Tag: B&B mortgages

How To Turn Your Home Into a Guesthouse

Posted on by Carol Jones

Running a guesthouse can be rewarding and fun, not to mention a great way to make money from your property without having to sell it.

However, it’s important to keep in mind that running a guesthouse is a big commitment, and there are rules to follow and standards to meet.

Here are just some of the things you need to consider if you’re thinking of turning your home into a guesthouse.

Starting a guesthouse business

Get The Relevant Permissions

Before you can open your guesthouse, you’ll need to acquire the relevant permissions, so your first step should be to contact your local council to see what is legally required.

If you’ll be carrying out building work on the property, you may need to apply for planning permission. Regulations change frequently and vary depending on where your property is located, so be sure to check in with your local planning office.

Even if you aren’t making any structural changes to the property, you might need to complete a change of use application before you can open your home as a guesthouse. Again, ensure you check these details with your local council.

You’ll also need to comply with fire and gas safety legislations, as well as food standards if you’re planning on serving any meals on the premises.  Find out more by contacting your local environmental health department.

Finally, make sure you contact your mortgage provider and insurer. You may need to update your policy and will need to switch your existing mortgage to a commercial mortgage.

Fit Out The Guest Rooms

Once all the relevant permissions are in place, you’ll need to ensure that your property is up to the job of hosting visitors. That means properly furnished bedrooms with facilities including WiFi, TVs, storage space, and tea and coffee making facilities. Today, most guests will also expect their room to come with an en suite bathroom.

If you’re offering breakfast or other meals at your guesthouse, you’ll need a dining room where your guests can comfortably enjoy their meals.

Finishing touches such as bathrobes, slippers, and washing products can go a long way to ensuring your guests have a memorable experience.

Market Your Guesthouse

If you want to promote your guesthouse effectively, a good website is essential – make sure it’s responsive on all devices, appealing, and optimised for search engines such as Google. Social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram are also useful ways to market your guesthouse successfully.

Running Your Guesthouse

Running a guesthouse can be immensely enjoyable and rewarding, but you’ll also come up against several challenges.

One thing to always keep in mind is that this isn’t just a hobby, you’re running a business and it’s important to approach every aspect of your guesthouse with a business mind to ensure that it is a success.

That’s not to say you shouldn’t have fun! Part of the attraction of running a guesthouse is the interaction with guests, building lasting friendships and ensuring visitors get the most out of their stay.

Running a guesthouse is flexible – you can choose when you want people to stay and when you’d rather have the space to yourself. But it’s important to set boundaries if you want to avoid working 24/7 and burning out. Have house policies in place, including setting out the times breakfast will be available and when reception service will be provided.

Get In Touch

If you’re thinking of turning your home into a guesthouse, get in touch. We can help you find the most effective way to re-finance or release capital to launch your guesthouse.

6 of the most unusual B&Bs in the UK

Posted on by Carol Jones

They say that to set yourself apart from the competition you need to find a point of difference. A unique selling point. A niche. By creating unusual B&Bs, some owners do just that.

Here are some of the more unusual guest houses and B&Bs in the UK, where owners have really found their niche!

1. Want to feel at one with nature? Maybe an overnight stay that combines South American atmosphere with llamas and views over the spectacular Cumbrian countryside is for you? The Llama’s Pyjamas B&B is just 3 miles from Penrith and offers guests the chance to trek with llamas, experience animal handling and enjoy other animal activities whilst on holiday.

2. For those looking for something a little more flamboyant, consider a stay at The Witchery By The Castle in Edinburgh. Billed as the ultimate romantic bolt hole, it has just 9 suites decorated opulently in gothic style with large oak beds and 4-posters, velvet-lined walls and lavish red and gold décor.

3. Fancy sleeping in a bus shelter? I don’t mean that dirty one on the A3, but this luscious one in Gifford, East Lothian. The Bus Stop is set on a working farm. You can enjoy panoramic views whilst soaking in the hot tub, or gaze at the stars through the glass roof as you drift off to sleep. Although, with a small kitchen, maybe it shouldn’t really join our list of unusual B&Bs?

