Submit a Review for Hollymede Cottage
61/63 Church End Lane, Runwell, Wickford, SS11 7DP
View full details of Hollymede CottageLatest Reviews for Hollymede Cottage
16 January 2026
Hollymede were recommended to me by a trusted friend, and this has proved entirely correct. Hollymede is small, homely, and all staff genuinely care about residents, and residents loved ones. It's a genuine care home. Bedrooms are individual and nicely decorated and furnished, communal areas
likewise, homely. Staff to resident ratio is high resulting theres always someone to help mum when she needs assistance. Staff engage well with residents, they don't just 'mind' the environment or space, everyone is treated with respect. And care. Which is exactly what we want for our loved ones, once that difficult decisions made. As mums main carer for several years prior, knowing mum is always safe, that I trust the staff completely with her care, has made a big difference in my life also.
There are regular resident activities, lots of visiting entertainers and events/celebrations. Food is freshly cooked and varied, mum has regained the weight she lost and doing well.
05 January 2026
Hollymede care home has been a lifeline for mum. Mum has mild dementia and got to a bad stage, moving to Hollymede changed her over night, by being in safe surroundings and with people her own age, some with similar conditions. A very welcoming place with a snug homely feel, with a small number of
residents which allows staff to actively engage with them and take time to make residents feel good about themselves. Staff are very polite and friendly and are very well trained to react to daily care needs. There are regular events, special guests, games and music, which all contribute to a wonderful environment to be in. A good menu of food is available, with plenty of daily variations and special care to mums fussy diet.
02 January 2026
My husband was admitted to Hollymede Cottage last June, He had had Dementia for about 12 years and although for quite a while, it didn't seem too bad at all , it finally came to the point when he needed 24 hour care. He had been there previously for 4 weeks respite as I had to have an operation
and he settled down there very well. As a family, we felt that we were so lucky that there was a space there when he needed to go into a care home permanently. When you walk in there, you immediately feel at home as it is just like walking into a relaxed family home. The staff do a really good job and are very friendly and approachable as is the manager who right from the start sent me lots of photos of my husband doing jigsaws or singing etc. They have lots of live entertainment for the residents and families are also invited to go if they are able. Once again he has settled down there really well and looks really well. When I get more frail, I hope that they will have a space for me.
19 June 2025
My mum had a bad fall in October 2024 and was admitted to Hospital she was also diagnosed with Dementia and has not been able to walk. In February we found Hollymede Cottage for her when I walked into the home I felt very comfortable and the staff were very friendly. My mum was not happy in the
previous home, but on the first day my mum just changed back to how she used to be. On the first day the Manager sent me photos of mum and she was really smiling, this day was the first day of her new journey. The Manager is very helpful and keeps in touch and sends lots of photos. All the staff are friendly and care for the residents.
Also the residents' families are invited in to the home to join in events at Hollymede. Management is great and everything is well organised. I have no worries at all about leaving my mum there as she is quite content.
19 June 2025
My Mum has been at Hollymede Cottage for a few months now. She settled in straight away. The care home feels very homely. The meals mum really enjoys. They have entertainers coming in regularly, for a sing a long, which we are invited to come along and the manageress sends us photos and videos of
the events. They have a pretty garden, all can sit in. Mum is very happy here and being well looked after.
12 June 2025
The resident we are COP deputies for is also my husband's uncle. We saw him in a previous care home and he is far happier here at Hollymede Cottage. When we saw him before he moved here he was agitated and had stretched his leg raw. This has stopped since being at Hollymede and the leg has been
properly treated.
We are sent regular newsletters and photos & videos showing the residents having singalongs and other activities. The care home is clean and all the carers are very friendly.
There is a large garden at the back with benches and a covered area. They have celebrations for birthdays, Christmas etc and guest singers. Last time we visited there was a sitting exercise class going on with a proper fitness coach.
Our n relative is very happy here and always calls it home.
11 June 2025
My beautiful Mum has been a resident at Hollymede Cottage for the past ten weeks. She has settled in well and is very happy. The manager and team are very professional and caring to all her needs. All meals are exceptional. Her room is kept to a high standard with all her personal possessions around
her. Our visits are always enjoyable. We are updated with photos, activities and entertainment at the home. Highly recommend to anyone looking for a warm and loving home for their loved ones.
