The secrets behind a good B&B breakfast

Whisper ‘full English Breakfast’ and ears will perk up instantly as images of sizzling sausages, crispy bacon, juicy mushrooms, tasty vine-ripened tomatoes grilled to perfection, golden hash browns and eggs, sunny side up, spring to mind.

However, balancing the guest experience with the rising costs of food, can be tricky. You don’t want to see good food (and potential profits) go to waste, but you can’t disappoint your guests, and a decent breakfast can secure rave reviews and subsequent bookings.

Tom Kerridge, in this article on how to make a full English breakfast, suggests that the perfect English Breakfast includes sausages, smoked streaky bacon, plum tomatoes, Portobello mushrooms, black pudding and eggs (sunny side up), topped with a slice of toast.

Whilst a supermarket saver sausage may save some pennies, it’s not going to leave your guests with a good taste in their mouth (literally). However, you can really get positive feedback flowing with decent ingredients in your breakfasts. If you can splash out and upgrade ingredients, tell your guests. If you see ‘locally produced sausages’ in a menu, it sounds so much more appealing than just ‘sausages’. And, if you’re dishing up organic sausages, say so.

Much of these ingredients will keep for at least several days in the fridge, which means you don’t have to limit yourself to a full English. You should consider offering a continental option too, with croissants, pain au chocolat, or other pastry options.

With an increasing awareness of healthy foods, you could offer a smoothie option, or fresh juicing? Whilst not exactly hassle-free, it can be a great way to minimise waste by using up leftover fruit and veg before it goes off. Juices are delicious and nutritious, and are almost certainly a unique selling point to share with your guests.

And, it doesn’t all have to be about the food.

Consider where your guests might like to eat. Whilst many will be happy with eating in a communal dining room, take into account that some may prefer to eat in the privacy of their own room. A ‘breakfast-in-bed’ option may provide added B&B appeal and many guests would be happy to pay a little more for the privilege!

Tell your guests what they can look forward to. Help them to anticipate the treat that awaits by describing the breakfast options. Maybe leave a menu in their room, or in a shared area, or at the very least on the tables. When your guests know what to expect, they can choose what not to have, cutting down on your waste too.

The very name, Bed & Breakfast, suggests that the breakfast part is a big deal. By considering what you are offering your guests for breakfast, you can ensure that the breakfast you offer is as responsible for getting return visitors as offering your guests a good nights’ sleep.

Stewart Hindley & Partners is an independent, whole-of-market finance broker which means we can find the most cost-effective way to re-finance or release capital for your B&B business. Our specialists in business funding and business recovery can help you find the right products and ensure your application for finance is successful.

British coastal path walking and guest house holidays

In 2020 England’s 2,800 mile coastal path is set to open, offering ramblers, hikers and walkers access to one of the world’s longest walking routes.

And for B&B and guest house owners, securing hospitality finance to invest in a B&B next to a coastal path can be a shrewd move.

Whilst most people won’t have the time to take on the full coastal path in one go, there’s nothing to stop them from taking on sections of the English coastal path and enjoying some of the most spectacular views that nature has to offer.

Top 6 coastal path sections for walkers and hikers already open to the public

  1. Rock to Polzeath: North Cornwall

This 1 hour stretch of English coastline can be accessed from the slipway beside the sailing club in Rock Village and will take you past boats bobbing in the estuary, beaches perfect for picnic stops, and clifftops where you can watch surfers catch waves at Polzeath.

  1. Burnham Overy to Holkham beach: Norfolk

This walk starts at the Drove in Burnham Deepdale and is signposted by black and white National Trail acorns which guide you along flood banks, beside a small harbour and along one of Norfolk’s most spectacular beaches, used for the filming of ‘Shakespeare in Love’.

  1. Sea Palling to Weybourne

If you fancy more of a challenge, you could take on the 25-mile section between Sea Palling and Weybourne. An established part of the Norfolk Coast path, and one of England’s 15 National Trails, it’s renowned for its dramatic landscapes.

  1. Robin Hood’s Bay to Boggle Hole

This North Yorkshire stretch is scattered with fossils, and cliffs peppered with caves where folklore says mysterious goblins called Boggles hide. Pop into the Old Coastguard Station at Robin Hood’s Bay to learn about the area’s secret history of smuggling.

