

Sept 22 - H&S N Wales

"2of2... The planes coming back to Coningsby each evening were great and the Aviation Museum also a great experience. Thank you to Johanne & Alan for being great hosts"

Sept 22 - H&S N Wales

"Another great stay in our 10th year - thank you to Alan, Johanne and Zara for making us feel so welcome. See you soon x"

Sept 22 - B&S Essex

"Another fab week at the cottage, would all love to have stayed longer! Hopefully be back again soon - what's not to love?! Thanks again x"

Sept 22 - L,A&M Cumbria

"Wonderful cottage just perfect. Fishing, carting on your doorstep. We will be back next year. Johanne and Alan are perfect hosts. We can't thank you enough. Good luck to your daughter at Uni. Bob and the boys"

Sept 22 - B,F&H Croxton

"1of2 Back at the Smithy again (twice in a month - must be a new record). We had such a great time on our earlier visit, and it was great to be here again..... we managed an East Kirkby event and a trip to the 'Walled Garden at Baumber' - a lovely and relaxing place (thanks for the tip-off Johanne and Alan)....."

Aug 22 - T&S Sheffield

"2of2 ...thanks also for the welcome basket and its contents. The Smithy as always was clean and welcoming, and it was really great to be back at what is becoming a second home for us. Hopefully we will be here again soon. Congratulations to Zara on passing her driving test"

Aug 22 - T&S Sheffield

"Thanks for a great stay. The welcoming basket was unexpected. Not too far from anywhere but in the middle of nowhere! Isabel loved watching the planes flying over and was disappointed on Friday when we didn't see any. Thanks again to Johanne & Alan"

Aug 22 - J,P,G&I Midlands

"Thanks once again to Johanne & Alan for a great stay at the Smithy. Everything clean and well presented as usual, especially the basket with yummy Lincolnshire Plum cake. Also well done to Zara for her A level results and good luck to her future at Norwich Uni. We'll be back again, hopefully early next year to see you"

Aug 22 - I&V York

"We loved our week so much. The house was perfect. So much room and everything we could have needed. Thank you so much, also the welcome basket was appreciated!"

Aug 22 - A,T,A&C Sussex

"A lovely stay at the Smithy. Plus glorious weather. We enjoyed the E Kirkby airshow ..............Thank you Johanne & Alan for the warm welcome and of course the welcome basket. We will be back again soon"

Aug 22 - T&S Sheffield

"I have loved staying at the Smithy, it has been amazing and we are going to miss Alan, Johanne, Zara and Mrs Smithy! I've had a really good time here from playing in the garden to some fantastic days out...........hopefully we will see you again soon for another brilliant holiday. Thank you!"

Aug 22 - Demi (age 6) Essex

"1of2 What a wonderful first stay we have had at the Smithy! The place was spotless and we have thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it from relaxing in the garden to the Typhoon jets going passed and some lovely days out. Thank you Alan, Johanne and Zara for our warm welcome and vast knowledge of activities for us to do......"

Aug 22 - D&D Essex

"2of2 .... The Welcome Book by Zara was a brilliant addition and helped us find some truly amazing places! Will definitely be back in the future to visit some more places that we didn't have time to fit in, as Demi said she has had such a good time here she would give it "100 stars" instead of four if she could!"

Aug 22 - D&D Essex

"Had a very relaxing time. Nice seeing Johanne and Alan again. Thank you very much for the anniversary card. The fan really useful too, especially during the heat-wave. Excellent accommodation with the added bonus of the Typhoon air shows. Thank you!"

Jul 22 - G&P E Yorks

"24th trip - see you soon"

Jul 22 - A&R Castle Howard

"1of2 Our 2nd time at the Forge, which really does have everything you could possibly need for a perfect holiday. The weather got hotter each day and provided the opportunity for sight-seeing and visiting local attractions......."

Jul 22 - J&B Worsley

"2of2 .... we are so grateful to Johanne and Alan for their warmth, kindness and hospitality - it makes such a difference.........As we are moving to Lincs shortly we may not be staying here again - more's the pity! Good Luck to everyone else who does - you will enjoy it!"

Jul 22 - J&B Worsley

"I have enjoyed my 4th stay at the Smithy - thank you Johanne and Alan once again for a lovely cottage and the benefit of your local knowledge. A new visit for me was former RAF Wickenby (small museum in old control tower, and a nice cafe). Loved all the aviation in the area and Typhoons from the garden"

Jul 22 - AC Essex

"My 14th stay at the lovely cottage, as good as the first time. Everything spotless as usual Johanne, thanks to Alan for all the help. Good luck to Zara with your A-levels and university, it seems only 2m ago since saying the same thing for your 11+ See you hopefully later in the year, and thank you again"

May 22 - I&V York

"1 of 2 Great to be back for another lovely week's stay in this lovely cottage, and a lovely welcome from Johanne and Alan. Good weather - revisited........ + jets night flying this week"

May 22 - H&M Briston

"2 of 2 Thanks again for the beautiful clean cottage and welcome basket. Plum loaf absolutely great! We'll be back next year if not before. Alan I wish I had found the pencil!"