4. Incarceration doesn’t have to be a punishment. Well, maybe it did once, but now a stay in the Old Lock Up in Derbyshire offers B&B guests something a little bit different. Previously a magistrate’s house and before that a police station, the rooms are named after their earlier functions, such as ‘The Solicitor’s Room’ where lawyers could talk to their clients in private. Don’t worry though, a private bathroom has been installed in the adjacent cell, giving The Lock Up all the mod cons you could want in a good old-fashioned English B&B.

5. There are some unusual B&Bs in the South too, such as this restored Railway Station in Petworth, just 25 minutes from Chichester, where guests can stay in Edwardian Pullman Railway Carriages and enjoy breakfast in the Booking Hall.

6. If you’re not adverse to steps, then a country-chic stay in the converted Cley windmill B&B could be just what you need to blow those cobwebs away. Spectacular views over the coast and marshes can be enjoyed from the upper rooms.

7. If you’re one of the thousands of people that find water relaxing, maybe a stay on St Hilda, a tall ship in the waters of Tobermory Bay on the isle of Mull, would be the perfect space to allow the gentle waters to rock you to sleep as they lap against the hull of one of the smallest tall ships to ever compete in a Tall Ships race.

If you’re a B&B owner and are looking for funding to develop your niche, or if you have a wonderful idea to offer B&B guests something a little different, Stewart Hindley can help you find and secure the right hospitality finance package for your B&B. If you’d like to discuss your hospitality finance requirements, give us a call today on 01488 684834.

 

Top 10 things to do in Wales in 2019

Posted on by Carol Jones

For a small country, Wales has a lot to offer.

In fact, there’s so much on offer in Wales that it’s easy to see why it’s the subject of so many songs, or the set of so many movies. The Welsh have even got their own word to describe the feeling of longing and nostalgia for their homeland – Hiraeth.

Here are our top 10 recommendations if you want to experience for yourself what makes Wales unforgettable.

  1. Discover the magic of Conwy Castle

An imposing C13th castle on the North Coast of Wales, Conwy Castle is said to be the most magnificent of Edward I’s Welsh fortresses and it’s easy to see why. With its fairytale turrets, imposing battlements and views across the sea, a visit to Conway Castle makes any stay in Wales unforgettable.

  1. Soak up spectacular scenery on Wales’ coastal path.

In 2012 the Welsh coastal path was connected, making it possible to walk all the way around Wales along the coastline, taking in the scenery of Welsh coastal landmarks such as Postmeridian, Cardigan Bay and the rural Gower Peninsula.

  1. Experience the feeling of flight with Europe’s longest zip line

If you feel the need for an adrenalin kick, Europe’s longest zip line ensures there’s more to Wales than picturesque villages and fishing harbours. A trip on Velocity 2 will take you over Penrhyn Quarry at speeds of up to 100mph. If that’s a bit too wild and crazy, you’ll find other, more sedate experiences such as a Quarry Tour or an underground trampoline park.

  1. Conquer a Mountain

Fancy a quieter challenge? A walk up Snowdon may be just the thing. There are six main routes up Snowdon so you can choose the one that best fits your ability. if you get to the top and don’t fancy the walk back down, you can hop on a train. Of the three highest peaks in the UK, Snowdon is said to be the most accessible.

  1. Visit the spectacular setting of Portmeirion

In 1925 welsh architect Clough Williams-Ellis set out to create a development that, instead of being a blot on the landscape, enhanced it. He created Portmeirion which, renowned for its Italianate beauty, has served as the backdrop for many different TV dramas and even movies.

  1. Explore the oceans with wreck diving

You don’t often think of wreck diving when you think about Wales but, with some of the best wreck diving sites in the UK, maybe it’s time you did. With seals and Sea Fans at Skomer Marine Reserve, impressive trigger fish at the more sheltered Hens and Chicks, or a four-masted steam ship to explore at Anglesey, there’s plenty to see, whatever your experience level.

  1. Step back in time with Ffestiniog Railway

If you prefer to discover wales from a slightly drier vantage point, the Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railways stretch for 40 miles through the glorious Snowdonia National Park. With children free and dogs welcome, or the opportunity to treat yourself to a first class experience, you can choose how you enjoy the magnificent scenery of Wales.

  1. Go underground at Dan-Yr-Ogof caves

Nestled in the heart of the Brecon Beacons are the Dan-Yr-Ogof caves. Actually, there are 3 caves; Dan-Yr-Ogof, Cathedral Cave and Bone Cave. Each of these offers a unique underground experience that include enormous passageways and 40 feet high waterfalls that cascade around you in the ‘Dome of St Paul’s’, an atmospheric end to a truly wonderful cave.