11 June 2025
I now realise that we were so lucky that Hollymede Cottage had a room for mum when we needed it, it is excellent. Room for mum's personal photos etc and plenty of wardrobe space. Spacious dining and living area and lovely conservatory that looks out on the garden. The staff work over the 24 hours in
shifts and are very caring, from what I understand have all worked for a number of years at the home which ensures great continuity. A varied menu is offered and residents individual diets are catered for. The home also arrange entertainment afternoons and celebrate the birthdays for all residents. All in all brilliant for our families peace of mind.
11 June 2025
My friend has been a resident at Hollymede since May 2022. When he first moved there, he was bedbound after a very short time he has been walking. The staff are a lovely friendly and caring. The manager keeps me updated about my friend also sending pictures/videos of him joining in with the
entertainment, which they have on a regular basis. Everyone has a birthday party tea on their birthday. Would definitely recommend Hollymede Cottage.
29 August 2024
My mother has been a resident here for many, many months. The staff are a dedicated, caring bunch who are always extremely attentive to all of her and indeed the other residents' needs. There are a lot of activities that they do, always entertained. I receive lots of photos and updates. Highly
recommended, great service.
23 August 2024
My mum has been a resident since December 2023. After Mum had a stroke, she needed to go into care, as her health was not good.
It was a hard decision as mum made me promise l never let her go into a home.
But, the hospital staff told me mum hadn't long to live, and that she wouldn't speak and
she would be bedbound.
Thank goodness, Mum went into Hollymede Cottage!
The team have given me my mum back.
The manageress organised a specialised wheelchair, so she could spend time out of bed. My mum is able to talk and she has jokes with the staff. She can now feed herself.
I put that down to a caring team.
I get photos and messages from the manageress, so l can see how my mum is doing at the events l can not go to.
My mum went back into hospital recently, while she was there she said to me, 'l want to go back home'.
That tells you everything about Hollymede, it's home-from-home.
23 August 2024
I can't speak highly enough of the care given to my husband at Hollymede Cottage since he was discharged there from hospital last September and although my son and I looked at all the other care homes in the area we could find nowhere that better suited my his needs. Having a relatively small number
of residents it feels like a real home and a real family. The residents quickly get to know the carers and they get to know the individual needs of the residents. There is a lot of interaction between carers and cared for, frequent activities, visits from musicians and celebrations of everything from birthdays, St Patrick's Day and Christmas to the recent Olympics. As a frequent visitor, I am always made welcome and I feel part of this extended family. Most importantly my husband always looks happy, I can't ask for more.
23 August 2024
I'm very happy with all the staff who have looked after my mum throughout the last 18 months of her stay at Hollymead Cottage! I'm so impressed with the way in which she has gone from being quite frail, and not eating much after being in hospital, to moving to Hollymead Cottage. The turnaround from
day one has been incredible. The staff are really friendly, and have gone out of their way to make Mum feel settled and happy in her home. There is regular entertainment and family and friends are always welcome, I can confidently say that this is the home for her and I wish I had found this place sooner. She seems very content and happy here.
23 August 2024
My mum moved to Hollymede from a larger care home. It is much more homely and the staff are kind, patient and caring. Great management and caring staff. They take care of Mum and do their best which I'm thankful for.
23 August 2024
Excellent all round very friendly atmosphere made to feel welcome at every visit by all the very caring staff and manager. Also, they take into account the likes and dislikes of food for individual residents.
23 August 2024
Always helpful, friendly and professional.
Mum is very happy there and all the staff get on well with her. This is a very cosy comfortable care home.
The care home always keeps me informed of Mum's progress with regular updates on what she gets up to and activities she has attended.
23 August 2024
My lovely mum has been a resident here since December 2023, I moved her from a larger home, it is a very welcoming environment and you can feel the love as soon as you walk in. Mum has a lovely room on the first floor and has all her precious ornaments and pictures around her and her own chair in
the lounge. I am made to feel welcome whatever time of day I visit and mum is always clean and well cared for.
The food is all freshly cooked, Mum enjoys all her meals, and water, juices and tea or coffee are always available.
The staff are all fantastic and give lots of cuddles and all the reassurance Mum needs on a daily basis, they are very quick to notice any changes in behaviour and the manager has a great relationship with the doctors and dementia care teams, she is very approachable, knowledgeable and helpful.