May 22 - H&M Briston

"17th Trip - GREAT TIME!
See you soon"

May 22 - A&R Castle Howard

"1 of 2 With trepidation we booked the cottage, having been locked down since 4/20 - this was D's first step into the real world - Why did I worry? because thanks to Johanne & Alan had provided the perfect getaway for us - and thoughtful hosts and excellent location/house/hosts... "

Apr 22 - D,A&M Milton Keynes

"2 of 2 ..... We had plenty to see & do with the added bonus of a free airshow and visits to BBMF, bike rides and walks. Only regret is that we have to leave. But hopefully depending on health we'll be back. Thank you Johanne & Alan"

Apr 22 - D,A&M Milton Keynes

"1 of 2 Thank you so much Johanne & Alan for your kind welcome once again - 2nd stay in your properties.... A lovely winter's break at the Smithy to catch up with our family in Lincs. The Smithy is a warm and cosy little place which is needed at this time of year ............."

Jan 22 - B&J D Manchester

"2 of 2 ..... we managed to get around a fair bit - no snow thankfully - tho plenty of wind! Amenities at Woodhall are so close and we recommend Montebello at Horncastle where we had the grandson's 10th birthday meal. Again many thanks!"

Jan 22 - B&J D Manchester

"A huge thank you to you both. The Smithy is the perfect "home from home" (especially when "nomads!"). Great hospitality and a great little cottage. Thank you again. We'll be back! xx"

Oct 21 - A&K

"We have had a great stay here and had great fun searching for the ****** A good place to visit is the Skegness race-way with event on frequently. The hosts have been very welcoming and helpful. The stay has been great overall - thanks - Jack (13y old)"

Oct 21 - A&JF Bradford

"What can we say? but a HUGE thank you! The Forge is great along with your hospitality - we couldn't have asked for much more whilst being between homes. We'll be back!"

Oct 21 - A&K "Nomads"

"What a fantastic place; warm, cosy and relaxing with a lovely welcome basket! Perfect place for plane spotting. We will be in touch to make arrangements for next year. Lovely meeting you both. Take care x"

Oct 21 - G&R E Yorks

"Pleasant stay :-) covid safe! Thank you for all of the cleaning you have to do to allow for peace of mind. Had a great time"

Oct 21 - SR Gloucester

"Great to be back at the Forge - exactly 2y (and one pandemic!) on from our last visit, and great to find the Forge, its surroundings, and your unstinting kindness and hospitality unchanged. Looking forward to a future trip - perhaps in a different season"

Sept 21 - F&M Leicestershire

"Thank you for a wonderful week. A beautiful home with everything we wanted. So many places to see and enjoy, lovely walks and interesting history. Thank you Johanne and Alan"

Sept 21 - J&M Leicestershire & Hants

"Many thanks to Johanne & Alan for a great base for our holiday in Lincolnshire. We visited ..................with a visit to the Petwood Hotel for coffee and cake as a special treat. As always the cottage is super-clean and in a great position to see the Typhoons from RAF Coningsby. We will be back ASAP. Best Wishes to you both"

Sept 21 - I&V York

"Have had a great time. So many places to visit - don't miss Lincs Aviation Heritage at East Kirkby - even if planes are not your thing, Also Belton House (a wonderful house in a huge countryside setting). Johanne & Alan so helpful - All you could ask for."

Sept 21 - C&D Hants

"Our first time at The Forge and hopefully not our last! A great time had by all. Lovely clean and well equipt cottage with great hosts to match. Throughly enjoyed visiting all the aviation hotspots and watching the Typhoons overhead, brilliant for photography! Many thanks x"

Sept 21 - L,A&M Carlisle

"We had a lovely stay and all our needs were met. Everything spotless and felt very welcome and at home. A super base for doing lots of fun things with the kids - Thank you!"

Aug 21 - M,S,G,K,A&R Norfolk

"......... well it was just like coming home. No pandemic here - a lovely smile (even though couldn't see it [mask] - your eyes said it all! ......... We're leaving feeling well rested but sad to say goodbye :-( ............ We will see you soon Lots of love S&T"

Aug 21 - S&T Sheffield

"We had a lovely week at the Forge. The cottage is lovely and very cozy. The kids loved watching the Typhoons and Spitfires. This was not our first time in the area and we loved being back. Great time had by all at our numerous visits. We will definitely visit the Forge again!"

Aug 21 - L,C,I,S&J Stockport

"1 of 2 We arrived at the Smithy to a warm welcome from Johanne & Alan and also the lovely welcome basket and wedding card. The cottage was lovely and clean and very cosy. We've had a wonderful second week of our honeymoon here We've visited ........."

Aug 21 - H&P Blackburn

"2 of 2 ...... Leagate Inn, Coningsby (highly recommend). It's been a wonderful week and we will definitely be returning in the future. Love Phil and Helen x"

Aug 21 - H&P Blackburn

"We've had a great couple of weeks. Thanks to Johanne & Alan for the warm welcome, the goodies in the basket and suggestions for places to visit ......................................................... Ben was very excited when he found the pencil! Lincolnshire has been lovely!"

Aug 21 - B,T,L&B Plymouth

"We have had a lovely week at the Smithy. Blessed with better weather this time. Thanks to Johanne & Alan for their warm welcome and also for the wonderful welcome basket on arrival. Really nice to sit outside and watch the Typhoon fly-pasts - like a free airshow. We hope to be back again in the near future, we like the country lifestyle!"