  1. Marloes Peninsula Coastal Walk

You can’t talk about the great walking trails of the British coastline without talking about the Pembrokeshire coastline with its seals, porpoises and Iron Age forts. A National Trust trail, the Marloes Peninsula Coastal Walk starts at the Marloes Sands car park.

  1. Isle of Staff

For something a little more remote, the The Isle of Staff coastal walk in Scotland takes you around an island known for fantastical and dramatic basalt columns. At 30 minutes, it’s a short walk, but what it lacks in distance, it more than makes up for in experience, with dolphins, porpoises, puffin colonies and more. However, this isn’t a walk for those unsteady on their feet.

So, if you’re thinking of experiencing the spectacular coastline of Britain for yourself, why not find a B&B to base yourself, or even a series of B&Bs throughout the route?

If you’re looking to open a B&B, finding the perfect location just a short distance from the coastal path can certainly be a draw for potential guests. Stewart Hindley can help you find the right hospitality finance to be able to invest in your dream guest house.

Top tips on how to make your B&B dog friendly

With concerns about the economy, flight delays and not wanting to leave beloved pets behind, it seems that more people are choosing to stay in the UK for their holidays. And according to a survey by Natural England, more of us are spending time in the great outdoors than ever before.

For B&B owners there are ample opportunities to take advantage of this rise in staycations and offer guests something special.

Across the UK, walking holidays where you can take your dog with you, are becoming increasingly popular. It’s understandable when we have such amazing places to enjoy; Cumbria, Cornwall, Wales, Scotland, to name but a few, all offering nature lovers and their pets some fantastic rambles.

So, as a B&B owner here are some top tips on how to attract guests and their furry friends.

  • Offer your four-legged guests treats. Why not offer a breakfast menu for pets? It could just be some dried or canned food, but it means their owners don’t have to bring food with them. Or, you could link up with a pet food delivery company and give your guests the choice to pre-order.
  • Somewhere special to stay. Offering pets somewhere special to sleep could give your B&B an advantage over one down the road. Consider creating add-on packages where your guests can choose different dog bed sizes, special treats or their very own door to the garden.
  • Creating new rooms. You may decide to attract walkers and their dogs by extending or altering some of the downstairs accommodation in your B&B. Adding patio doors that open on to the outside space transforms a room into a dog friendly environment, making it more relaxing for both the pets and their owners.
  • Play area for dogs. If your B&B has the space you could offer both an inside and outside play area. The sun doesn’t always shine on UK walking holidays so an indoor play space could be perfect for dogs to let off steam before they venture outside.
  • Local knowledge. As a local B&B owner you may know of secret dog friendly beaches or pubs that welcome pooches, so let your guests know. You could also have leaflets and brochures available to guests who want to do their own research.
  • Dog sitting service. Your guests may want to eat out in the evening at restaurants that aren’t dog friendly. Consider offering a sitting service for dogs at an extra cost.

Stewart Hindley has been helping B&Bs and boutique hotels to find and secure the right hospitality finance package for their business for more than 13 years. If you’d like to discuss your hospitality finance requirements, give us a call today on 01488 393046.

The best B&B in the world and it’s in the English Riviera

Basil Fawlty and his English Riviera hotel was a source of much laughter for many years, but ‘The 25 Boutique’ B&B in Torquay has called time on the joke, as it’s announced The Best B&B in the World by TripAdvisor in its annual Travellers’ Choice Awards.

The truth is, ‘The 25 Boutique’ B&B is one of a number of English Riviera B&Bs that are changing the way people see the hospitality industry in the English Riviera.

The 25 Boutique B&B opened in 2017 and boasts just 6 rooms, all stylishly decorated, and yours for a night for just £125.

The B&B has an unblemished 5* record on Trip Advisor and has received rave reviews from guests for their homemade yoghurts, biscuits and cakes, Elemis toiletries and unique features in some of the rooms such as a slipper bath and mood lighting.

Owners Andy and Julian Banner-Price cut their teeth running a country house hotel in Wales for seven years before opening ‘The 25 Boutique’ B&B in 2017 after extensive renovation work.

Since opening, they’ve notched up awards including Gold for the ‘Best B&B in Devon’, 2017 and Silver for the ‘Best B&B in England’, 2018. Last year, they were voted the 9th Best B&B in the world before going on to take the number one spot this year.

