In 2012, Bridget completed my Bed and Breakfast course with a view to starting a Luxury Bed and Breakfast in the Cotswolds.

Bridget launched her B&B in 2013, which has become a thriving and successful business over the last 12 years. Located in a market town near to Stratford Upon Avon and the beautiful North Cotswolds villages, this is a great opportunity for those who want to step into running an established business. Here is Bridget's story…

A fabulous Five Star North Cotswolds Luxury B&B for sale

In 2012, tired of life and career in London, I decided that a change was needed as there was more to life than taking the Northern line to central London every day — especially in summer!

A friend of ours had started a B&B in the Cotswolds which proved to be a year-round business. The concept appealed to me as I have always enjoyed hosting people.

Because I had no experience in hospitality (apart from a stint as a barmaid in uni!), I knew that I needed some advice. After a lot of research I attended Karen Thorne's Bed & Breakfast Academy. Karen’s course was exceptionally helpful, not only in training me on the basics of running a B&B but also covering the very important topics of marketing and the use of social media to maximise occupancy. I had watched my friend make costly mistakes trying different routes to make her business successful, but I am pleased to say that with Karen’s advice, my path was much smoother.

When we launched the business in 2013, our projection was that we would hit 75% occupancy by the end of the year. Following Karen’s system and teachings, we hit 85% occupancy in the second month! Since then, the business has proven to be reliable and limited only by the amount of time I want to be open.

One of Karen’s key points is location. We decided on an active market town for several reasons, one of the main ones being wanting restaurants within very short walking distance — something our guests really focus on.

We were lucky to find a beautiful house called the Old Kiln House in Shipston-on-Stour near the north Cotswolds, which suited our requirements. A bonus was that the layout was excellent for B&B, with one side for our family rooms and the other for guests.

The Cotswolds are nationally and internationally renowned as a recognisable brand and a year-round destination for tourists. We are attracting more and more European and international visitors, many with significant disposable income. Affluent city-break visitors also find the area desirable and are especially interested in the restaurants, attractions like Daylesford Organic Farm, Soho Farmhouse, Jeremy Clarkson’s farm, the Royal Shakespeare Theatre and the stunning countryside. (Though our offering isn’t specifically geared to walkers.)

Shipston-On-Stour is suitable for year-round business. Using Booking.com and my website https://theoldkilnhouse.co.uk, I have had to do very little marketing over the years. Direct bookings have increased significantly, and I now have many returners — many of whom have become friends.

Each year I have achieved excellent reviews on Google Maps and TripAdvisor. I am very proud to have achieved 9.9 out of 10 on Booking.com every year, along with Travellers Choice awards on TripAdvisor and 5-star reviews on Google. Guests consistently love the peace and quiet, comfort, hospitality, attention to detail and excellent breakfasts.

I have been so happy running our B&B from this beautiful house and meeting so many interesting people — many of whom have become international friends. But it's now time to move on, as we want to live closer to some family in the South.

The House

The Old Kiln House is ideal for a B&B, offering great separation between guest and owner spaces. Guests have their own staircase to the 3 ensuite bedrooms at one end of the house, while we have our own entrance, lounge, staircase, private sleeping quarters and large bathroom at the other end. The walled garden is very private and quiet — guests often describe it as walking into a “secret garden and oasis.”

The Location

The Cotswolds is designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and has truly stunning villages, walks (like Shakespeare Way and the Cotswold Way), cycling routes and gardens such as Kiftsgate and Hidcote nearby.

Shipston-On-Stour is an excellent market town in the North Cotswolds, vibrant with community spirit and full of independent shops — a deli, greengrocer, fishmonger, butcher — as well as pubs and restaurants. It’s close to major attractions including Blenheim Palace, Daylesford Organic Farm, Batsford Arboretum, and Broadway Tower.

Nearby villages like Chipping Campden, Broadway, Stow-in-the-Wold, and Bourton-on-the-Water are postcard-pretty. Access to good restaurants is a key part of Karen’s training — and we’re lucky that Shipston delivers on that.

Restaurants within a 3-minute walk:

• The Bower House (Award winning)
• The Horseshoe (recently refurbished)
• The George Townhouse

Within a 10-minute drive:

• The Chandlers Arms (potential Michelin Star)
• The Royal Oak (One Michelin Star)
• The Fuzzy Duck
• The Red Lion

Travel Connections

Shipston is 20 minutes from Banbury, which has direct trains to Birmingham and London Marylebone (60 mins). Banbury is on junction 11 of the M40 — around 1.5 hours to London or Heathrow.

Moreton-in-Marsh (10 minutes away) connects to London Paddington (90 mins) and both northern and southern destinations. Oxford and Cheltenham are just 50 minutes’ drive. We often host guests visiting the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Interested in taking over?

We are selling this as a residential house, but the luxury B&B business can absolutely be continued.

For more information: 🔗 View the listing from Peter Clarke estate agents, call our agent Sally on 01608 260026, or speak to Bridget directly.

🔗 https://peterclarke.co.uk/property/west-street-shipston-on-stour-2/

Legal Disclaimer: The information provided in this blog post is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, or legal advice. Prospective buyers should conduct their own due diligence and consult with a qualified professional before making any investment decisions regarding the purchase of the guesthouse. Bed and Breakfast Academy makes no representations or warranties about the accuracy, completeness, or suitability of the information contained herein, and accepts no liability for any loss or damage arising from reliance on such information. All details are subject to change and availability without notice.