Aug 21 - T&S B - Yorks

"We had a lovely week at the Forge. We enjoyed the welcome basket and all the extras. Thank you for our anniversary card and chocolates - much appreciated! We recommend The Royal Oak (Mareham) - fab meal! And the Harbour Lights Fish & Chip shop"

Jul 21 - L,M,G,K&H - Witney

"1 of 2 Firstly we'd like to thank Johanne & Alan for laying on the beautiful weather and the air show! But seriously, we would've had a great week without both of those. The cottage is perfect and had everything we needed. L says it's cosy - and we totally agree. Thanks for the welcome basket and the tourist information. Local highlights: ......................."

Jul 21 - C,M&L - Stoke-on-Trent

"2 of 2 .............We'll definitely recommend the cottage to our family & friends. The local Vauxhall garage in Billinghay is really helpful too! - they got the car fixed in just 24h from my call. Thanks again for the fantastic holiday xxx"

Jul 21 - C,M&L - Stoke-on-Trent

"Lovely to be back after all of the turmoil. Weather good and Typhoons active - great! - missed it all. Great to see you both again, see you soon"

Jul 21 - S&BB Essex

"It was great to return to the Smithy after the events of 2020 and beyond. Thanks to Johanne and Alan for their usual warm welcome. The Smithy was spotless as always and thanks for the goodies.......... See you next time"

Jul 21 - AC Essex

"We have had the best 2 weeks in a holiday cottage here. Alan & Johanne have been superb hosts, very helpful in giving lovely places to visit and eat. They are a lovely family to be around. Cottage very comfortable and homely. Will be back again sometime in the future. PS: Next time hide the pencil in a harder place to find!!"

Jun 21 - K&S Orkney

"1 of 2 Thank you so much for our stay in the Forge. Our son keeps saying that "you're very kind people" and we instinctively believe this to be true :-) The house was spotless and given the current times - so vital. It's well equipped, tasteful and very homely ............"

Jun 21 - P,V & A Bradford

"2 of 2 ......... Sadly it's back to Yorkshire for us, but with great memories of the new places we've been and the ones we like to return to visit. We love the area, the Forge, and are grateful for the attention to detail & hospitality. Johanne and Alan are fantastic hosts"

Jun 21 - P,V & A Bradford

"A wonderful stay altogether! So many places to visit, and a very comfy, cosy cottage. The Typhoons were a wonderful bonus! There was no shortage of supplies and very spacious rooms. We all had fun in the sun - definitely brought the weather with us :-)"

Jun 21 - H's Manchester

"1 of 2 Thank you Johanne & Alan for a warm welcome and a lovely stay. We hope to come again soon. We had a lovely holiday at the Smithy. So clean and spotless when we arrived and everything we needed. In a great location ............."

May 21 - T&S Sheffield

"2 of 2 ....... [lots of places to see and things to do] at the end of each day we came back to the Smithy - our "Home from Home""

May 21 - T&S Sheffield

"Great to be back at The Smithy. Lovely welcome (covid safe) from Johanne & Alan. Everything spotless as usual. No chance of Covid here! ............ Superb value for money Johanne. Thank you. See you all again in the summer"

Apr 21 - I&V York

"1 of 2 The first visitors following lockdown, and like everyone else in desperate need of a holiday! The Forge did not disappoint! A lovely, comfortable and well-equipped cottage - perfect for an early spring break. Alan and Johanne could not have been kinder, more helpful and more hospitable...."

Apr 21 - B&J Manchester

"2 of 2 ......The fact that so many places are still closed/only open "outside" makes it difficult to recommend anywhere to eat/visit but Alan & Johanne are full of local knowledge to help future visitors. We are truly sorry to be leaving - but hopefully we shall be back in the near future. PS - Yes! the Plumloaf is delicious"

Apr 21 - B&J Manchester

"1 of 2 Another great week at the Smithy - Nice to be back again. Lovely and clean and welcoming as usual. We felt safe. Visited our four favourite places ......"

Apr 21 - K's

"2 of 2 Our thanks to Johanne, Alan and Zara for a great stay it made us feel so much better after such a long lockdown - and the sun shone!"

Apr 21 - K's

"1 of 2 A huge THANK YOU to you for our recent stay with you. ......Our baby daughter was born on 13th March (A&J cmt: CONGRATULATIONS! N&G]
Our stay at The Forge was perfect! Tranquil, clean and in a great location for the local area,............"

Mar 20 - N&G

"2 of 2 .........which was just what we needed as we prepared/waited for the arrival of our daughter. Thank you for being so attentive with our needs and requests. Take care!"

Mar 20 - N&G

"A very relaxing stay! Lots of things to see and do! A great location in a lovely part of the UK Thank you!"

Mar 20 - N&G W Midlands

"1 of 2... Thank you for such a lovely welcome, plus the "Goodie Basket!" The Smithy was so comfortable and relaxing. Lovely countryside.Our first visit but definitely not our last. See you next year.........."

Oct 19 - T&J P Kent

"2 of 2 ...Had it not been for work we would have stayed longer. Thank you once again. Recommend the Leagate pub for meals - up the road yum yum!"

Oct 19 - T&J P Kent

"Enjoyed our stay very much in this lovely cottage. Alan & Johanne very friendly and helpful. Thank you for the very neat and pristine cottage. We will more than likely come back some time. PS: Dined twice at the Royal Oak - very good!"