We featured another of these new style B&Bs popping up in the English Riviera that are redefining B&B vacations, Blenheim House, back in June of last year.

The Other 9 B&BS around the world that have made the TripAdvisor list are:

  1. Jail Hill Inn, Galena, Illinois, USA
  2. Bindon Bottom B&B, West Lulworth, UK
  3. The Grange Bed and Breakfast, Fylingthorpe, UK
  4. Swallows Rest Bed & Breakfast, Brigstock, UK
  5. The Parsonage Bed and Breakfast, Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania, USA
  6. Hillstone Lodge, Colbost, UK
  7. B&B Mondello Design, Sicily, Italy
  8. Creevagh Heights, Carrowmore-Lacken, Ireland
  9. Casa Da Praia, Candolim, Goa, India

There are also a number of other categories in the awards, with UK properties coming up top.

If you’re interested in owning a B&B and need some help to find the right finance to make your plans a reality, call Stewart Hindley on 01488 393044. Specialists in hospitality finance, our teams will set you on the right track to finding and securing the right B&B finance for your business.

Top 10 things to do in Wales in 2019

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.

 

 

 

How will Brexit affect B&B businesses?

We may be tossing and turning at night, trying to recall what last-minute Christmas gifts we need to purchase, but one person is definitely getting less sleep than us. As Teresa May continues to burn the candle at both ends with ongoing Brexit negotiations, we are left wondering how our extraction from the EU is likely to impact our business.

In recent years we’ve seen a steady growth of tourists to the UK, and Visit Britain expect us to have welcomed 41.7 million visitors to our shores by the end of this year – 19.6million of whom were from the EU.

It isn’t just the number of visitors to the UK that have increased either. The amount they are spending has surged too, with an anticipated jump of £1.8bn in total spend between 2017 to 2018.

This week it has been announced that, following Brexit, there will be a charge for UK citizens to get into EU countries from 2020, but will there be a reciprocal fee for those entering the UK?

And is it possible that this additional cost will be enough of a deterrent that Brits will be increasingly inclined towards booking themselves a staycation?

The uncertainty that we face around Brexit at present isn’t all bad. The low value of the pound means that now is a great time for tourists wanting to visit the UK.

In 2014, Brits spent around £19.76 billion travelling in the EU. As holidaying abroad becomes more uncertain with the potential for travel chaos as borders transition, and the poor value of the pound increases the likelihood of Brits opting to stay in the UK, it’s forgivable to feel a pang of excitement at even a portion of this being spent here in the UK.

It isn’t all about tourism though. There are considerations that stretch this. For example, many B&B businesses and hotels rely on European staff for essential day-to-day operations. With the potential for restrictions being placed on the free movement of people, the industry could be impacted by a shallower recruitment pool or a lack of applicants with the right skill sets.

However, over the coming months, we will gain a clearer view on how the post-Brexit world is likely to look. Until then, we should make the most of the opportunities that present themselves right now.

If making the most of these opportunities means freeing up capital to invest in your business, speak to one of our team about how hospitality finance could help. From ensuring you have the right documents in place to give yourself the best chance of remortgaging or refinancing to secure funding, to finding the right finance solution for you, our specialists are here to help so call us today on 01488 684834.

How a B&B Commercial Mortgage makes good financial sense for your B&B business

With New Year around the corner, many of us start to think about what we want out of the year ahead.

The prospect of being your own boss and running a lifestyle business from home definitely has its appeal and a B&B Commercial Mortgage can help you to make that dream a reality.

New Year offers a new start, a chance to take the first step towards achieving those dreams and creating the life that you want. Whether you’re looking for freedom from office politics, or whether you’ve always dreamed about being the hostess with the mostess and creating a welcoming environment in your home for tourists and holiday makers, or whether you just want another income stream, a B&B could be exactly what you are looking for to take control of your own lifestyle and work from home.

One of the first things you’ll need to consider is B&B Commercial Mortgage finance. You’ll need capital to invest, but it’s likely that beyond a deposit, you’ll need B&B finance to bridge the gap.

Why B&B Finance?

If you’ve already got a mortgage on your existing home and you’re planning to borrow against it, you may want to reconsider. Using a standard residential home mortgage can lead to your mortgage debt being called in early if you are making an income from letting rooms in your property.