I consider myself and Mum very lucky to have found Hollymede Cottage, everyone there feels like family and they support me and my sister too.
23 August 2024
I am writing this with reference to the care that my grandmother currently receives at Hollymede. My grandmother was in a previous home down the road and we removed her from their care and she moved into Hollymede. The team run by the manager are some of the loveliest people I have met. 100% genuine
in their way and I personally have felt total support from them. The diligence and care that they have shown to my grandmother, me and my family is truly remarkable. I work in the care industry and can appreciate the hours and care that is involved in providing a holistic approach for people. Hollymede is exceptional, there isn't a better place for my grandmother to be. Thank you to you to the manager and your team.
23 August 2024
As others have noted, I am thankful to have found Hollymede Cottage and the care they give. Mum became a resident at the end of 2023 after a fall meant she could no longer be by herself. She was placed here but I would now hate for her to be moved anywhere else. The staff are incredible and treat
each resident, regardless of their needs and infirmities with compassion and respect. This is, to be honest, my only experience of the care system, but I have to say how lovely everyone is, not only to my mum but to myself and my family, always greeting us with a smile and a cuppa! They celebrate birthdays, national holidays and events with gusto, plus try and get all the residents involved with daily activities. The home is clean and the food is tasty. As my mum's memory deteriorates, it's good to know she will be well looked after by people who know and care for her. I have no concerns and recommend Hollymede to anyone who is in the position of having to find somewhere for a loved relative.
01 March 2024
My nan was resident here for the last years of her life as she succumbed to dementia. Unfortunately, I live a plane flight away and Covid threw a spanner in the works. However, the time I was able to visit her she was always clean, well turned out and happy. A notoriously fussy eater (no foreign
food!) she never seemed to want for anything. When I was able to visit, the staff were always so welcoming and friendly. Surely they had enough to do anyway, but I never felt as though I was intruding. She was always entertained, I saw many photographs. At her funeral we saw endless pictures of her and the other residents enjoying themselves. This was something I feel they didn’t need to do, but they made time. That so many staff members attended her funeral was a testament to how caring they were and it was lovely to be able to talk to them. Knowing Nan was so well cared for and that she had such a wonderful quality of life was so very reassuring, being so far away.
Latest Reviews for Hollymede Cottage
16 January 2026
Hollymede were recommended to me by a trusted friend, and this has proved entirely correct. Hollymede is small, homely, and all staff genuinely care about residents, and residents loved ones. It's a genuine care home. Bedrooms are individual and nicely decorated and furnished, communal areas
likewise, homely. Staff to resident ratio is high resulting theres always someone to help mum when she needs assistance. Staff engage well with residents, they don't just 'mind' the environment or space, everyone is treated with respect. And care. Which is exactly what we want for our loved ones, once that difficult decisions made. As mums main carer for several years prior, knowing mum is always safe, that I trust the staff completely with her care, has made a big difference in my life also.
There are regular resident activities, lots of visiting entertainers and events/celebrations. Food is freshly cooked and varied, mum has regained the weight she lost and doing well.
05 January 2026
Hollymede care home has been a lifeline for mum. Mum has mild dementia and got to a bad stage, moving to Hollymede changed her over night, by being in safe surroundings and with people her own age, some with similar conditions. A very welcoming place with a snug homely feel, with a small number of
residents which allows staff to actively engage with them and take time to make residents feel good about themselves. Staff are very polite and friendly and are very well trained to react to daily care needs. There are regular events, special guests, games and music, which all contribute to a wonderful environment to be in. A good menu of food is available, with plenty of daily variations and special care to mums fussy diet.
02 January 2026
My husband was admitted to Hollymede Cottage last June, He had had Dementia for about 12 years and although for quite a while, it didn't seem too bad at all , it finally came to the point when he needed 24 hour care. He had been there previously for 4 weeks respite as I had to have an operation
and he settled down there very well. As a family, we felt that we were so lucky that there was a space there when he needed to go into a care home permanently. When you walk in there, you immediately feel at home as it is just like walking into a relaxed family home. The staff do a really good job and are very friendly and approachable as is the manager who right from the start sent me lots of photos of my husband doing jigsaws or singing etc. They have lots of live entertainment for the residents and families are also invited to go if they are able. Once again he has settled down there really well and looks really well. When I get more frail, I hope that they will have a space for me.