Oct 19 - J&B H Cumbria

"Another great stay - everywhere spotless as usual - Thanks Johanne and Alan"

Oct 19 - IA York

"1 of 2 We have very much enjoyed our stay at the Forge. The cottage facilities are excellent and the friendly welcome from Johanne and Alan is much appreciated. This has been a great base from which to do RAF stuff"

Oct 19 - M&F E Leicestershire

"2 of 2 ...... and the aerial antics of the Coningsby Typoons right overhead made our late afternoon cup of tea in the conservatory a very special treat! [Royal Oak at Mareham was very good - great chips!]"

Oct 19 - M&F E Leicestershire

"Thank you for such a clean, cozy Smithy - despite such awful weather!"

Sept 19 - DA Yorks/Lancs

"Thank you both for a lovely welcome inc the Welcome Basket. This is a pleasant place to stay and Lincoln really needs more than one visit. Our best wishes and thank you for your advice on places to visit. We did enjoy the menu at the Royal Oak (Mareham le Fen)"

Sept 19 - G&B W Cardiff

"Here I am again for a week's R&R! Nice to get away from the norm!! Thank you for your warm welcome and the "goodie basket" Nice restful week - see you next year!"

Sept 19 - ED Norfolk

"1 of 2 Here we go again after a lovely holiday. Beautiful place, lovely weather. Love this house. Old haunts to check, new places to see, but it is always nice at the end of the day to know we are coming back here........"

Sept 19 - C&H S Sheffield

"2 of 2 ........Thank you Johanne and Alan for your warm welcome, for the contents of the Welcome Basket - much appreciated. PS: The Royal Oak (Mareham le Fen) for a meal is excellent"

Sept 19 - C&H S Sheffield

"1 of 2 Another amazing week here.Holidays here never fail to deliver enjoyment and a great choice of places to visit and sights to see. Thank you for your warm welcome, the wonderful basket of gifts, and for letting us enjoy the Forge ...."

Aug 19 - P&E G Croydon

"2 of 2 ... We managed to do so much - especially enjoyed: Thorpe camp, Woodhall Spa nature reserve and the Petwood Hotel. Gibraltar point in a thunderstorm was interesting!"

Aug 19 - P&E G Croydon

"So lovely to be back! Weather couldn't have been hotter!! We love it here as usual - nice to have met Edna! Thank you for the "goodies" and everything here. Hope to see you again next year"

Aug 19 - A&P W Cambs

"5 stars from us both xxx
We've had a fantastic time getting out and about - love the Smithy, so comfy and clean. We will be seeing you in the next year. We will keep in touch Chocs on table. Lots of love"

Aug 19 - SS Sheffield

"Had a fab time. Really lucky with night flying. Cottage was great. Thank you for making us so welcome & the gifts were great. Thank you xxx"

Aug 19 - W family Darlington

"1 of 2 We have thoroughly enjoyed our stay at the Smithy. The Welcome Basket was a lovely surprise - thank you.........."

Aug 19 - J&M Liverpool

"2 of 2 ..........We have relaxed and unwound and especially enjoyed watching our own private airshows from the summer room and patio. The perfect hideaway to get away from it all - simply wonderful!"

Aug 19 - J&M Liverpool

"1 of 2 My second visit has certainly been as good as my first. The cottage has been perfect again, as has the hospitality from Johanne and Alan ............."

Jul 19 - AC Essex

"2 of 2 ...I was lucky to have night flying and have enjoyed more aviation heritage. After how it was in June, I have been very fortunate with the weather. See you again soon"

Jul 19 - AC Essex

"Enjoyed our break (although wet and cold week weather-wise). But a warm welcome at the Smithy as always"

Jun 19 - K's Notts

"Another great week - see you soon. Thanks again"

Jun 19 - S&B Essex

"My 10th stay in the Smithy - spotless as always - Thanks Johanne"

Apr 19 - Ian York

"Thanks for another lovely stay in your lovely cottage. Nice weather for the week...... Parrot Zoo a must, found Easton Walled Garden - will revisit. Hemswell Antique Centre and plenty of jets at Coningsby. Thank you for the birthday card. See you next year"

Mar 19 - H&M Bristol

"A wonderful cottage with everything we needed. Beautifully presented and very clean. Thank you for the welcome gifts - the plum loaf was delicious. Thank you for making us feel so welcome"

Feb 19 - S, J & A Norfolk

"Thank you Johanne and Alan - you've thought of everything. We loved the Forge. Everything so clean. We will certainly return. Loved the Plum Loaf"

Feb 19 - S&A&S Portsmouth

"We have had a lovely stay again at the Smithy. We will be back again next year. All the best to you all. PS: A small gift for you all"

Nov 18 - A&S H Norfolk

"An amazing 2 weeks in a brilliant cottage with lovely "hosts"...… The Forge is "so" near central to many great places, even the coast..... Thank you Johanne and Alan for the help/information to make a truly memorable. Our "first" time hopefully not the last! xxx"

Oct 18 - M&D B London

"First time but not the last. We've had a great time. Weather v good. We've enjoyed everything so much we are looking to make Lincolnshire home."