If your mortgage debt is called in early, you’re then faced with a challenge – either find alternative B&B Finance at VERY short notice or lose your home and your livelihood.

Other reasons you might need B&B Finance

Perhaps you already have a B&B that you don’t feel fulfills its potential. Sometimes a small cash injection is just what you need to be able to create the business you want, or to open up new opportunities with what you have.

Often a B&B Commercial Mortgage provider will take into consideration your plans for the business, delivering greater potential benefits at a lower rate than a standard credit card or bank loan might do.

Stewart Hindley & Partners are hospitality finance specialists that can help you find the hospitality finance you need to build the business you’ve always wanted. For more information on how you could benefit from hospitality finance, or to find out how you could raise finance for your hospitality business, contact Stewart Hindley & Partners on 01488 393049.

How Christmas can help you achieve year ‘round occupancy

Most B&B owners are dependent on hospitality finance or B&B finance to set up, grow or improve their business. The trouble is, hospitality finance needs to be repaid and to do that, B&B owners need to focus on ways to bring in new business all year around.

However, once the nights draw in and the temperatures drop, Brits tend to be much less interested in booking holidays or staycations, instead focused on hunkering down until Spring. However, there is one thing that can be used to draw Brits out of hiding and into your B&B or boutique hotel – Christmas.

Here are three Christmas activities that could help pull in bookings for your rooms.

Christmas Markets

People travel all around the UK to get a hit of that festive feeling, so, with a bit of planning B&B and boutique hotels in Bath, Birmingham, Belfast, Manchester, Glasgow, Exeter, Cirencester and Winchester can tap into a whole new potential market for those colder months.

Christmas Shopping

If your B&B or hotel is based around cities and larger towns, Christmas shopping can be a great appeal for tourists. And not having to drive home at the end of a long day shopping can enable guests to get the most of their day out and allow them to enjoy a glass of wine over lunch or dinner. For extra helpings of festive fun, you could even team up with a local florist or craftsman and offer wreath or gift making workshops.

Christmas lights

If your B&B isn’t in London, Birmingham or another city renowned for its festive lights you could still capitalize on the Christmas months. Castles and stately homes often have Christmas lights, trails or tours, or maybe even a Christmas market evening where they make the most of their homes and gardens. By finding out when these are, you’ll be able to make the most of yours too!

Stewart Hindley & Partners are hospitality finance specialists that can help you find the hospitality finance you need to build the business you’ve always wanted. For more information on how you could benefit from hospitality finance, or to find out how you could raise B&B finance for your business, contact Stewart Hindley & Partners on 01488 393049.

Historic houses and cultural cities: why tourists love the UK

Inbound and domestic tourism is on the up in the UK. More people are visiting from overseas and more residents are choosing a staycation over a trip abroad.

According to VisitBritain, 2017 set a record for inbound tourism with 39.2 million visits, and British residents took 47.2 million holiday trips in the UK last year.

So what’s attracting overseas visitors and what’s keeping us Brits here? Is it the beautiful landscapes, the quintessential British pub or our cultural cities?

Here’s some interesting facts which may or may not surprise you from VisitBritain:

1) Visitors love our historic properties, such as houses, palaces, mills, monuments and boats. Visits to these attractions were up by 8%.

2) The British Museum was the most visited ‘free’ attraction for the 10th consecutive year with nearly six million visitors.

3) The Tower of London topped the list as the most visited ‘paid for’ attraction for the ninth year running with 2.8 million visitors. Chester Zoo came second with 1.9 million visitors and 1.58 million people walked around the famous prehistoric monument and cultural heritage attraction, Stonehenge, last year.

4) More people are getting closer to nature visiting farm attractions. Visitor numbers to these family friendly locations are up by 5%.

5) More Brits are taking short breaks of 1-3 nights which accounts for two-thirds of English holidays and is worth £19 billion to the economy. But, according to the stats, we’re visiting our friends and relatives less.

6) 14.2 million overnight business trips were taken last year in England. That’s the same as the year before.

7) Overseas tourists are spending on average £625 per visit. That’s up from £599 from the previous year.

8) Last year nearly two-in-five inbound visits to the UK were for a holiday (39%), whilst a quarter (22%) were for business.