  1. Paddle along the English and Welsh border in a canoe on the River Wye

Canoe down the fifth-longest river in the UK, through spectacular countryside. The river stretches 215 kilometres from its source on Plynlimon, mid Wales to the Severn estuary, largely along the Welsh English boarder. The Wye Valley is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The Wye is important for nature conservation and recreation.

  1. Expand your horizons at the UK’s largest literary festival

If you’re into reading, the UK’s biggest literary festival that takes place in May each year in Hay on Wye on a country farm that welcomes 250, 000 avid readers and writers every year.

If you’ve read this and started to think about all of the exciting business opportunities for B&B businesses and hotel businesses in an area with so much to offer, give us a call on 01488 684834 and speak to one of our B&B finance advisors. They’ll be able to find the right hospitality loan for you and advise you on the best way to secure your B&B loan and get the business of your dreams off the ground.

 

 

 

7 Ways to impress your B&B guests

Posted on by Carol Jones

These days finding a B&B is much easier than it ever used to be. Trip Advisor, Airbnb and HomeAway make finding a bed for the night a breeze.

Whilst this is great news for many B&B owners, it’s most definitely a double-edged sword as it also means that for potential guests looking for a room for the weekend, or even just a night, there’s lots more easily accessible options out there.

This means that standing out from the crowd and adding that extra warmth to your service is more important than ever. I’m not talking about an extra blanked at the back of the closet in their room I’m talking about that added personal touch that says ‘we’re really pleased you chose us’.

Here are 7 ways to deliver a personalised B & B experience

  1. Send a text

Isn’t it great not to have to scribble the address of where you are going on a piece of paper before keying it into the sat nav? Text your guests either on booking or the day before they are due to check in. Point out how you are looking forward to welcoming them to your B&B and send them your postcode or directions. It’ll also help them avoid any ‘lost in translation’ issues from addresses copied down incorrectly.

Using texts doesn’t have to stop there. Text them the address of any restaurants or takeaways they ask you for, and even invite them to check in or out by text too for some ultra-flexible checking in options.

  1. Make your photographs stand out

Invest in getting professional photographs taken. Most B&B guests put a large focus on the way that a property looks. A professional photographer will be able to use the right lenses and get the best angles to show your property in its best light, making it look oh so much better than all those amateur photos you’re competing with.

  1. Encourage reviews

Before visitors make their mind up on where they’ll stay, they almost always look at reviews.

Whether they look at the individual reviews or the overall rating given out of 5 stars, encouraging your visitors to leave positive reviews on your chosen site or sites, will mean you’ll be streets ahead when it comes to return bookings and new bookings. Many algorithms will prioritise those properties with positive reviews in searches too.

To encourage reviews you can incentivise your visitors with a free gift, entry into a draw to win a prize, or a discount on their next booking.

  1. Make their experience a personal one

Get to know your guests names and use them. Chat to them and find out about what they’ve been doing whilst in the area. Not only might you be able to offer useful information or additional suggestions, you’ll also pick up tips and advice that you can pass on to other guests to help make their stay memorable.

  1. Something to remember you by

Consider what brings your guests to the area and make it easy for them to take back a little souvenir. Partner with some local businesses to offer them some cheese from the region, maybe some biscuits or cakes that are typical of the area, or perhaps a book inspired by, or written about where you are based.  One of the best B&Bs I ever stayed in gave me a couple of biscuits and a bottle of water for my return journey – perfect.

  1. Make sightseeing life easy

Make picnic lunch options available – not only is it another way to upsell your guests, you’ll also be doing them a favour, saving them from having to hunt out overpriced (and often overcooked) tourist food, so they can spend more time making the most of the sites they’ve come to see.

  1. Nothing says welcome like a fresh pot of coffee

After a long journey, there’s nothing quite like a fresh coffee, so offer your guests a complimentary coffee and snack on arrival and help them to start unwinding right away.

Stewart Hindley are Finance brokers specialising in B&B finance and hospitality finance. With a comprehensive network of affiliates and partners, Stewart Hindley help provide the B&B Finance that owners are looking for to transform their B&B into something really special.

