‘I’m thrilled when I read a glowing review!’
Pat Greenwood, 56, runs the Seaflowers B&B in Frogmore, South Devon, with her husband, Anthony, 59.
‘Every time a new guest comes to stay, I have the same ritual: I give their room one final check to ensure everything is perfect. I’ll arrange freshly cut flowers in a vase by the window, which looks out over the stunning Frogmore estuary, and hope our guests enjoy the view as much as I do.
My husband Anthony and I fell into running a B&B almost by accident. We decided to move to Devon from our home in Gloucestershire in 2011, to help care for Anthony’s elderly parents. Our plan was that I would spend Monday to Thursday in Cirencester working at a further education college, then commute to Devon every weekend.
We began converting my in-laws’ home into a new house for us with an annexe for them, using the money from the sale of our home. But it wasn’t long before the six-hour round-trip began to take its toll. I hated being apart from Anthony, too. We wanted to launch a business we could run in the area that would bring in an income, while also allowing us time to spend with the family.
Anthony is a trained chef, and we both had experience working in the hospitality industry. Together, we came up with the idea of setting up a B&B, drawing on influences from previous holidays to South Africa and Canada. We wanted to emulate the type of B&B we’d stayed in: luxurious, airy and modern – a world away from nylon sheets and uninspiring breakfast buffets.
We amended our building plans to create three en suite guest rooms, along with fire doors and fire alarms. In total, we spent an additional £15,000 on the renovations, furnishings and fixtures for the three rooms, on top of what we were already spending on the rest of the house.
We paid a website designer £500 to create our site and took a food hygiene course run by our local council, who also inspected our kitchen.
In April 2012, we opened for business. When our first booking came in, just days after opening, it felt wonderful. All the hard work had been worth it.
Five years on, we’re generally full from May to October, so we’ve had to learn how to manage our cash flow to prepare for the quieter winter months. We charge between £120 and £140 a night, and there’s a minimum two-night stay.
INVESTED IN THE FUTURE
My day begins around 6.45am when I get up to bake fresh bread. It’s little touches like that which, I hope, set us apart and make guests feel cared for.
Anthony and I prepare breakfast together. It’s a sociable affair, served in the communal dining room, and we often chat to our guests. I love seeing people relaxed and enjoying our food.
A cleaner helps me service the rooms, but I manage all the admin and bookings myself. It’s not a chore – keeping the business ticking over and well-run is very satisfying because we benefit from it!
The evenings are our own, which we spend with my father-in-law, Raymond – sadly, my mother-in-law, Evelyn, passed away in 2013. We have our own quarters, and it’s good to have that space to relax.
It’s impossible not to become personally invested in a B&B – it’s important to me that guests leave happy. When I read a glowing review online, I am thrilled. Their satisfaction is what I strive for every day.’ • seaflowers.co.uk