9) The top three countries visiting the UK are France, the USA and Germany.

10) Last year 76% of visitors reached the UK by air. The rest travelled by ferry or the Channel Tunnel.

11)  Interestingly, visitors who fly tend to spend more when they get here.

12) Tourism is worth £106 billion annually to England.

With beautiful beaches, cultural cities and historic houses, the UK has so much to offer both overseas and resident holiday makers. What’s on your doorstep that could be enticing more visitors to stay with you?

Stewart Hindley has been helping B&Bs and boutique hotels to secure the right hospitality finance package for their business for more than 13 years. If you’d like to discuss your hospitality finance requirements, give us a call today on 01488 393046.

 

Guest Blog: Prepare Your B&B for a Quick Sale

Selling any business in a rush is never an optimum choice. But if you need to sell your B&B quickly, it could perhaps be that you, or someone close to you, has suffered an illness which makes it impossible to manage the regular commitment the hospitality business demands.

Or you might have experienced unexpected changes which will impact your business prospects.

It isn’t always possible to sell a business quickly, but this is what you should do to prepare for a quick sale and give yourself the best possible chance of securing the deal you want:

Initial preparation

If at all possible, you should continue to accept bookings as normal.

When an owner is in your position and looking to sell, there is a great temptation to scale back your trading – perhaps turning down one-night stays or opening just for the high-season summer months.

This is understandable, given your circumstances, but any evidence of a decline in your trading may make selling even more difficult.

Any prospective buyer looking for finance will find lenders reluctant to commit once they note the downturn in historical profits. Another reason for trying to commit to ‘business as usual’ is that continuing to gather positive online reviews is the best way to ensure you still get to sell for a good price.

Looking at your preparation in broader terms, there would normally be a three-year preparatory period to achieve comprehensive results. But if time is short, you must at least have your financial records in good order and presenting a true picture of your trading over the last three years (or more).

Would-be purchasers will take a close interest in your business records, as will any due diligence team. So, you should be ready to answer a whole raft of probing questions about:

  • Peak business periods
  • Off-season arrangements
  • The profile of typical guest categories
  • Repeat bookings
  • Your cancellation policy
  • Your main local rivals

and much more.

In particular, you will be asked to explain the pattern of trading peaks and troughs that your P&L will reveal.

So, be very sure you can give accurate and relevant explanations of all your trading data.

When responding to seller-side queries, your absolute honesty about all business matters will do much to create an atmosphere of trust and confidence. In fact, experts agree that the truthfulness of your approach is considerably more important than the quality of the information you disclose.

You can also show an interested buyer that you are really ready for a quick sale by preparing a comprehensive handover package detailing all the important information about running your business.

This will help your buyer to conceptualise the ownership tasks, and also reassures everyone that you don’t intend to just disappear into the night!

Valuation and advertising

Your valuation is best completed by professionals who understand the hospitality market.

This ensures your premises will be assessed and valued using the customary methods for your sector. And, your valuers will also be able to highlight all the desirable features of your business which truly support the valuation figure they propose.

Many business brokers will be able to advertise your business for a quick sale and will also be able to discuss how to maximise your selling price. This is especially important, given that you will need good advice on how much you should be prepared to compromise on your final selling price in order to generate genuine interest in a quick sale.

And if you feel sufficiently knowledgeable about your business, are thoroughly prepared, and are confident enough to handle matters for yourself, then you could also advertise your business on BusinessesForSale.com.

Due diligence

At this stage, your seller’s professional team will scrutinise your business in great detail to test whether the sale valuation reflects the true value of your business.

This is where your careful preparation will begin to pay off. You should also respond to any requests for further information as soon as possible, otherwise this can create delays and perhaps cause a buyer to lose interest.

Finding a buyer will reward all your intensive preparation. But do check that any prospective purchaser wanting to buy your business has the necessary finance in place, because this could otherwise cause a significant delay in closing the deal.

And once the contracts have been signed, you can get down to enjoying your future life beyond the B&B.

By Jo Thornley, Head of Brand and Partnerships at Dynamis. Joining in 2005 to co-ordinate PR and communications and produce editorial across all business brands. She earned her spurs managing the communications strategy and now creates and develops partnerships between BusinessesForSale.com, FranchiseSales.com and PropertySales.com and likeminded companies.