How and why we personally inspect every place in the Sawday’s collection


					


			

				


			
			

									
When you’re scrolling through thousands of places to stay across six different sites, it helps to have someone narrow the field to the ones worth getting excited about. That’s where Sawday’s comes in.  


We turn down around 50% of the applications we receive, then ask our team to personally inspect the ones that make the cut. They meet the owners and find out how staying there really feels and exactly who it would be perfect for.  


This means you get to the good stuff faster, so you can focus on finding the place that’s right for you, rather than getting lost in the options. The result is a smaller, considered collection of places we believe are worth your time. 


							

		

	
							


											


														
											
    

					
					


													

								
	
				
	
			


			
																				

						
	

		
		
		

							
 


What is a Sawday’s inspection?


					


			

				


			
			

									
A Sawday’s inspection is our process for getting to know a place before recommending it to guests. We assess its character, hospitality, practical details and the kind of stay it offers, drawing on first-hand experience wherever possible. 


							

		

	
							


											


											
    


														
					
					


													

								

									
 


How our inspection process works


								

							


											


														
					
					


													

								
	
													
				
			


							

					

						
					

				

			
																				

						
	

		
		
		

							
1. Discover


					


			

				


			
			

									
We‘re always looking for special places to stay, from those who get in touch, to the places we discover ourselves.


							

		

			


							

					

						
					

				

			
																				

						
	

		
		
		

							
2. Inspect


					


			

				


			
			

									
We send an expert team member to experience what being there really feels like. On the rare occasion an in-person visit isn’t possible, we inspect virtually. 


							

		

			


							

					

						
					

				

			
																				

						
	

		
		
		

							
3. Select 


					


			

				


			
			

									
We bring in the places that guests will fall in love with.


							

		

			


							

					

						
					

				

			
																				

						
	

		
		
		

							
4. Stay connected


					


			

				


			
			

									
We keep in touch with owners, listen to guest feedback and check in so our recommendations continue to reflect the experience on offer.


							

		

	
							


											


														
											
    

					
					


													

								

									
What our inspections mean for you


A better idea of what to expect 
 Our descriptions draw on first-hand knowledge, helping you picture more than the room itself, from the setting and welcome to the details that make a place feel different. 


Less searching, more discovering

We bring together a considered collection, giving you a more useful starting point for planning your next escape. 


A place that fits your kind of getaway 


We think about which of our collections a new place belongs in, from coastal cottages and car-free escapes to gastro pubs and luxury hotels, helping you find places that match what matter to you. 


Real people, here to help

Our collection is built around real places and the people who look after them. And if you need a hand, there are real people here to help, too. 


								

							


											


														
					
					

											
    


														
					
					


													

								
	
				
	
			


			
																				

						
	

		
		
		

							


					


			

				


			
			

									




Meet Nicola Crosse, our Chief Inspector


Nic has spent nearly three decades getting to know places in the Sawday’s collection, meeting their owners and discovering what makes each one tick.  


Along the way, she’s been mistaken for a hopeful pastry chef, got stuck in a panoramic lift in Madeira and once walked into the wrong house calling “yoo hoo!” to a group of bewildered strangers. 


It’s given her plenty of stories, but also a sharp eye for the details that matter. Nic has the special knack for looking beyond appearances, getting to the heart of the experience a place can offer and identifying exactly the type of guest who is most likely to love staying there. Her insight helps us share a fuller picture of the places in our collection and what might make one feel just right for your next trip. 


 






 


Explore more inspection videos with Sawday’s >


							

		

	
							


											


														
											
    

					
					


													

								

									
Why inspection matters


Sometimes, the things you remember most about a stay are the ones you barely noticed when you arrived. 


 The cupboard full of beach kit that inspires you to head to the coast for an afternoon building sandcastles. The spare wellies left by the door that make a rainy walk possible. The book you randomly pull off a shelf that turns into your new favourite, because the owner put thought into what their guests might love. 


These are the details we look for when we inspect. Because a great stay isn’t only about where you sleep. It’s about how a place makes you feel, and the subtle touches that nudge you towards the special moments you might not have otherwise had. 


								

							


											


											
    


														
					
					


													

								

									
 


Inspection FAQs


How does Sawday’s choose places to stay? 


We look for places with character, a genuine sense of welcome and people who care about the experience they offer. We consider what makes each place different, the thoughtful details that bring it to life and the guests who are most likely to love staying there. We turn down places that don’t meet our criteria, so our collection remains considered and distinctive. 


Are all Sawday’s places inspected?  


We assess places before they join the Sawday’s collection, usually through an in-person visit from a member of our expert team. In the rare case that an in-person visit isn’t possible, we may meet the owners virtually, where we’ll ask the same questions and take a walkaround of the space on screen. Both approaches help us understand what a place is like, who it suits and whether we’d recommend it to our guests. 


What do we look for when inspecting holiday cottages?  


We look at how the cottage works for the type of guests we expect will be staying in it, whether there’s enough room for everyone to experience the stay comfortably, and for signs of generosity that make your life easier, like a well-stocked kitchen or local recommendations the hosts have left to help you find your feet. 


What do we look for when inspecting pubs with rooms?  


A feeling of genuineness that’s impossible to manufacture. It will have a bit of a buzz and the sense that the people welcoming you are genuinely pleased to see you.  


We look for places with that easy live-in atmosphere, with beautiful bedrooms to retreat to. We also consider which type of guest the pub will suit – it could be a cosy stop on a walking holiday or a foodie weekend built around a strong menu. 


What do we look for when inspecting hotels?  


We’re interested in hotels that feel individual and how the people behind it bring it to life, from the character of the building and how shared spaces invite you to spend your time, to how generous the breakfast is, small practical touches that make everything feel easy, and how good their recommendations are for things to do in the area. There should feel as though there’s a sense of care running through the whole experience.  


What do we look for when inspecting bed and breakfasts?  


We look for welcoming places with comfortable rooms and hosts who genuinely find sharing their corner of the world a joy. Breakfast is an important part of the picture – a generous spread of local produce or something freshly baked from the kitchen makes getting up a lot easier. Above all, we want to understand what makes a B&B feel individual and how its hosts help guests settle in and make the most of their stay. 


Does an inspection guarantee a property will be perfect? 


No, and we wouldn’t want to promise that. A Sawday’s inspection is our own, informed view of a place at the time we visit it. We’re looking for somewhere we’d genuinely recommend, but every property has its quirks and particularities, and what feels perfect to one person might not suit another. It’s our job is to give you the honest detail you need to work out whether it’s right for you.