Sept 18 - J&B P Essex

"Exactly what we always get - ABSOLUTE PERFECTION! - many many thanks"

Sept 18 - R&J D

"What can one say? Except everything was just FANTASTIC. We had a wonderful stay in a beautiful cottage and would certainly recommend to friends and family. Wishing you every future success. Thank You"

Sept 18 - B&S L Hants

"Comfortable and quiet location. Central for visiting the surrounding countryside and coast. Hope to return"

Sept 18 - C&A P

"Thank you for a lovely place to stop for our holiday. Cottage & hospitality excellent....... A time to recharge batteries. Thanks for the welcome basket. Might bring our youngest for the aeroplanes. …. Enjoyed the "dark sky", may bring our telescope next time"

Sept 18 - C&H S - Sheffield

"Thanks again for another great week - see you soon"

Sept 18 - S&B B Essex

"Our third time back, nice weather most of the week - revisited some places ..................... and found some new ones too (Grimethorpe Castle and Springfields). Morning and evenings at Coningsby watching the planes. Thanks to Johanne, Alan & Zara for another great week in your cottage. Will definitely be back next year"

Sep 2018 - H&M H Norfolk

"We have enjoyed a fabulous week again in this beautiful and comfortable "home" - thank you! We loved the night flying! Great visits to East Kirkby, Lincoln, BBMF and Newark Aviation Museum"

Aug 18 - The G family London & Scotland

"A wonderful week in a wonderful cottage! Plenty to see and do locally, with our very own display of jet fighters - what more could you ask for! Thank you Johanne and Alan for your hospitality and your very kind welcome basket - much appreciated. Hope to stay again"

Aug 18 - The M family Huddersfield

"Many thanks for making the Smithy available - we had a lovely relaxing time and can't wait to repeat"

Aug 18 - A&M H

"Thanks again for the welcome and lovely cottage to stay in - very comfortable. Lovely weather and plenty to do - aircraft spotting and watching circling around - more please!"

Jul 18 - P&J Norfolk

"Thank you for a superb holiday. Excellent aerial display on Friday with all the usual Coningsby planes - plus Red Arrows! - watched in the comfort of the Smithy garden"

Jul 18 - B&G Sheffield

"Thank you both for a comfortable and enjoyable stay. Superb day at East Kirkby. Non-stop sunshine. We did see Peter Rabbit! in the garden"

Jul 18 - P&S Wiltshire

"Many thanks to you both for your very warm welcome - Enjoyed my "week of rest". Good weather. Hope to see you next year. Regards"

Jul 18 - E Norfolk

"Thank you Johanne and Alan for an excellent accommodation you provide at the Smithy. Have enjoyed all the aviation heritage in the area and also the Typhoons roaring overhead. Weather-wise the week could not have been improved upon. Hope to return again"

Jun 18 - Mr C Essex

"Thank you Johanne & Alan for another stay at the Smithy - it's our second home! The weather has been great - thanks!"

Jun 18 - The K's

"You have done it again - totally relaxed - thank you both!"

Jun 18 - Mr & Mrs L Preston

"What else can we say? We consider this our second home!. Lovely week and lovely weather. We can thoroughly recommend. Try We'll meet again - WWII museum Frieston Shore near Boston"

May 18 - Mr & Mrs D

"Many thanks for a lovely week - even with the rain never spoilt our time"

Apr 18 - B&S B

"We have had an enjoyable week in the Forge. It's very clean, cosy and comfortable - everything we could need. Hope to return :-)"

Apr 18 - P family Kent

"Another lovely break. Thank you so much for the hospitality"

Mar 18- R&J D

"First time at the Smithy - absolutely love it! Flying til 1100pm last night - loved that too! See you soon x"

Jan 18 - Mr & Mrs H N Yorks

"Thanks Johanne and Alan we’ve had a lovely few days in your gorgeous cottage………. if ever we get back to the UK we will be sure to stay again"

Oct 17 – P&G Australia

"Beautiful accommodation, everything perfect"

Oct 17 – S&R Norway

"Thank you for the warm welcome. Many thanks!"

Sep 17 – C&D

"Lovely cottage. Extremely well presented. Only problem wish we had a longer holiday. Thank you for the welcome basket and for this welcome home"

Sep 17 – C&H

"Lovely clean, tidy and comfortable cottage. Welcome basket a nice touch. A warm welcome by the owner. We enjoyed our stay"

Sept 17 – SC & EW & SK

"Thank you for a lovely week’s stay. We have found it very relaxing and felt very welcome. It’s a beautiful cottage in an idyllic location"

Sept 17 – C&P Cheshire

"Wonderful visit – Love Lincolnshire"

Aug 17 – V&I

"A lovely visit. Really enjoyed the 40’s weekend. Thank you so much for the attention you gave us and the perfect welcome pack"

Jul 17

"Thank you for your hospitality and the lovely accommodation. A pleasure to be here!"

Jun 17 – J&D

"Thank you for another super stay! Perfect holiday cottage"

Jun 17 – G&B Sheffield

"Another great stay!"

May 17 – B&S B

"Great location. Lovely cottage with everything needed. Immaculately presented. Lovely welcome with great welcome gifts!"

May 17 – M&A

"Brilliant cottage with everything you need and very clean, even to my standards! We will highly recommend this to other people"

May 17 – Morayshire

"Great week!"

May 17 – R&J

"We came to rest and see the jets – great!"

May 17 – H&R

"Aberdeenshire – An oasis of peace in a world of turmoil. Thank you so much for a most memorable weekend with family and friends"

May 17 – Aberdeenshire

"Nice to be back in your lovely cottage. Great base for touring. Plum bread a must!"

May 17 – H&M Norfolk

"Had a lovely time! Accommodation amazing! Will be back! Thank you"

May 17 – K&J London

"Had a lovely time! Accommodation amazing! Will be back! Thank you"

May 17 – K&J London

"Just what the doctor ordered! Thank you for giving us the means for a lovely relaxing holiday. The Smithy is perfect in every way"

Apr 17 – S&J Preston

"We loved it – it was amazing! Had great time – from L age 8"

Apr 17 – W Family

"Great holiday in Smithy!"