If you have high hopes for your B&B and need B&B finance to make it a reality, give us a call today and speak to one of our specialists in hospitality finance.

Ideas on how to encourage repeat business for your B&B

Posted on by Carol Jones

It is tempting to focus on attracting new guests to your B&B, but don’t forget the people who have already stayed with you.

Our team at UK hospitality finance experts, Stewart Hindley, spotted an article on www.bedandbreakfast.eu and have taken some of the points from the article which is full of practical tips for how B&B owners can encourage guests to return and, in turn, spread the word to others: (however we do understand that not all B&Bs can afford the upkeep of such marketing activities)

Exceed expectations

Exceed expectations by going that extra mile to demonstrate how you appreciate their custom, by offering delicious extensive breakfasts, small welcome gifts, and ensuring guests receive excellent service.

 Make their stay with you memorable by showing an interest in them

It’s worth spending a bit of time getting to know them, so when they re-book with you, it’s like ‘coming home’.  You could explain the personal touches around the place and perhaps a bit of its history.

Let guests know you are looking forward to their arrival

You can start building a relationship with your guests, for example, by sending an email a few days before their arrival for example. With a picture of your B&B, or a tip about what they can do in the area and that you are looking forward to their arrival.

Your B&B will then start to become real to your guests in advance.

Maintain contact with guests after their stay

Customer loyalty can be encouraged with regular, personal communication Keeping them posted with any events coming up in your area which could tempt them to return and any special offers you may be running.

 Let yourself be heard through social media

Social media platforms are the perfect way to retain close ties with your guests in a casual way. You could post new images and videos of your B&B on Facebook for example – The first al fresco breakfast after winter, your cat/dog, a cup of lovely coffee to start the day with, your B&B in the snow.

Personal messages – as well as ‘corporate’ ones are good. Every now and then you can post a promotion, such as an offer, but don’t let this be the majority of posts on social media.  In this way, guests will keep seeing nice messages about your B&B popping up on their timeline and ‘front of mind’ next time they look for a place to stay., you stay in the back of their minds, and they keep getting to know you better.  You can send your regular clients exclusive news and discounts through Facebook.  Don’t forget to ask your guests to ‘like’ your Facebook or Instagram pages.

Treat your regular guests as VIPs.

Your past customers like to feel appreciated and what better way than giving them a special or discount offer which is just for them.

Give your regulars extra attention on social media as well, for example by starting a conversation with them, or after a renovation or when you’ve expanded your service. You could send them an invitation to come and see the results and sleep in a new room. Your guests will feel special and highly appreciated and will want to revisit your B&B.

Need a helping hand?

If you are looking to start or grow your bed and breakfast or hotel business, the chances are that, at some point, you will be seeking out B&B finance.

At Stewart Hindley and Partners, we are in an ideal position to help you as we understand the hospitality business through and through.  We are long-established specialists in securing hospitality finance. Our experienced team will be able to offer you friendly and informative advice to help you build and improve your business.

Browse our site for case histories and more information about the process involved, or call us now to speak to our team of experts.

Spotlight on Devon and Cornwall

Posted on by Carol Jones

Devon and Cornwall remain some of the most popular holiday destinations in the UK, offering some of the best coastline, countryside and varied towns and cities in the country.

Here we highlight below some great and varied places to stay in the region, all of which also just happen to have benefited from the expert advice of our specialist hospitality finance advice team at Stewart Hindley and Partners to put them on the road to success.

Devon

  • Torquay – famous for being the largest town on the “English Riviera” and a popular choice for thousands of visitors to Devon.

Blenheim House B&B in Torquay has everything proprietors Lee and Elaine Ratcliffe were looking for – a good location close to the seafront and train station and accommodation which had  just been recently refurbished (so wouldn’t need a lot of money spending on it) and a manageable 5 guest rooms.

From the start of their search they were in touch with us at Stewart Hindley & Partners and we were able to provide them with a judgement on whether their B&B finance application would be successful or not.  It was a pleasure to work with Lee & Elaine and to see their hopes and dreams come to fruition, they are now welcoming guests and starting to build the trade to its max. https://www.blenheimhousetorquay.co.uk/

  • Exeter – The Exeter Townhouse is a lovely boutique B&B is set in a quiet corner of Exeter city centre yet just a few minutes stroll from the Cathedral, the Royal Albert Memorial Museum, the Quayside, shopping centres, restaurants, university and train stations.

