HOSTS WITH THE MOST
Want to escape to the country? Running a B&B could be the answer, says Graham Norwood
THOUSANDS of us have pondered a change in lifestyle during the pandemic. And while many have opted for life in the country, it doesn’t mean they’ve taken an easy option. Indeed, some have stopped being city slickers doing the nine-to-five and now run a bed and breakfast, which can mean working 12 hours, seven days a week.
The first challenge is to find the right property in the right place, especially in light of both the challenge of coronavirus and the rival accommodation option of Airbnb and similar services.
‘There’s so much to consider, more than most people expect,’ says George Reid, who with his wife Linda runs Glangwili Mansion, a five-star B&B in the Brechfa Forest in south-west Wales.
The couple also operate B&B Mentors, a business offering training to people considering a lifestyle switch to hospitality ( glangwilimansion.co.uk, thebnbmentors.co.uk).
‘Getting the correct property is the first step. You have to consider privacy — yours as much as your guests — so the flow of a house needs to allow you to secure your own area, while allowing visitors to come and go as they wish,’ says George, who will often visit properties with newcomers to the business, and sometimes has to advise against a purchase.
‘It’s essential to judge whether a property will get the appropriate licensing from a local authority, and can be upgraded to meet planning, as well as health and safety regulations,’ he adds.
his courses — which cover business plans, hospitality law, insurance and marketing — can also reveal whether prospective B&B owners know what they’re letting themselves in for.
‘Many people think it’s a case of serving breakfast and having the rest of the day to yourself after 10am. Sadly, not the case.’
In today’s Covid-conscious times, tasks such as cleaning rooms take three times as long as before, but there’s no shortage of people wanting to make the transition.
Trade body the Bed And Breakfast Association estimates there are about 20,000 B&Bs in the country.
experienced buying agents such as Rachel Johnston, of Stacks Property Search ( stacks.co.uk), says demand is as high as ever, typically from people aged 45 and over seeking a new challenge.
‘Buyers shouldn’t restrict their thinking to leisure,’ she says. ‘ Some of the best performing B&Bs are located near large employers with a requirement for fixedterm contracts — Jaguar Land Rover is a good example.’
Thanks to the virus, there’s been a change in the kind of property best suited to B&Bs. ‘ There’s been a great deal of interest in properties that have annexes and wings, where B&B guests can have their own entrance,’ she adds.
And there are other features to consider. These range from large cookers for those big breakfasts, extractor fans in bathrooms and loos, fire extinguishers and doors up to fire safety standards, health and safety signs, and now Covid-secure features.
Outside, there would ideally be parking for several vehicles and the place needs to make a good first impression. VisitBritain has an online guide — the Pink Book — serving as the definitive list of regulations which B&B owners have to master, while local authorities and devolved governments may have separate requirements. holiday insurance firm Schofields carried out a survey before the virus outbreak that revealed 30 per cent of Britons would consider swapping a holiday abroad for one in the UK to reduce the impact of travel on the environment.
So now is the chance to fulfil that lockdown dream of a new direction in a new home with a new challenge.
But remember, running a B&B isn’t just a breakfast job.
Working from home is taking its toll. According to a recent survey by the institute for Employment Studies, there’s been a ‘significant increase in musculoskeletal complaints’ since lockdown. it’s no wonder with many of us sitting at impromptu work stations, sleeping on inadequate mattresses and spending more time than usual on uncomfortable furniture.
All this can lead to neck and wrist pain, headaches, back problems and tennis elbow. So, investing in furniture that combines both form and function can go a long way towards preventing these problems, as well as helping to create a serene, ergonomic home.
DESK JOB
AS HOME-WORKING shows no sign of abating, the right desk and seating is essential. A good desk chair needs to support your body, allowing for plenty of movement.
You should be able to use your keyboard with your wrists and forearms straight and level with the floor. Switching between a desk chair, Swiss ball and standing desk over the course of the day provides a variety of working positions for your body.
For those whose feet don’t quite reach the floor, a footrest can help.
‘A good one will allow you to rock your feet to help with blood circulation,’ advises David Barrett, living and dining buyer at John Lewis ( johnlewis.com). ‘The longer you use the chair daily, the more features you should take into consideration, like seat height and tilt adjustments. Look for one that has lumbar support. if you are sitting for several hours a day, you will find mesh a cooler fabric option.’
Consider a desk with built-in storage to help create a tidy atmosphere, plus integrated cable management for computing equipment.
For desks that combine practicality with good looks, try String’s brilliantly useful works desk, with rise and fall system for flexibility, £1,334 ( utilitydesign.co.uk) or John Lewis’s mid-century Soren walnut desk, £699, and Soren office chair, £399.
Straining your eyes to read your screen can lead to headaches. For maximum productivity, set up a work space with good natural light. ‘An extendable wall lamp is very useful as it offers flexibility that a fixed light can’t,’ advises Pooky’s rohan Blacker ( pooky.com). ‘i also recommend using a desk lamp to balance light levels with computer screen glare.’
if sitting and working for prolonged periods is causing body pain, remember to take regular breaks and move around.
‘Play with sitting upright, sitting back, sitting forward,’ says Pilates specialist Emma Bray ( emmabraypilates.co.uk).
‘Change your leg position. if your hips and knees allow, try sitting with one ankle across the opposite knee, which helps hips. Even sit cross-legged if there is room on your chair.’
NEAT SEATING
ERGONOMIC sofas, chairs and chaise longues will help support your posture as well as creating a streamlined look at home. Deep-seated couches and curved pieces are on-trend as well as providing a comfortable sitting experience.
Soho home’s latest range of furniture, inspired by the bold silhouettes of modernist schemes, features the elegantly curved Clovelly sofa, from £2,295, designed with a deep, comfortable sit in mind, while its Sagrada chair, £795 ( sohohome. com), effortlessly combines style and ergonomics with its aged leather sling.
Dual function pieces are good options, too. The Edit Chair from heal’s, £419, ( heals.com) with its left to right swivel and double padded seat, provides optimum ergonomic support in an office setting, while working equally well as a dining chair. And for longevity, look to mid-century design classics.
The Conran Shop’s heirloom Ch07 Shell Lounge Chair, £2,520, first designed in 1963 by hans J. wegner, pairs comfort and support with a striking avant-garde silhouette (£2,928 in walnut and cowhide, pictured, conranshop.co.uk), while the store’s Tip Ton Chair, £259, by Vitra, has a unique forward tilt action, which straightens the pelvis and spine, improving circulation to the abdominal and back muscles.
SLEEP WELL
POCKET spring mattresses are designed to take the pressure off joints and muscles, absorbing the tension and weight of the body for a solid night’s rest. A general rule of thumb is to look for a mattress with more than 1,000 pocket springs as the benchmark for total body support.
‘if you’re a side-sleeper or someone who tends to move around a lot in the night, then choose a softer mattress to mould to your body shape more easily,’ advises matthew west, product development manager at hypnos ( hypnosbeds.com). ‘if you sleep on your back or suffer from back pain, then a firm mattress will keep your spine stable and well-supported.’ Try hypnos’ regency St James, £1,989 (double), for ultimate support. The white Company’s Lancaster mattress, from £580 for a double, ( thewhitecompany. com) is a good value option. Ensuring you have a perfectly plump pillow to fill the space between your shoulder and ear helps to prevent neck, shoulder and back pain during sleep. A quality option will aid spine alignment. Try the Deluxe Duck Down, £56, Sheridan ( sheridanaustralia.co.uk), for a blend of comfort and style.