Originally from Bury, Graham and Paula Smith were both employed full-time; Graham in the car industry and Paula in graphic design. Within four years, they both suffered redundancy and, although they found more work, they decided to make a lifestyle change and move to the Lake District.
Case Studies
A New Life in the Country
Saturday, October 10th, 2009Sun Inn’s Five Star Challenge
Thursday, October 1st, 2009Mark and Lucy Fuller purchased the Sun Inn on Market Street two years ago. The couple had many years experience in the hospitality industry; having worked for DeVere, Moathouse and Forte. But this was their first solo project and they set themselves some very stretching targets.
A Tale of Two Brothers
Thursday, October 1st, 2009Folklore has it that two brothers wanted to build a house on the headland in Sandsend. One went behind the others back and started to build. The other did the same but, when he reached the cellar stage, they made up and continued building just the first house. The cellar has remained in the garden ever since.
Summer Holidays in Porthtowan
Wednesday, September 30th, 2009Julie Smith owns The Cove in Porthtowan, near Truro; a one-bedroom self catering apartment. She chose to rent the property specifically for summer holiday lets and has enjoyed tremendous success over the past two summers.
Lodge Site Comes Up Smelling of Roses
Wednesday, September 30th, 2009Sam Cullen and his family have run Flowery Dell lodge site, in Richmond, North Yorkshire, for ten years. So they’re probably good people to ask about the holiday trends in these turbulent economic times. Sam manages a site of twelve lodges and they are currently adding three more luxury lodges for the Spring.
St Malo Celebrates Ten Years!
Wednesday, September 30th, 2009Maureen Adams bought the St Malo guest house in West Ho over ten years ago. Her background was in catering; running weddings and functions, but she didn’t like leaving her dog at home and spending so long in the kitchen; never speaking to the guests. After chatting to a friend, she considered opening a pub.
Whitby Versus Queensland
Wednesday, September 30th, 2009David and Hilary Parker own the Queensland guest house in Whitby and David’s also treasurer of the Whitby Hospitality Association. They bought the Queensland in January 2007 and since then they’ve learnt a thing or two about appealing to tourists – even in a tough market.
Going for Gold
Wednesday, September 30th, 2009Noelle and Tim Thornton have five children and, after deciding they needed a larger house, they moved to Yorkshire. They bought an old Georgian building in Middleton, Pickering which had an apple store, a barn and some outbuildings. After a few years living in the house, they decided to begin a huge restoration project…
Class Act in Kent
Wednesday, September 30th, 2009The Tudor Park Hotel and Country Club is every traveller’s dream. Just 30 miles from London, it is surrounded by beautiful countryside and is only a stone’s throw from River Medway, Leeds Castle and Canterbury Cathedral. Accommodation includes climate control, work areas and first class catering.
Scary Guy Visits Lancashire Schools
Wednesday, September 30th, 2009Wendy Davison and her family have been renting out a holiday cottage on their small holding in the Rossendale Valley for eight years, but this was the strangest booking they’d ever received.
