To book a 6 person lodge for myself?

That seems reasonable if you can afford it. I've just booked a sleeps-6 cottage for next year, for my little family of 3. It will mean we can have a bedroom each which helps with fidgety sleepers and snoring! I am really looking forward to the treat.

its a weird way to price, DH and I always booked a bigger boat/cottage/caravan than we needed because we liked to have the extra space and luxury. If they are deliberately using an opaque pricing system then they have been bitten by their own sneakiness.

It sounds utterly blissful. Go for it. X

Over dramatic much?!

If there is a minimum occupancy, this should have been stated before booking. The company shouldn't be changing the T&Cs later.

One weekend of a bit less income is not the OP "negatively impacting their business" - it's a direct consequence of their business model and/or failing to think through the implications of their offer. The company is "negatively impacting" their own business.

And at no point has the OP described them as "cheeky twats". The OP has been very measured.

If a single person is willing to pay the rate for accommodation for 6 people (in 2 beds) then why do you think they shouldn't be allowed to, or are in some way acting to the detriment of the business that lets them do that?

They are fine for asking and you are fine for saying no. No need to melodramatic cancelling, poor reviews etc.

You have already booked it

Stay exactly where you are

It is their loss if their T&Cs did not specify for under occupancy or single people

Enjoy your stay !

Absolutely this!!!

No way should you change your booking. It's all on them.

I used to have a 5 bedroomed holiday let that could take 10 people. It was always one price no matter how many occupants!

Although I was always grateful if it was a couple and I asked if I could supply bedding/towels for just one bed and they said yes. But they were within their rights to say no. No one ever did unless one was a snorer and they wanted two beds.

They are being complete CFs!

YANBU but as they charge per person, I would not be surprised if they cancel your booking.

They’ll only have themselves to blame when you point all of this out in your review OP.

Why should a music festival make any difference.
They are running a business, I admit, but I think they might have offered you a pod at reduced rates as an inducement.

Do they also charge if they think you’re breathing too deeply?

It doesn’t sound very hospitable.

Plenty of accommodation is pp - eg hotels, but the pricing and booking conditions are clear before you book.

@MaryRoze can you pm me the details, I'm looking for something identical in Scotland that will take dogs for me and dh

I also don't think yabu. They are being cheeky and trying to recover costs. I'd not tell them why you're staying in that rather than a lodge, as quite frankly it's none of their business. Maybe they need it rethink their charging strategy.

They’re being CFs. Are there other amenities on site (restaurant/ bar/ shop) that they think would garner more money from a bigger group? Regardless this isn’t your problem and the way in which they charge for their properties is bizarre. I wouldn’t reply as Mabelmaybe has suggested, I simply say ‘no thank you, I don’t wish to make any changes to my booking’

That sounds amazing OP, you deserve a bit of luxury, not a glamping pod, go for it and dont think twice about having to explain yourself to them.

I’ve seen both
by house
or by person
but iv never seen a place that you couldn’t book if it’s only single occupancy.

If I know I’m booking somewhere bigger than I technically need (which is normal as I go away on my own too) I normally check the description as some state they charge extra for certain things etc or I raise the number in the drop down box to check if the price goes up as the occupancy goes up.

sometimes they ask as it avoids them adding 6 sets of towels etc when only 1 or 2 people.

personally I think if they allow it to be booked with only 1 occupancy then they have a right cheek asking you to move.

Some holiday cottages don't really lend themselves to being permanent residences. I used to let out a cottage that I'd converted from the old steadings of a farmhouse I lived in. It was great for guests but there were issues with water and access rights which meant the property couldn't be sub divided. Planning permission also stated it couldn't be sold seperately. It wasn't taking away accomodation as it was a falling down outbuilding that had been a water mill in years gone by. Adding nice tourist accomodation in disused outbuildings can actually help communities. There are issues with residential accomodation being repurposed as holiday lets but this sounds like it could easily be a couple of refurbished farm buildings with a few glamping pods on surrounding land.

I’d be interested to see what they say/do when you decline their offer. Their pricing structure is either wrong or not highlighted on their website.

Well surely they either charge for the accomodation - no matter how many people are there - or they charge per person. If the latter, then their system should not allow groups of less than x number to book larger accomodation. seems fairly simple to me.

Nonsense, they are impacting their business by not having the sense to charge a flat rate.

I've been to a lot of self-catering accommodation over the years and it's always been charge per unit, not per person, so I do find this odd.

I agree it's our usual experience of self catering accommodation in UK and we do often under occupy not to same extent as this though as we look for number of rooms rather than have teens share.

Once stopped at one property where every room had 3- 4 beds/ in them - while we just wanted the 4 bedrooms - DH thought it was set up for group adult weekends away.

I don't think you're unreasonable to book a place which sleeps 6 people for yourself as long as you pay the going rate for it, though it's hardly your fault that the extra cost per person per night was not made clear on the website. I'd have imagined that there would be a set cost for the lodge itself, on the assumption that the cost would be shared amongst the maximum number of possible occupants, rather than there being additional fees per extra occupants above 2 people, so I don't really understand this place's system. I do think it would be unfair for you to deprive the company of the full price they might expect for 6 people occupying the lodge in high season, though. Maybe you could come to some sort of compromise?
ETA: Just seen @Mirabai's post, flat rate, that's the phrase I was looking for in my roundabout fashion!