Welcome to the February 2008 Issue of our Running a B&B Newsletter

Welcome to the second edition of 2008. I’ve packed quite a lot into this newsletter -  I hope you enjoy reading it.

In this Edition:

  • ·         Latest News from Hopton House – Upgrading a B&B
  • ·         B&B Recipe Blog and Articles
  • ·         Latest Course Dates
  • ·         Setting Up a B&B – Doing Your Research – How To Use a Survey
  • ·         Gill Horsfield’s Experience of Setting Up a B&B
  • ·         Battery Hen Welfare Trust
  • ·         Are You Looking For a B&B Business Partner?

Latest News From Hopton House – Upgrading a B&B

We’re in the midst of making our changes to Hopton House and I am surrounded by carpenters, brickies and plumbers. As the building begins to take shape I am finally allowing myself to actually imagine what it will be like when we re-open the B&B. The building work has provided me with an opportunity to make some pretty big changes and improvements. I’ve been spending weeks trawling other B&B websites looking for design ideas and also reviewing what I do like and don’t like about my own B&B currently.

I’ve decided it’s important to keep to the same feel and style of B&B. I have a very good repeat business which is growing each year and I want those guests to continue to feel comfortable here. I love boutique hotels and B&Bs but I don’t feel that look quite works with the area, the house and most of my guests. So I’m aiming for luxury comfortable B&B with a contemporary edge  - we shall see.

My guests always rave about my beds – many love the six foot wide one we have. So I’m keeping it as six foot but upgrading to a lovely brass antique style with an expensive and comfortable mattress – I’ve had so many wonderful holidays blighted by a dreadful bed that it’s one area I won’t skimp on.

We currently have wooden flooring in the bathrooms. That works well for hygiene and cleaning but has started to squeak terribly. We are replacing that with tiled floors with under floor heating and are putting a double shower in the main bedroom bathroom.

One other thing I’m really pleased about is our conversion to a new megaflow hot water system. It means we can dispense with the power showers – currently our family power shower makes such a noise that I can’t have a shower in the morning and have to have a bath before serving breakfast. Now I love baths but not when they mean I have to get out of bed half an hour earlier.

I’m replacing carpets in the main bedrooms – the first time since we set up the B&B. It’s worth remembering when you’re budgeting for your B&B that you need to include the replacement of carpets, quilts etc. And this time I won’t make the mistake of putting in a plain cream carpet. Something a bit darker with a texture and fleck I think!

More news next month – when hopefully we will be a lot closer to completing the main house. I restart the courses at Hopton House in April – so if you want the chance to come and see all of the improvements – this is the ideal time to do it.

B&B Recipe Blog and Articles

Don’t forget to visit the new recipe and article page on the Bed and Breakfast Academy website. I’m updating it weekly with articles and recipes that you might find useful. You’ll also find a link there to my recipe blog. I’ve copied another of the articles below.

Latest Course Dates

I’ve added a new page to the website menu Latest Course Dates, which makes it easier to see when courses are running and to book. Just a reminder that if you want to stay at Hopton House for the course you’ll need to book early. If we are fully booked I’d be happy to recommend local B&Bs.

Setting up a B&B – Doing Your Research – How To Use A Survey

The very first thing any prospective business owner should do is research their market. Is your business viable? Will it make any money? Is there a gap in the market locally? Are there specific markets that you can tap into?

Do some research, then do some more! The more research you do, the more chance you have of creating a successful B&B business that gives you a good income.

Start by sending out a survey. It's a great way to test your ideas out before actually committing to anything.

1. Who Will You Send It To?

Identify a list of friends, family and colleagues who would do your survey for you. The more the better and make sure you choose a wide range of people. You'll want a wide age range, people with lots of different interests, those with family, those without.

2. What Medium Can You Use?

If you're techy enough you could probably set up your own survey online. If not, then there are companies out there who will set up surveys for you and collate the results. For a cheaper option you can put together a WORD form with drop down boxes and send this out by email. This will take more of your own time, putting the results into a sensible format for you to use, but it is a good choice if your funds are limited.

3. How Will You Persuade People To Respond?

If you are sending your survey out to friends and family, many people will respond just to help you out. But, if you are sending the survey to people you don't know so well, then it is a good idea to offer a prize or some other incentive. Maybe you could offer a bottle of champagne or a night away in the B&B when it is open.