The Grade II Listed property has been brought up to date with period and contemporary features offering 9 stylishly decorated rooms.  They were awarded a Certificate of Excellence by Trip Advisor in 2016 and 2017 and a 5 star rating from the Food Standards Agency – the highest possible food hygiene rating in the UK.

Guesthouse finance for The Exeter Townhouse was secured through us at Stewart Hindley & Partners. http://www.townhouseexeter.co.uk/

Cornwall

  • Bude – Wyvern House Bed and Breakfast is located in the popular Cornish town of Bude and

is just a few minutes walk from the beach and town centre.  The property has 6 en-suite bedrooms and spread over 3 floors and has proved an ideal location for our clients, Paula & James, to set up their new bed and breakfast.

Paula & James had owned and operated a bed and breakfast business so had plenty of experience on which to build their new venture in Bude.  Having found their perfect property they soon realised the benefits of using a specialist finance broker to source the necessary funds to purchase it.  Having contacted us at Stewart Hindley & Partners we worked with them to secure the best B&B finance deal available to them and took them step by step through each stage.

Paula and James are now welcoming guests to Wyvern House and enjoying life in Cornwall. More info at https://www.wyvernhouse.co.uk/

  • Looe

Penvith Barns has a 4 star rating on Trip Advisor, offering beautiful accommodation just outside Looe with access to lovely walks including the South West Coastal Path to Looe and Seaton Beach.  Guests can come and as they please and relax in the tranquil surroundings with views over superb countryside.  It’s also close to some of Cornwall’s best beaches and makes a great base for exploring Cornwall’s Attractions.

We are proud to have offered the B&B finance to put Penvith Barns on the map.

http://www.penvithbarns.co.uk/

f you are looking to start up, or purchase an existing hospitality business, wherever that may be, then why not contact our friendly team of specialist advisors now for advice and information on the best hospitality finance packages available today.

Electric Vehicle Charge Points for Bed & Breakfast Businesses

Posted on by Carol Jones

It is important that Bed & Breakfast owners continuously look for ways to grow their business. This is a matter we here at Stewart Hindley always stress the importance of. As we are committed to being as supportive as we can to our clients we always highlight opportunities for achieving growth.

One of the strongest such opportunities at this time is the electric vehicle market. The rapid growth in sales of electric charged cars over the last 4 years has been quite remarkable. In this article we will look at the facts and figures of them, and the ways in which your Bed & Breakfast can be made an attractive destination for owners of them.

Electric Vehicles – The Rapid Rise in Popularity

Earlier in this article we mentioned that grown in this market had been rapid. This, if anything, is an understatement. In 2013 there were 3,500 registered electric cars on the roads in the UK. By November 2017 this had risen to 125,000. The universal expectation across industry analysts is that 1,000,000 registered electric vehicles shall be reached as early as 2022.

The main challenge to reaching this figure is the number of charging points. At present there are 14,000 charge points for electric vehicles in the UK. Whilst that figure in itself sounds high, it is considerably short of meeting the growing requirement for them. Despite incredible advances in the technology behind them it remains the case that the average fully charged electric vehicle has a maximum range of some 150 miles.

A high level of support is available for businesses wishing to install electric vehicle charge points. This is something all Bed & Breakfast businesses must give consideration to.

Electric Vehicles – Bed & Breakfast Charge Points

From the above it is clear that offering a charge point at your business is a highly attractive feature. Having an electric vehicle charge point available at your Bed & Breakfast could be the determining factor in guests choosing to use you rather than a competitor.

One of the concerns about this which Bed & Breakfast owners will have is the cost of installation. These can, as you might imagine, be quite high. There is, however, considerable financial support available for businesses looking to install electric vehicle charge points.

The UK Government is highly committed to ensuring electric vehicles are a success. One of the incentives in place to encourage this comes in the form of financing for charge points. Grants, subsides and shared cost initiatives are available from a number of Governmental departments, in particular the Office of Low Emission Vehicles and the recently establish Workplace Charging Scheme.

With support in terms of financing and expertise in place at Stewart Hindley we firmly believe now is the perfect time for Bed & Breakfast owners to explore the business potential offered by installing electric vehicle charge points.

