A chance to host poet’s old haunt
A HOME, a business, a lovely town by the water and a history that includes visits from arguably Wales’s greatest poet and author is a pretty impressive list of selling points this attractive period property can offer a new owner.
The temptation to bag a building that can offer all of these features, as well as a source of income already up and running and achieving glowing reviews on travel website Tripadvisor, might be too strong for some potential buyers.
The Boat House is a pretty blue, double-fronted home and B&B on a popular street in the historic town of Laugharne.
The town is tranquil and welcoming, attracting thousands of visitors a year who want to visit locations linked to Dylan Thomas.
Jane, who currently owns and runs The Boat House on Gosport Street along with partner Keith, says: “The property was well loved during its pub incarnation. In fact, Dylan Thomas drank in what is now the Scarlet Room, telling stories in exchange for free drinks.”
More recently, the B&B is just as popular with paying guests, with the property ranking number one out of 14 B&BS and inns in Laugharne on travel website Tripadvisor.
The home dates back to around 1850 but Jane says the back of the building is a newer but sympathetic addition, with a private apartment looking out on to the garden which gets sun all afternoon.
Jane says: “During our search, nothing else came close to matching the size and character of The Boat House. We were very lucky to have found a breathtaking property in an ideal location.
“Laugharne itself offers amenities including a post office with pharmacy, a doctors’ surgery, a great general store, bus services, churches, the castle and lush countryside.
“We’re on the Welsh Coastal Path, which is ideal for walking and cycling, and there’s a big community spirit to Laugharne, with local groups, organisations and events for every taste and age.
“So having your own parking is a great advantage here at the property, as Laugharne is a popular destination village, with pubs, restaurants, attractions and amenities all close by and the stunning estuary and historic castle are just over the road.”
The house itself is a much larger proposition than might first appear from the street, extending far back on the ground floor into the garden at the rear, which provides the owners’ accommodation.
The four en suite guest bedrooms can be found within the more historic part of the house, occupying the rooms at the front, either side of the hall; two on the ground floor and two on the first floor.
Each bedroom is spacious, visually attractive and delights any guest with historic glimpses of its past, with exposed timber and stone making a welcome appearance and adding even more character to each room.
The Scarlet Room is maybe the most intriguing of the bedrooms, part of the former pub that was once this property’s main function, and the site of Dylan Thomas’s visits.
Maybe the remaining character features of the space and the special ambience of the room will inspire you to pick up a pen, or turn on a laptop and become a writer too.
But the Scarlet Room is, maybe surprisingly, not Jane and Keith’s favourite spot inside or outside at their home and workplace.
Keith says: “Our favourite room is probably the Olive guest room – so calming – but having said that there is plenty of choice here. In the garden we’ve grown herbs and vegetables on the various levels, it’s peaceful and green the whole year round.”
And it’s in the garden that the spe
cial location of this home can be truly appreciated, with the final tier of the garden providing views of the castle turrets, as well as a lovely place to enjoy outdoor dining.
From the windows at the front of the house the views of the castle and the park by the river estuary are thoroughly engaging and hard to resist, and a 30-second walk gets you there, to fully enjoy the beauty of the town’s location and its eventful history too.
Back at the house, the welcoming B&B reception desk can be found in the hall and at the end can be found the guest dining room.
This pretty whitewashed room continues the stone wall and exposed beam charm found in other rooms, decorated with beautiful, bold artwork standing out against the white backdrop to enjoy as you tuck into a hearty Welsh breakfast.
The owners’ accommodation flows from behind the guest dining room and includes a kitchen, obviously very busy at breakfast time, an ensuite