Apr 17 – A&R

"Many thanks – feels like our second home"

Mar 17 – R&J

"A delightful stay in this 5 star accommodation. It’s lovely to stay in this clean and well-resourced house. It’s a great area for a relaxed stay"

Mar 17 - A&P

"A wet and cold beach race yet we have still enjoyed our stay Thanks"

November 2016, K's

"Lovely cottage very relaxing with very helpful guidebooks (particularly the "kids"). Typhoon activity made it extra special (as did the welcome basket)"

October 2016, L family Surrey

"Excellent cottage. Lovely decor and clean as a whistle. Enjoyable stay. Great location"

October 2016, B&C Devon

"Many thanks a lovely stay"

October 2016, R&J Staffs

What People Say

"Thank you both for a lovely restful week, despite the changeable weather, we have had a great time, no phones!! A real home from home, warm and comfy. Slowly getting to know the area, just love it up here. See you both again in 2024 xx"

"1 of 2 Thank you both for a wonderful stay. Thoroughly enjoyed the area, and the Smithy is both cosy and a welcome retreat. Also well equipped and spotless. Plenty to see and do, can recommend the Bomber Command memorial and Aviation Centre at East Kirkby ........."

"2 of 2 ............ Very much looking forward to a return visit in 2024. Many happy memories until then. Thanks again S"

"Another brilliant stay at the cottage, everything we needed and a lovely welcome basket too! Nothing too much trouble for Alan and Johanne, always make us feel welcome. Thank you and will hopefully be back soon!"

"1 of 2 Thank you for a wonderful week the cottage is just perfect. We really appreciated how clean and welcoming it is and its close location for so many things to do. Kinema in the Woods was just brilliant - great atmosphere and really comfortable seats. "

"2 of 2 ...... The boys loved the karting in Tattershall, and we really enjoyed looking round Woodhall Spa and Horncastle. Can’t wait to come back - thank you"

"Thank you so much for a wonderful stay. Johanne and Alan have been amazing - so helpful and so friendly. Amazing place to plane spot in the sunshine. Check out "Ted Coningsby" on YouTube for all plane spotters - may even catch him at Gate 2! We will be back. Thank you xx"

"1 of 2 Thanks to Johanne, Alan and Zara for another wonderful stay at the Smithy! It's been lovely to see you all again and with your vast local knowledge we've had an amazing holiday and some fantastic days out. The Smithy was spotless as usual ............."

"2 of 2 ....... and the hosts have gone above and beyond to make sure we enjoyed our stay. We look forward to seeing you all again soon. PS: Zara was amazing at Butlins!"

"1 of 2 Huge 'thank you' to Johanne & Alan for this "gem of a cottage", the welcome basket & your wealth of local knowledge. Despite the unpredictable weather we had a great time and were very busy during our short stay........"

"2 of 2 ..... Look forward to staying again in October, when we will visit more places of interest ......The cottage is cosy and spotless. Thank you"

"1 of 2 Thanks to Johanne, Alan & Zara for another wonderful stay at the Smithy! It's been lovely to see you all again and with the vast local knowledge we've had an amazing holiday and some fantastic days out. The Smithy was spotless as usual....... "

"2 of 2....... and the hosts have gone above and beyond to make sure we enjoyed our stay. We look forward to seeing you all again soon. PS Zara was amazing at Butlins!"

"Lovely to be back another great few days Weather good (most unexpected) - always a great welcome. See you soon"

"2of2 ... Good meal in Horncastle - at Monte Bello (Italian), also good pub lunch in Louth at Ye Olde Whyte Swanne! Loved the night flying by the Typhoons! As Arnie says "We will be back!!! xxx" PS: Congrats to Zara xxx PPS: Loved the goodies!x"

"Lovely hosts & immaculate cottage! Lots to see, Belton House, Gunby Hall, Gibraltar Point nature reserve (great cafe), Tattershall Castle and Boston Stump tower (for "exercise" and great views). Dobbies at Boston has a great Waitrose concession within. Missed loads, hope to be back!"

"Thanks to Alan & Johanne and great to be back at our second home. Everything spotless as usual and as always a warm welcome. Congratulations to Zara on her new career. PS: Actually saw Alan doing some weeding, not a mirage!! :-)"

"1 of 2 Returning for the 2nd time: The Forge is the perfect holiday home. Johanne + Alan go above & beyond to make our stay more comfortable. The local tourist information is helpful & helped us to plan our days. We had a busy week travelling to many of these ........."

"2 of 2 ...... and the weather was kind to us too. Thank you again Johanne + Alan. I can not wait to get home and re-book another trip."

"Hope you had a good time in London and Zara did well with her dancing. Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year……….. xx"

"Thank you for a great week in a great cottage. Lots to do here, and we've done it! "

"A lovely week in a beautiful cottage. Visited many places we knew in the 70's (& 60's!). Thank you Johanne and Alan"

"Thanks for a really comfortable stay. Loved visiting the local aviation museums and watching the Typhoons overhead. Thanks for your warm welcome and goodies!"

"1of2 We have had a lovely stay in a beautiful cottage, which is immaculate, so you feel instantly at home. We loved the Lincolnshire coast and were lucky enough to enjoy a warm September day walking for miles on the sand....."