The specialist financial experts here at Stewart Hindley are here to help you secure the best commercial loan for your Bed & Breakfast business. We always seek to go beyond this, offering as much comprehensive advice for success as we can. Highlighting the potential for success with electric vehicle charge points is just one of the ways we deliver this.

For more information on how we may be of service to you please get in touch. You can call us on 01488 393042, or drop us a message through our website. We’d be delighted to discuss your plans and requirements, exploring the ways we can help you achieve them.

How To Deal With Complaints – Dos And Don’ts

Posted on by Carol Jones

Guest house and hotel owners will inevitably be required to respond to the occasional case when guests feel they have had a slightly less-than-perfect stay.  So, what is the best way to handle complaints?

Leading hospitality finance experts Stewart Hindley & Partners have put together a few handy list of ‘Dos’ and ‘Don’ts in these situations:

DO

  • Focus on providing a great customer experience with attention to detail and set realistic expectations before guests arrive. That way, you can ensure that you don’t give customers a reason to complain in the first place.
  • Be ready for those few complaints that you might get. This means being sure you know your establishment inside out. You want to be ready for almost any question, or tackle any issue, that your guests could possibly think up.  You should also decide what your stance will be when a customer confronts you, what your policy is on compensation and how you will validate a complaint.
  • Anticipate – have an outcome ready for as many complaints as you could think of, so try to bring the topic on to this, so as not to draw out the length of the discussion.
  • Stay calm, even if the guests are worked up themselves. When a guest does decide to make a complaint, it’s important to think about your tone of voice, staying polite at all times and choosing your words carefully – especially if the complaining guest is quite animated.
  • Be sure to also take the nature of the complaint on board, and look to improve whatever it is that went wrong for the guest. For example, look into upgrading a bed if guests complain it is uncomfortable.
  • Endeavour to bring about a speedy conclusion to all complaints. Delaying will only escalate the issue.

DON’T

  • Misrepresent or over-promise clients with your promotion. For example, make sure that any promotional images you use are a realistic representation of your establishment. Use a good photographer to capture all of your ‘best sides’, but don’t mislead with images of views which do not apply to your rooms.
  • Don’t feel you necessarily have to agree with everything that the complaining customer is saying – especially if you feel that some or all of what they’re saying is unfair. A better way to ‘diffuse the bomb’ is to acknowledge what the customer is complaining about, and try to shift the conversation on to the resolution.
  • Don’t dwell on the complaint because, more often than not, a negative can be turned on its head to become a positive. Look upon it as an opportunity to impress with how responsive you are to complaints and to ‘practise’ your customer service skills.
  • Don’t forget to treat the experience as a learning curve – to get even better at handling these situations in the future. Use it to hone your customer service skills, taking on board the criticism and using it to give your guests better experiences every time they come and stay with you.

Need a helping hand?

If you are looking to start or grow a  bed and breakfast or hotel business, the chances are that, at some point, you will be seeking out bed and breakfast funding or hotel mortgages.

At Stewart Hindley and Partners, we are in an ideal position to help you as we understand the hospitality business through and through. We are long-established specialists in securing hospitality finance. Our experienced team will be able to offer you friendly and informative advice to help you build and improve your business. Browse our site for case histories and more information about the process involved, or call us now to speak to our team of experts.

Source:
https://eviivo.com/trade-secrets/customer-service/customer-always-right-deal-difficult-guests/

How About A B&B In Skipton Or The Yorkshire Dales?

Posted on by Carol Jones

Once again, the Yorkshire Dales confirms its enduring appeal, with Skipton being newly  crowned the most desirable area in the country by The Sunday Times’s 101 Best Places to Live in Britain.

The Sunday Times judges put it in top spot for its ideal combination of low crime rates, “top class” schools, great transport links, “buzzing” high street, pretty and reasonably priced property and beautiful surrounding countryside.

“Skipton is a worthy winner,” said Sunday Times home editor Helen Davies. “We love it for its big-hearted, buzzy life.”

Second in the list was Newnham, a district of Cambridge, with Monmouth, third and Falmouth, fourth.

Each place was selected for offering the best quality of life to the widest number of people and combining desirable features such as a positive community spirit, good local shops, services and attractive outdoor spaces.