4. What Should You Include In Your Survey?

This is where you get to test all of the great ideas you have for setting up a B&B. You may well be surprised by the results. Many B&B owners set up their business based on what they would like from a B&B rather than what their market would actually like. For example, you may love showers and never take a bath, so you are planning just to have shower rooms. But your survey tells you that 80% of your respondents like to have a bath when they're away.

5. How To Analyse Your Results?

You need to analyse your results carefully. Those bath lovers may all be married couples in their 70s. Whilst your target market is actually businesspeople, staying with you whilst they're away from home, who demand a shower in the morning., So understanding your target market will help you know whose results to pay particular attention to. On the other hand your results may make you change your mind about the market you are targeting

Gill Horsfield’s Experience of Setting Up a B&B

In the last newsletter I asked for contributions from my subscribers. One of those that responded to me was Gill Horsfield. Gill is just about to open Belvedere House B&B in the Forest of Dean. For an open and entertaining description of Gill’s journey on the way to open her own B&B click here. If anyone else would like to share the ir experience or have any amusing stories to tell please let me know.

Battery Hen Welfare Trust

I had a sad start to my week when 6 of my chickens were taken by a fox. I have 16 left. One was quite badly injured but is making a quick recovery and I have spent the week tending to her. I had already planned to get more hens once the builders are off site and have decided to get some rescue battery hens. If you are running a country B&B and are planning to get hens to supply you with eggs ex battery hens might be a good solution! Though please read my note on the Environmental Health Officer’s view on eggs that are not lion stamped.

Here Jane of the Battery Hen Welfare Trust tells us more

“The Battery Hen Welfare Trust became the UK’s first registered charity solely for laying hens in April 2005 and was established in order to raise awareness of the 20 million hens currently kept in cages in the UK.

 

Since beginning in 2003 over 65,000 hens have been rescued from slaughter and given the opportunity to enjoy a free range retirement.  Most go on to become much loved family pets.

 

The aim of the charity is to diminish consumer demand for battery eggs whilst at the same time promoting British farmers using welfare friendly systems.

 

The BHWT enjoys good relations with farmers and is keen to redress the balance between farmer and consumer, asking the consumer to take responsibility for hen welfare rather than simply blaming the farmer for this unpopular system.  Whilst many consumers would not purchase battery eggs on welfare grounds, many everyday processed food products containing battery eggs are frequently bought without a second thought.  The charity encourages consumers to purchase products containing only British free range and organic eggs – now increasingly available in supermarkets. They also endorse barn eggs as the hens are able to enjoy freedom of movement which they cannot in cages.

 

Hen keeping is a popular and growing hobby in the UK and former battery hens make wonderful pets, often being described as ‘like cats and dogs with feathers’!  Many, although not all, will continue to lay eggs, which are a fresh and tasty bonus that comes with owning these delightful, endearing creatures.

 

Anyone interested in learning more about the work of the BHWT, please visit out website at www.bhwt.org.uk.”

An Important Note About Serving Your Own Hens' Eggs to B&B Guests

To reduce the risk of salmonella poisoning and to keep your guests healthy the environmental health officer will normally require that you serve your guests red lion stamped eggs that are well cooked. Ideally with the yolk, as well as the white, solid.

Most people would prefer runny yolks and many people are more than happy to eat eggs from happy free range hens running round at the B&B. However there is a risk - so my EHO has suggested that you make it very clear to guests that any eggs you serve are from eggs without a red lion stamp and that you cook eggs to your guests’ personal requirements.

Are You Looking for a B&B Partner

I’ve been contacted by a newsletter subscriber who is single and is looking for a business partner with whom they can set up a B&B. More details on my website.

And Finally

I attended a Safer Food Better Business Course on Monday. The food hygiene laws changed on January 2006. From that date all people in the food business – and that includes B&B owners – should have been following the new laws. More about that on my courses, from the Food Standards Agency or your local environmental health officer. Whilst it was important to attend the course what I really got out of the day was networking with fellow B&B owners – some I already knew and some I didn’t. It was terribly useful to share ideas and concerns about latest legislation, to hear what other people were up to and just to let out hair down and have a bit of a laugh. Whilst welcoming guests to your home is a great way of meeting new people, I think it’s really important to meet up with other people in the business now and then.