Northamptonshire B&B among best in world

A BED and breakfast in Northamptonshire has been named among the top ten best guest houses in the world, according to TripAdvisor’s 2017 Traveller’s Choice awards – which was dominated by English properties.

The humble English guest house triumphed over its international counterparts, claiming five of the world’s best ten B&Bs, of which family-run Swallows Rest was one.

Visit England said: “This continues the upward trend we’ve seen in recent years demonstrating that our tourism, accommodation and service is not only exceeding customer expectations but up there competing with the world’s very best.”

Rated above popular B&Bs in Italy and Czech Republic, the Brigstock-based bed and breakfast ranked 5th in the world having received an abundance of positive TripAdvisor reviews, which largely described it as an exceptional B&B in a lovely location.

Owner, Sam Read said: “It’s incredible really for a little, small three bedroom B&B to be fifth in the top ten in the world! I think people love what we do and appreciate the little touches really.”

From fresh flowers in the bedrooms, to fresh milk and homemade cookies, the guest house clearly goes the extra mile to make its customers feel welcome.

“It’s also about getting the basics right like a really comfortable bed, blackout curtains, high standards of cleanliness, delicious breakfasts. We love people to feel like they’re really home away from home.”

As well as backing onto Brigstock vineyards and being surrounded by fields, the small B&B – which is an extension of Sam’s family house – shares its own private garden with its guests.

“We’re located in a very accessible area, lots of people stopping off, lots of business people coming into Corby and Kettering, people visiting family and friends all sorts of leisure people visiting Northamptonshire because it’s such a pretty county – I don’t think until we opened a B&B we realised how lovely it is,” she added.