"2of2... The planes coming back to Coningsby each evening were great and the Aviation Museum also a great experience. Thank you to Johanne & Alan for being great hosts"

"Another great stay in our 10th year - thank you to Alan, Johanne and Zara for making us feel so welcome. See you soon x"

"Another fab week at the cottage, would all love to have stayed longer! Hopefully be back again soon - what's not to love?! Thanks again x"

"Wonderful cottage just perfect. Fishing, carting on your doorstep. We will be back next year. Johanne and Alan are perfect hosts. We can't thank you enough. Good luck to your daughter at Uni. Bob and the boys"

"2of2 ...thanks also for the welcome basket and its contents. The Smithy as always was clean and welcoming, and it was really great to be back at what is becoming a second home for us. Hopefully we will be here again soon. Congratulations to Zara on passing her driving test"

"Thanks for a great stay. The welcoming basket was unexpected. Not too far from anywhere but in the middle of nowhere! Isabel loved watching the planes flying over and was disappointed on Friday when we didn't see any. Thanks again to Johanne & Alan"

"We loved our week so much. The house was perfect. So much room and everything we could have needed. Thank you so much, also the welcome basket was appreciated!"

"A lovely stay at the Smithy. Plus glorious weather. We enjoyed the E Kirkby airshow ..............Thank you Johanne & Alan for the warm welcome and of course the welcome basket. We will be back again soon"

"I have loved staying at the Smithy, it has been amazing and we are going to miss Alan, Johanne, Zara and Mrs Smithy! I've had a really good time here from playing in the garden to some fantastic days out...........hopefully we will see you again soon for another brilliant holiday. Thank you!"

"Had a very relaxing time. Nice seeing Johanne and Alan again. Thank you very much for the anniversary card. The fan really useful too, especially during the heat-wave. Excellent accommodation with the added bonus of the Typhoon air shows. Thank you!"

"24th trip - see you soon"

"1of2 Our 2nd time at the Forge, which really does have everything you could possibly need for a perfect holiday. The weather got hotter each day and provided the opportunity for sight-seeing and visiting local attractions......."

"2of2 .... we are so grateful to Johanne and Alan for their warmth, kindness and hospitality - it makes such a difference.........As we are moving to Lincs shortly we may not be staying here again - more's the pity! Good Luck to everyone else who does - you will enjoy it!"

"1 of 2 Great to be back for another lovely week's stay in this lovely cottage, and a lovely welcome from Johanne and Alan. Good weather - revisited........ + jets night flying this week"

"2 of 2 Thanks again for the beautiful clean cottage and welcome basket. Plum loaf absolutely great! We'll be back next year if not before. Alan I wish I had found the pencil!"

"17th Trip - GREAT TIME! See you soon"

"1 of 2 With trepidation we booked the cottage, having been locked down since 4/20 - this was D's first step into the real world - Why did I worry? because thanks to Johanne & Alan had provided the perfect getaway for us - and thoughtful hosts and excellent location/house/hosts... "

"2 of 2 ..... We had plenty to see & do with the added bonus of a free airshow and visits to BBMF, bike rides and walks. Only regret is that we have to leave. But hopefully depending on health we'll be back. Thank you Johanne & Alan"

"1 of 2 Thank you so much Johanne & Alan for your kind welcome once again - 2nd stay in your properties.... A lovely winter's break at the Smithy to catch up with our family in Lincs. The Smithy is a warm and cosy little place which is needed at this time of year ............."

"2 of 2 ..... we managed to get around a fair bit - no snow thankfully - tho plenty of wind! Amenities at Woodhall are so close and we recommend Montebello at Horncastle where we had the grandson's 10th birthday meal. Again many thanks!"

"A huge thank you to you both. The Smithy is the perfect "home from home" (especially when "nomads!"). Great hospitality and a great little cottage. Thank you again. We'll be back! xx"

"We have had a great stay here and had great fun searching for the ****** A good place to visit is the Skegness race-way with event on frequently. The hosts have been very welcoming and helpful. The stay has been great overall - thanks - Jack (13y old)"

"What can we say? but a HUGE thank you! The Forge is great along with your hospitality - we couldn't have asked for much more whilst being between homes. We'll be back!"

"What a fantastic place; warm, cosy and relaxing with a lovely welcome basket! Perfect place for plane spotting. We will be in touch to make arrangements for next year. Lovely meeting you both. Take care x"

"Pleasant stay :-) covid safe! Thank you for all of the cleaning you have to do to allow for peace of mind. Had a great time"

"Great to be back at the Forge - exactly 2y (and one pandemic!) on from our last visit, and great to find the Forge, its surroundings, and your unstinting kindness and hospitality unchanged. Looking forward to a future trip - perhaps in a different season"

"Thank you for a wonderful week. A beautiful home with everything we wanted. So many places to see and enjoy, lovely walks and interesting history. Thank you Johanne and Alan"

"Have had a great time. So many places to visit - don't miss Lincs Aviation Heritage at East Kirkby - even if planes are not your thing, Also Belton House (a wonderful house in a huge countryside setting). Johanne & Alan so helpful - All you could ask for."

"Our first time at The Forge and hopefully not our last! A great time had by all. Lovely clean and well equipt cottage with great hosts to match. Throughly enjoyed visiting all the aviation hotspots and watching the Typhoons overhead, brilliant for photography! Many thanks x"

"We had a lovely stay and all our needs were met. Everything spotless and felt very welcome and at home. A super base for doing lots of fun things with the kids - Thank you!"

