Three in a bed

Three in a bed? This Channel 4 programme wasn't nearly as contentious as its name suggested however it did throw up some interesting thoughts on the bed and breakfast
industry.

Firstly, what IS a bed and breakfast? There is clearly a lot of room for debate here but our view, at The Bed and Breakfast Club, is that a bed and breakfast is a private home where paying guests are welcomed.

Our criteria for the properties we market places a strong emphasis on "private home". For instance, a converted private residence, as with "The Kildare" in the TV programme, doesn't fit the bill for us. It has 11 bedrooms and, interestingly, it is actually called "The Kildare Hotel" and the owners, Joyce and Ray, frequently referred to it as such.

Likewise, although it has only three bedrooms, we would class "Number One", the Blackpool establishment, as a small boutique hotel.

Finally, do bed and breakfasts need accreditation? We don't think so. The key ingredient in running a successful bed and breakfast is a genuine interest in meeting all types of people, a pride in your home, and high standards of accommodation and service. A successful bed and breakfast business builds its reputation on the hospitality and accommodation it provides, not on the number of stars, rosettes or other awards an "official" agency may hand out. We don't, however, condone Roger's B&Q rosettes either!