Thoughts on Tripadvisor awards, what makes a B&B truly successful, revisiting old favourites, and why rhubarb muffins are better than they sound

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How is it May already?! I’ve been loving the glorious weather and all the spring flowers starting to appear. We went for a walk by the river and had a pint on Tuesday — which felt a bit cheeky for a school night, but in this country, you’ve got to make the most of the sunshine while it lasts!

My Facebook and Instagram feeds have been full this week with lovely news from lots of past course attendees sharing their Tripadvisor awards — and I couldn’t be more pleased for them. Huge congratulations to everyone who has received one. It’s always great to see thoughtful hospitality and hard work being recognised.

But it also got me thinking…

Not every B&B owner wants awards — and not having one doesn’t mean you’re falling short. Whether you'd love to be on one of those “best of the best” lists one day, or you’re simply aiming for happy guests and a business that fits your life, this week’s blog post has something for you.

👉 How to Run a Successful B&B (Even Without Awards)

A look at what really matters when it comes to running a brilliant B&B — and how defining your ideal guest and staying true to your style can lead to happier guests, fewer complaints, and yes… even the occasional award.

📚 Reading

In this week’s blog post, I mention how rereading a favourite book doesn’t always go to plan.

Last week I ended up buying The Shell Seekers by Rosamunde Pilcher on Kindle — I read it years ago in book form, but that copy’s long gone. If I’d kept every book I’ve ever read, we wouldn’t be able to move in the house!

Anyway, I really enjoyed it. It’s funny revisiting a story set in a time with no mobile phones or internet — and where a woman in her early 60s is described as “old” and in need of a companion after a bit of a health scare…

📺 On TV

We’re still making our way through Michael Portillo’s latest series. The recent episodes have been based in Shropshire and the Black Country (where I’m originally from), so it’s been particularly interesting to watch.

And we’re very pleased to see Race Across the World back on our screens.

🥗 In the Kitchen

Our neighbour popped round with some rhubarb from his garden today. I didn’t have the heart to tell him we’ve already got two big plants of it ourselves — and we’re not actually that keen on rhubarb 😂

That said, there were two rhubarb recipes I really liked when I was running the B&B: rhubarb compote and rhubarb and orange muffins. Given I’m not a huge fan of it, I still really enjoy the muffins, especially with a cup of coffee in the morning.

These days I tend to use natural Greek yoghurt or kefir instead of buttermilk, since that’s what we usually have in the fridge.

Here’s the recipe for the muffins: Rhubarb and Orange Muffins

Wishing you a great weekend whatever your weather!

Karen

P.S. Thinking about running a B&B but not sure where to start? My First Steps Workshop will help you figure out if it’s right for you.

P.P.S. Ready to dive in and make your B&B dream a reality? My Complete Bed and Breakfast Course offers everything you need to set up, run, and market a successful B&B.

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