The Great British B&B

Ever dreamt of running a B&B?

Have you been dreaming of crisp white sheets, full English breakfasts, and beautiful homes in idyllic countryside settings? Nearly 1,000 B&B’s opened last year as people forgo city life for wide-open spaces. The prospect of having tea with your interesting, well-travelled guests every afternoon certainly seems tempting. But what does running a successful B&B entail? We’ve got the answers to your most frequently-asked B&B questions below.

How much will I be required to work?
While running a B&B does have many social aspects, it’s not all tea and scones in the drawing room. Each room you let out will require daily cleaning, the property will require constant upkeep, and yes, you will be required to cook breakfast each day. Many B&B owners combat these requirements by choosing to let out just a few rooms (usually between one and four). This makes your task far more manageable, and won’t require a lot of additional staff.

What are the start-up costs?
According to The Telegraph, the average price of buying a B&B is £572,000, and the average turnover is £127,000. B&B owners will take on plenty of additional costs in running the business, such as websites and the contact details of regular visitors. Don’t let this put you off, though. According to David Weston, chief executive of the Bed and Breakfast Association, “most B&Bs are also residential properties, [and] should be valued as such. Most people start a B&B in their own home at little or no capital cost.”

How much money can I make?
How much money you make is entirely up to you. David Weston estimates that “with just two guest rooms, homeowners can easily create an income of £30,000, at a very high margin. This is based on charging £70/night with an occupancy rate of 70%”. When pricing your rooms, look at the prices of hotels and B&Bs in your local area, and adjust your rates accordingly. A price that’s much higher or lower than the area average may cause potential visitors to wonder what’s wrong with your B&B, and they may be be significantly less likely to book with you. For more information about B&B profit, visit Start a Bed and Breakfast.

Should I buy an established B&B or start one myself?
When you buy an existing B&B, it’s also easier to get financing from banks if you’ve dealing with an established business. You’ve also got the added benefit of a client list.

Take a look at the homes below for some inspiration. Some are established B&Bs, while others offer commercial potential. Start living your dream as a B&B owner.

1. Nantmawr, Ferwig

Located in 40 acres of Welsh countryside, this established B&B and holiday let is perfect for the buyer looking to try out the bed and breakfast business. The five-bedroom residence features additional rooms for B&B accommodation, as well an annex and a detached two-bedroom cottage. Rooms at the B&B are approximately £75 a night, presenting a business-minded buyer plenty of opportunity to expand.

2. Cheskin House, Newbiggin-On-Lune

Conveniently located between the Lake District and the Yorkshire Dales National Park, this four-bedroom home is an ideal place for a B&B owner. The property’s wine studio and fernery add a unique touch, and the extensive gardens and Penrith countryside mean a gorgeous walk is just outside the door. The current owner has established the property as a luxury B&B, and is currently offering rooms at the B&B starting from £125 a night, with plenty of scope to grow the business further.

3. Droitwich Spa, Worcester

This stately manor home is located on 18 acres

of beautiful, well-maintained grounds and gardens. The property features nine

bedrooms, ten bathrooms, a leisure suite, and a lake. If hosting guests in your

home isn’t what you had in mind when you thought ‘B&B owner’, consider

using the separate three-bedroom cottage as a holiday let.

4. Mes-Yr-Haf, Swansea

This five-bedroom detached home offers lots of potential for the discerning buyer. This property has worn many hats over the years, as a private home, an award-winning restaurant, and a luxury bed and breakfast. Its proximity is hard to beat: the charming Hamlet of Parkmill provides plenty of local charm and amenities.

5.

High Winder House and Cottages,

Penrith, Cumbria

Located in the hills of the Lake District, High Winder House and Cottages offers an established business in an exclusive location. The house boasts four bedrooms and a farmhouse style kitchen with an Aga range. A detached contemporary building houses three further holiday cottages. High Winder House and Cottages is run as a B&B by the owners, and earned £24,800 revenue in 2015, with the opportunity for significant growth in the business.

6. The Croft, Appleby in Westmoreland

The Croft is a substantial

five-bedroom period property dating back to the 1860's and situated is close to

the centre of the historic market town of Appleby-in-Westmorland. The property sits

in an ideal position between the town's cricket club and St Lawrence's Church, and

has spacious accommodation laid out over two split level floors. The Croft has

been used for both commercial and residential purposes, offering the scope to

be molded into whatever the buyer desires.
7. Throapham House,

Dinnington, Rotherham

Throapham House is an impressive, Grade II Listed

Georgian house providing extensive accommodation and a range of outbuildings.

Part of the property is an established luxury B&B, featuring three

bedrooms, a sitting room, and a dining room for guests. The property is neatly

divided with separate areas for living quarters and guest accommodation. Rooms

at the Throapham House B&B are booked for £80 a night, with plenty of scope

for business expansion.

8. The Old Barn, Wendlebury, Bicester

If you’re nervous about whether

you’ll like running a B&B, look no further than The Old Barn. Built in the

desirable Oxfordshire village of Wendlebury, this property is large enough to

host B&B guests comfortably or to reside privately. The house boasts six

bedrooms, a kitchen with views on two sides, and a spacious sitting room and

dining room.

9. Oakbrook House, Frith Way, Great

Moulton

This 12-bedroom home has seen

many chapters in its life, from school to guest house and private residence along

the way. The house is filled with charm and character and flooded with light. A

flexible place with excellent income potential, it would also work well as a

family abode, a happy place to live enjoying the peace and greenery, with handy

amenities just down the road.

10. Main Road, Wyre

Piddle, Pershore, Worcestershire

This substantial and

impressive five-bedroom family home with a separate two-bedroom annex offers the

possibility of a home with an income or versatile living arrangements. The

property is sympathetically restored with plenty of period features. The rooms

are well-proportioned and offer plenty of natural light. There are five double-bedrooms,

four en-suites, bathroom, modern kitchen, sitting room, dining room, snug, office

and utility room.