"......... well it was just like coming home. No pandemic here - a lovely smile (even though couldn't see it [mask] - your eyes said it all! ......... We're leaving feeling well rested but sad to say goodbye :-( ............ We will see you soon Lots of love S&T"

"We had a lovely week at the Forge. The cottage is lovely and very cozy. The kids loved watching the Typhoons and Spitfires. This was not our first time in the area and we loved being back. Great time had by all at our numerous visits. We will definitely visit the Forge again!"

"1 of 2 We arrived at the Smithy to a warm welcome from Johanne & Alan and also the lovely welcome basket and wedding card. The cottage was lovely and clean and very cosy. We've had a wonderful second week of our honeymoon here We've visited ........."

"2 of 2 ...... Leagate Inn, Coningsby (highly recommend). It's been a wonderful week and we will definitely be returning in the future. Love Phil and Helen x"

"We've had a great couple of weeks. Thanks to Johanne & Alan for the warm welcome, the goodies in the basket and suggestions for places to visit ......................................................... Ben was very excited when he found the pencil! Lincolnshire has been lovely!"

"We had a lovely week at the Forge. We enjoyed the welcome basket and all the extras. Thank you for our anniversary card and chocolates - much appreciated! We recommend The Royal Oak (Mareham) - fab meal! And the Harbour Lights Fish & Chip shop"

"2 of 2 .............We'll definitely recommend the cottage to our family & friends. The local Vauxhall garage in Billinghay is really helpful too! - they got the car fixed in just 24h from my call. Thanks again for the fantastic holiday xxx"

"Lovely to be back after all of the turmoil. Weather good and Typhoons active - great! - missed it all. Great to see you both again, see you soon"

"It was great to return to the Smithy after the events of 2020 and beyond. Thanks to Johanne and Alan for their usual warm welcome. The Smithy was spotless as always and thanks for the goodies.......... See you next time"

"1 of 2 Thank you so much for our stay in the Forge. Our son keeps saying that "you're very kind people" and we instinctively believe this to be true :-) The house was spotless and given the current times - so vital. It's well equipped, tasteful and very homely ............"

"2 of 2 ......... Sadly it's back to Yorkshire for us, but with great memories of the new places we've been and the ones we like to return to visit. We love the area, the Forge, and are grateful for the attention to detail & hospitality. Johanne and Alan are fantastic hosts"

"A wonderful stay altogether! So many places to visit, and a very comfy, cosy cottage. The Typhoons were a wonderful bonus! There was no shortage of supplies and very spacious rooms. We all had fun in the sun - definitely brought the weather with us :-)"

"1 of 2 Thank you Johanne & Alan for a warm welcome and a lovely stay. We hope to come again soon. We had a lovely holiday at the Smithy. So clean and spotless when we arrived and everything we needed. In a great location ............."

"2 of 2 ....... [lots of places to see and things to do] at the end of each day we came back to the Smithy - our "Home from Home""

"Great to be back at The Smithy. Lovely welcome (covid safe) from Johanne & Alan. Everything spotless as usual. No chance of Covid here! ............ Superb value for money Johanne. Thank you. See you all again in the summer"

"1 of 2 The first visitors following lockdown, and like everyone else in desperate need of a holiday! The Forge did not disappoint! A lovely, comfortable and well-equipped cottage - perfect for an early spring break. Alan and Johanne could not have been kinder, more helpful and more hospitable...."

"1 of 2 Another great week at the Smithy - Nice to be back again. Lovely and clean and welcoming as usual. We felt safe. Visited our four favourite places ......"

"2 of 2 Our thanks to Johanne, Alan and Zara for a great stay it made us feel so much better after such a long lockdown - and the sun shone!"

"1 of 2 A huge THANK YOU to you for our recent stay with you. ......Our baby daughter was born on 13th March (A&J cmt: CONGRATULATIONS! N&G] Our stay at The Forge was perfect! Tranquil, clean and in a great location for the local area,............"

"2 of 2 .........which was just what we needed as we prepared/waited for the arrival of our daughter. Thank you for being so attentive with our needs and requests. Take care!"

"A very relaxing stay! Lots of things to see and do! A great location in a lovely part of the UK Thank you!"

"1 of 2... Thank you for such a lovely welcome, plus the "Goodie Basket!" The Smithy was so comfortable and relaxing. Lovely countryside.Our first visit but definitely not our last. See you next year.........."

"2 of 2 ...Had it not been for work we would have stayed longer. Thank you once again. Recommend the Leagate pub for meals - up the road yum yum!"

"Enjoyed our stay very much in this lovely cottage. Alan & Johanne very friendly and helpful. Thank you for the very neat and pristine cottage. We will more than likely come back some time. PS: Dined twice at the Royal Oak - very good!"

"Another great stay - everywhere spotless as usual - Thanks Johanne and Alan"

"17th Trip - GREAT TIME!
See you soon"

"1 of 2 A huge THANK YOU to you for our recent stay with you. ......Our baby daughter was born on 13th March (A&J cmt: CONGRATULATIONS! N&G]
Our stay at The Forge was perfect! Tranquil, clean and in a great location for the local area,............"

"5 stars from us both xxx
We've had a fantastic time getting out and about - love the Smithy, so comfy and clean. We will be seeing you in the next year. We will keep in touch Chocs on table. Lots of love"