Locals proud

According to local paper, The Craven Herald:

  • Skipton MP Julian Smith said he was over the moon: “The judges described all the attributes we know Skipton has, whether it is access to the Dales, quality of its schooling or its high street. I am a very proud local MP.”

“It’s in the heart of Yorkshire and it’s the gateway to the Yorkshire Dales. It’s strong on tradition and it has a really excellent education system.

  • Councillor Chris Harbron, leader of Skipton Town Council, said: “This is a fantastic result for the town and is all the more valuable in that it is an independent survey based on a combination of hard data and research.

“It’s no accident that Skipton performs so well. It is a combination of the hard work of so many organisations – councils, schools, police and emergency services, shops and businesses, community groups and their support networks – they all come together to make Skipton what it is. I’m very proud to work and live in the town. We should sing this from the rooftops.”

  • Leader of Craven District Council, Coun Chris Knowles Fitton, said: “This accolade will further boost the area as a great place to live, work and visit and we shall all continue to work hard to maintain and enhance the town’s growing reputation.”

Where is your b&b? 

Yorkshire has more Michelin-starred restaurants than anywhere else in the country (apart from London), beautiful and varied countryside and grand old cities, making it a great place to run a b&b or guesthouse.

If you are looking at starting a bed and breakfast, or building up an existing guesthouse business; wherever it is, we can help.  At Stewart Hindley and Partners, we understand the hospitality business through and through.

We are long-established specialists in securing bed and breakfast and guesthouse mortgages.  Our experienced team will be able to offer you friendly and informative advice to help you get the best rates and business support.

Browse our site for case histories and more information about the process involved in securing b&b finance or call us now to speak to our team of experts.

Overseas visitor numbers and spends reach record highs

Posted on by Carol Jones

The good news for the UK hospitality industry is that visitors from abroad have reached a record high.  Office of National Statistics (ONS) Figures released earlier this month show that inbound tourism in July was the highest ever for inbound to the UK since official records began in 1961.

A Record July

The latest figures show:

  • A record four million overseas visits to the UK during the period, the first month to ever break through the four million mark, and up 6% on the same period last year.
  • A new record for the highest tourist spending in the UK – with overseas visitors spending £2.8bn here
  • Strong growth in visits from North America continuing in July – with a record 650,000 visits, up 9% on last year.

John Glen, UK Tourism Minister, said: “Tourism is a major economic force that creates jobs and drives growth for the whole of the country. These record figures show the continued strength of this important sector and the UK’s global position as a must-visit destination.”

Patricia Yates, VisitBritain director, added that the best-ever monthly figures underpinned a strong first half of the year for inbound tourism.

She said: “This sustained growth demonstrates Britain’s continued ability to compete internationally for visitors and shows that tourism, one of our most valuable export industries, is an increasingly important driver of economic growth across our nations and regions.”

Not just a one-off

A look back at ONS figures for the last six months shows consistent growth, with:

  • The total number of overseas visits to the UK from January to July this year totalling 23.1 million – up 8% on the same period last year and a record year–to-date.
  • Spending by visitors during this period hitting a record £13.3bn, up 9% on the same period last year.
  • 9 million overseas visits from North America from January to July – up 21% on the same period last year
  • 1 million overseas visits from EU countries, the UK’s largest visitor-generating region – 4% up on last year.
  • Visits from the rest of the world (which includes Australia, China, the Gulf markets and India) rising to a record 3.6 million from January to July this year – up 18% on the same period last year.

Last year set a record for inbound tourism to Britain on visits and spend with 37.6 million visits, up 4% on 2015 with visitors spending £22.5 billion, up 2%.

Don’t miss out on these opportunities

Do you need hospitality finance to take advantage of these trends?  Maybe you are considering a start up and require a mortgage to purchase hotel, b&b or self catering accommodation.  Or, perhaps you are looking to expand your existing hospitality business or convert your residential accommodation to commercial.

Whether you are looking for a hotel mortgage, b&b mortgage or other finance across the hospitality sector, Stewart Hindley and Partners are here to help. We understand the hospitality business through and through, which means we can offer you friendly and informative advice to suit your particular needs and circumstances

Browse our site for case histories and learn all about the process involved in securing hospitality finance or call us now to speak to our team of experts.

Source:  https://www.hotelowner.co.uk/11456-highest-ever-visitor-spending-july/

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