19 June 2025
My mum had a bad fall in October 2024 and was admitted to Hospital she was also diagnosed with Dementia and has not been able to walk. In February we found Hollymede Cottage for her when I walked into the home I felt very comfortable and the staff were very friendly. My mum was not happy in the
previous home, but on the first day my mum just changed back to how she used to be. On the first day the Manager sent me photos of mum and she was really smiling, this day was the first day of her new journey. The Manager is very helpful and keeps in touch and sends lots of photos. All the staff are friendly and care for the residents.
Also the residents' families are invited in to the home to join in events at Hollymede. Management is great and everything is well organised. I have no worries at all about leaving my mum there as she is quite content.
19 June 2025
My Mum has been at Hollymede Cottage for a few months now. She settled in straight away. The care home feels very homely. The meals mum really enjoys. They have entertainers coming in regularly, for a sing a long, which we are invited to come along and the manageress sends us photos and videos of
the events. They have a pretty garden, all can sit in. Mum is very happy here and being well looked after.
12 June 2025
The resident we are COP deputies for is also my husband's uncle. We saw him in a previous care home and he is far happier here at Hollymede Cottage. When we saw him before he moved here he was agitated and had stretched his leg raw. This has stopped since being at Hollymede and the leg has been
properly treated.
We are sent regular newsletters and photos & videos showing the residents having singalongs and other activities. The care home is clean and all the carers are very friendly.
There is a large garden at the back with benches and a covered area. They have celebrations for birthdays, Christmas etc and guest singers. Last time we visited there was a sitting exercise class going on with a proper fitness coach.
Our n relative is very happy here and always calls it home.
11 June 2025
My beautiful Mum has been a resident at Hollymede Cottage for the past ten weeks. She has settled in well and is very happy. The manager and team are very professional and caring to all her needs. All meals are exceptional. Her room is kept to a high standard with all her personal possessions around
her. Our visits are always enjoyable. We are updated with photos, activities and entertainment at the home. Highly recommend to anyone looking for a warm and loving home for their loved ones.
11 June 2025
I now realise that we were so lucky that Hollymede Cottage had a room for mum when we needed it, it is excellent. Room for mum's personal photos etc and plenty of wardrobe space. Spacious dining and living area and lovely conservatory that looks out on the garden. The staff work over the 24 hours in
shifts and are very caring, from what I understand have all worked for a number of years at the home which ensures great continuity. A varied menu is offered and residents individual diets are catered for. The home also arrange entertainment afternoons and celebrate the birthdays for all residents. All in all brilliant for our families peace of mind.
11 June 2025
My friend has been a resident at Hollymede since May 2022. When he first moved there, he was bedbound after a very short time he has been walking. The staff are a lovely friendly and caring. The manager keeps me updated about my friend also sending pictures/videos of him joining in with the
entertainment, which they have on a regular basis. Everyone has a birthday party tea on their birthday. Would definitely recommend Hollymede Cottage.
29 August 2024
My mother has been a resident here for many, many months. The staff are a dedicated, caring bunch who are always extremely attentive to all of her and indeed the other residents' needs. There are a lot of activities that they do, always entertained. I receive lots of photos and updates. Highly
recommended, great service.
23 August 2024
My mum has been a resident since December 2023. After Mum had a stroke, she needed to go into care, as her health was not good.
It was a hard decision as mum made me promise l never let her go into a home.
But, the hospital staff told me mum hadn't long to live, and that she wouldn't speak and
she would be bedbound.
Thank goodness, Mum went into Hollymede Cottage!
The team have given me my mum back.
The manageress organised a specialised wheelchair, so she could spend time out of bed. My mum is able to talk and she has jokes with the staff. She can now feed herself.
I put that down to a caring team.
I get photos and messages from the manageress, so l can see how my mum is doing at the events l can not go to.
My mum went back into hospital recently, while she was there she said to me, 'l want to go back home'.
That tells you everything about Hollymede, it's home-from-home.
23 August 2024
I can't speak highly enough of the care given to my husband at Hollymede Cottage since he was discharged there from hospital last September and although my son and I looked at all the other care homes in the area we could find nowhere that better suited my his needs. Having a relatively small number
of residents it feels like a real home and a real family. The residents quickly get to know the carers and they get to know the individual needs of the residents. There is a lot of interaction between carers and cared for, frequent activities, visits from musicians and celebrations of everything from birthdays, St Patrick's Day and Christmas to the recent Olympics. As a frequent visitor, I am always made welcome and I feel part of this extended family. Most importantly my husband always looks happy, I can't ask for more.
