A Market Drayton couple’s bid to make their bed and breakfast the best in the town has received a silver accolade from tourism officials.
Ian and Valerie Smith, who run the Brooklands Bed and Breakfast in Adderley Road, have received a Silver Award after an unannounced visit by a VisitBritain inspector last month.
It was judged on five elements, including cleanliness, comfort, and hospitality, and the award comes on top of the five-star rating given to Brooklands by the tourist body last year.
Ian said: “The inspector made a booking to stay for one night, came down from her room, had breakfast and we talked to her just like any other guest.
“She paid her receipt and I gave her my card in case she wanted to book with us again. It was only when she gave us her card and said ‘let’s talk business’ that we knew she was a VisitBritain inspector.
“We weren’t expecting it because last year’s inspection was later in the year, but we’re pleased and delighted to have been upgraded again.”
Ian and Valerie, originally from Warwickshire, moved into Brooklands eight years ago and converted their home into a bed and breakfast four years later.
It attracts hundreds of guests from the UK and around the world each year, including visitors from Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.
Valerie said: “My mum and one of our daughters used to live with us before but when my mum died and our daughter left, we were wondering what we could do.
“We were only using three rooms and it seemed a shame for the rest of the house not to be lived in.
“We went to the tourist office to see if there was a need for another bed and breakfast in Market Drayton and having established that there was, we went ahead.
“It’s been harder work than we envisaged but it’s brilliant and having the VisitBritain Silver Award is like adding another string to our bow.”
By Winston Brown