Town guest house teed up to succeed
WINNING majors is par for the course for one of the top guest houses in Merseyside.
The Stamford, in Southport town centre, is a dream for golfers.
The venue, on Bath Street, has just been recognised as runner-up in the B&B Guest House Of The Year category at the Liverpool City Region Tourism Awards.
The Stamford welcomes families from all over the world and, situated on England’s Golf Coast, is well placed for people who love to play a few rounds on some of the finest courses in Britain.
The guest house even has a dedicated golf room, where guests can charge their buggies and store their clubs.
The Stamford, you could say, is Open for business.
Being recognised as one of the top two guest houses in the Liverpool City Region is a remarka- ble achievement considering Sarah and Ricky Blaney only took over the business last summer.
Sarah said: “Like many guest houses and B&Bs, The Stamford is a really small team of just me, my husband Ricky and our manager Laura.
“It was such a privilege to be shortlisted for the Liverpool City Region Tourism Awards.
“We didn’t expect to win as we have not been operating a full year so to be a runner-up was a huge accolade.
Sarah and Ricky, who also run a property company, opened the doors at The Stamford in August with high hopes.
They enjoyed a superb start. Now like everyone else they are working hard to get through the pandemic, which no-one foresaw this time last year.
“It’s definitely unfortunate, and not the situation we were hoping for, said Sarah. “You have just got to roll with it. There are talks of vaccines now and if Covid does go it will be fantastic,’’ said Sarah.
“Southport has so many great things going for it to attract visitors.’’
She added: “We operate a little bit differently at The Stamford compared to a traditional seaside guest house.
“We offer a really flexi- ble check-in process, and so many of our guests love the fact that they can just self check-in, dump their bags and enjoy Southport.
“We like to think of ourselves as a mini-hotel: amazing beautiful luxury rooms, at guest house prices with all the flexibility of a hotel.
“It suits international guests who are arriving in the early hours in readiness to play golf at our amazing golf courses.
“Or conference guests who are busy all day and need someone peaceful and beautiful to recharge.
“We also have a communal lounge and kitchen area; with a big guest fridge, microwave, toaster and crockery, you can prepare your own brekky, eat a takeaway in comfort or for our business travellers, whack a ready meal in for an easy bite.
“We have fab relationships with cafes, pubs and restaurants offering discounts for all guests.
“We are really proud of The Stamford, our rooms are such high standard and the feedback from guests cements that they love our combination of hotel and guest house too.
“These are the strangest of times for the hospitality trade and we are supergrateful for the support we He was delighted to see get from Southport Hotel- The Stamford nominated iers Association, Sefton for B&B Guest House Of Council and wider hospitality The Year, while the Kings trade. We can’t wait Garden Tea Room was to see the industry get shortlisted for Cafe Bistro back to serving Southport Of The Year, Bliss Hotel visitors and doing our bit was runner-up for Hotel for the local economy.’’ of The Year, and Formby
Southport BID CEO Hall Golf Resort And Spa Rachel Fitzgerald said: won Hotel of The Year. “Congratulations to The Speaking on behalf of Stamford on being honoured the Marketing Southport at Liverpool City board, he said: “We are Region Tourism Awards. delighted that this year
“I am pleased to see our Southport had four hospitality town’s accommodation businesses in the providers being so widely running. Three of them recognised and helping to were placed and one, put Southport on the map. Formby Hall Golf Club
“Well done too to everyone and Spa, was the winner at Bliss Hotel in as the Hotel of the Year in Southport on being shortlisted the Liverpool City Region. in the Hotel Of The “The Stamford’s performance Year category.’’ in its own hotly
Southport Hoteliers contested category is not Association spokesperson just commendable but Anthony Duffey said: “It is well deserved. fantastic news to see SHA “The annual awards are members nominated for not simply about recognition top awards yet again. for the business but
“It has been a difficult also help keep Southport’s year for the town’s accommodation position as the second providers but largest tourism component we have all been working in the hard to improve our offering. Liverpool City It is good that this has Region foremost been recognised by the in the minds of Liverpool City Region.’’ the tourism and
Peter Hampson is chair hospitality of Marketing Southport, the public-private sector partnership that promotes Southport nationally via a range of media including VisitSouthport.com and social media channels. business community – and, critically, foremost in the minds of policy mak- ers and politicians across the City Region and beyond who ultimately direct support and development funding.
“Marketing Southport’s board agreed at its bimonthly meeting recently to work to encourage more businesses to enter next year’s events.
“We look forward to Southport having even greater success in 2021 .’’
Winning entries go on the represent the region in the Visit England national awards.
The 2020 Liverpool City Region Tourism Awards saw 17 awards presented.
Peter Sandman, Head of Visitor Economy at Growth Platform (Liverpool City Region Growth Company) said: ‘‘2020 has presented the city region with many difficult chal- lenges which we must face together, rewarding and celebrating all these businesses is one way we can show unity and strength as a sector.’’
“We know there are many challenges ahead and hurdles to overcome but we have the assets and the right people across the region to successfully come through this unprecedented time.’’
Laura Pye, chair of the Visitor Economy Board, said: “At a time when the tourism and hospitality sectors are facing perhaps the most difficult challenge in their history, it’s vital that we are able to celebrate the achievements of the fantastic people and places that the Liverpool City Region has to offer. We wish the winners many congratulations, and we stand side by side.’’