23 August 2024
I'm very happy with all the staff who have looked after my mum throughout the last 18 months of her stay at Hollymead Cottage! I'm so impressed with the way in which she has gone from being quite frail, and not eating much after being in hospital, to moving to Hollymead Cottage. The turnaround from
day one has been incredible. The staff are really friendly, and have gone out of their way to make Mum feel settled and happy in her home. There is regular entertainment and family and friends are always welcome, I can confidently say that this is the home for her and I wish I had found this place sooner. She seems very content and happy here.
23 August 2024
My mum moved to Hollymede from a larger care home. It is much more homely and the staff are kind, patient and caring. Great management and caring staff. They take care of Mum and do their best which I'm thankful for.
23 August 2024
Excellent all round very friendly atmosphere made to feel welcome at every visit by all the very caring staff and manager. Also, they take into account the likes and dislikes of food for individual residents.
23 August 2024
Always helpful, friendly and professional.
Mum is very happy there and all the staff get on well with her. This is a very cosy comfortable care home.
The care home always keeps me informed of Mum's progress with regular updates on what she gets up to and activities she has attended.
23 August 2024
My lovely mum has been a resident here since December 2023, I moved her from a larger home, it is a very welcoming environment and you can feel the love as soon as you walk in. Mum has a lovely room on the first floor and has all her precious ornaments and pictures around her and her own chair in
the lounge. I am made to feel welcome whatever time of day I visit and mum is always clean and well cared for.
The food is all freshly cooked, Mum enjoys all her meals, and water, juices and tea or coffee are always available.
The staff are all fantastic and give lots of cuddles and all the reassurance Mum needs on a daily basis, they are very quick to notice any changes in behaviour and the manager has a great relationship with the doctors and dementia care teams, she is very approachable, knowledgeable and helpful.
I consider myself and Mum very lucky to have found Hollymede Cottage, everyone there feels like family and they support me and my sister too.
23 August 2024
I am writing this with reference to the care that my grandmother currently receives at Hollymede. My grandmother was in a previous home down the road and we removed her from their care and she moved into Hollymede. The team run by the manager are some of the loveliest people I have met. 100% genuine
in their way and I personally have felt total support from them. The diligence and care that they have shown to my grandmother, me and my family is truly remarkable. I work in the care industry and can appreciate the hours and care that is involved in providing a holistic approach for people. Hollymede is exceptional, there isn't a better place for my grandmother to be. Thank you to you to the manager and your team.
23 August 2024
As others have noted, I am thankful to have found Hollymede Cottage and the care they give. Mum became a resident at the end of 2023 after a fall meant she could no longer be by herself. She was placed here but I would now hate for her to be moved anywhere else. The staff are incredible and treat
each resident, regardless of their needs and infirmities with compassion and respect. This is, to be honest, my only experience of the care system, but I have to say how lovely everyone is, not only to my mum but to myself and my family, always greeting us with a smile and a cuppa! They celebrate birthdays, national holidays and events with gusto, plus try and get all the residents involved with daily activities. The home is clean and the food is tasty. As my mum's memory deteriorates, it's good to know she will be well looked after by people who know and care for her. I have no concerns and recommend Hollymede to anyone who is in the position of having to find somewhere for a loved relative.
01 March 2024
My nan was resident here for the last years of her life as she succumbed to dementia. Unfortunately, I live a plane flight away and Covid threw a spanner in the works. However, the time I was able to visit her she was always clean, well turned out and happy. A notoriously fussy eater (no foreign
food!) she never seemed to want for anything. When I was able to visit, the staff were always so welcoming and friendly. Surely they had enough to do anyway, but I never felt as though I was intruding. She was always entertained, I saw many photographs. At her funeral we saw endless pictures of her and the other residents enjoying themselves. This was something I feel they didn’t need to do, but they made time. That so many staff members attended her funeral was a testament to how caring they were and it was lovely to be able to talk to them. Knowing Nan was so well cared for and that she had such a wonderful quality of life was so very reassuring, being so far away.