We get lots of people who stay with us on holiday at our B&B in Eryri | Snowdonia, North Wales, who are fascinated by the story of how we ended up running Crafnant House, and what we think about it!
We bought our home and moved to Trefriw in 2017 and have never looked back, despite a few ups and downs and challenges (COVID!) along the way - all part of the fun!
So here is our blog about what we consider to be the best things about owning and running a B&B in the UK, along with some top tips if you are dreaming about doing it.
If you’ve still got any questions feel free to get in touch, or why not come and stay with us and we’ll happily show you around and have a chat about what it is like to take the plunge and buy a bed and breakfast.
If you are thinking about it though our simple advice would be… do it!!!!
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Best things about running a B&B!
You get to meet people
It seems obvious, but opening a bed and breakfast means you get to meet all sorts of people, from potentially all over the world!
We find that everybody is fascinating and interesting and have their own stories to tell.
You never know who is going to walk through the door when you offer your home as a place to stay.
Whether it is a couple house hunting in Eryri | Snowdonia who subsequently moved to our village, or two friends coming to study ferns for a week (both true!) - the variety is amazing.
And you get to learn so much - about peoples lives, cultures, hobbies and interests. We say it all the time, but every day is different and every person is fascinating in their own way.
We got chatting one day with a couple staying at our B&B and asked what they did.
They replied: “an interior designer and a chef”!
No pressure then!!!
You get to meet people from all over the world when you open a B&B!
2. Sharing your beautiful home
For many guests one attraction of staying in a B&B is that they will get to see and enjoy somebody else’s home and maybe discover somewhere a bit different to generic, chain hotel accommodation, whilst of course experiencing great hospitality.
We fell in love with our Victorian property, Crafnant House, and our village, Trefriw, when we visited the first time.
Now, having spent the last few years decorating it in what we hope (!) is an interesting and boutique style, we get to share her with our guests.
From our experience many people choose a place to stay wanting interesting design, decor and features - both old and new - so why not stand out from the crowd a bit!
When people leave a review praising their stay and especially how the house looks it really is satisfying.
We fell in love with Crafnant House the first time we saw ‘her’!
3. Showcasing the wonderful area you live in
Most people thinking about opening a B&B will probably plan to do it in an area or region of the UK that already attracts tourists and visitors.
First rule of owning a B&B: you need customers!
We are lucky to live in beautiful North Wales which has always been famous for the dramatic scenery of Eryri | Snowdonia and the stunning beaches and coastline, and ‘showing off’ these wonderful places to visit is fantastic.
Many guests will already have an idea of what they want to see and do on their holiday, but others will welcome help and advice.
This is really where the benefit of getting more personal and friendly service in a B&B comes to the fore!
We love exploring the region ourselves and it is great that we can pass on up-to-date local knowledge to our guests, ensuring they get the best holiday possible when they stay with us.
Walking up Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) is a popular activity near our B&B in North Wales
4. Preparing delicious breakfasts for guests
Of course along with a comfy bed guests stay at a bed and breakfast to get - yes you guessed it - a good breakfast!
If you enjoy cooking then preparing enjoyable and interesting food in the morning is a great way of showing off any culinary skills that you have.
Guests really appreciate well cooked, tasty dishes - we offer a traditional cooked breakfast along with a daily special such as pancakes or waffles.
It is also a superb chance to showcase the fantastic produce that a region offers.
In North Wales we are lucky to have Welsh suppliers and producers offering the best quality ingredients for us to use at breakfast time.
Guests who appreciate good food and provenance certainly notice the difference!
Welsh cheddar omelette with roasted Welsh potatoes - using Welsh eggs!
5. Being your own boss
Traditionally there was a perception that owning a bed and breakfast was something you did “later on in your life” or even when you retire.
We didn't wait though and gave up our careers in London and moved to Wales to start a new life and have our own ‘business’.
There is no reason why owning a B&B cannot be a rewarding and satisfying way to make a living, especially as ‘staycations’ are increasingly popular with people looking for great places to stay up and down the UK.
And most importantly… you are your own boss! You decide on when to open and close, what to offer your guests and so on.
There will be ups and downs like in any ‘job’ but the satisfaction of guests leaving having had a great holiday is pretty hard to beat.
What are you waiting for!!!!
The visitors book at our B&B has some lovely comments from guests in it!
If you’ve got any questions about running a bed and breakfast please get in touch with us and we’ll gladly try to answer them!
Or again, why not come and stay with us and we’ll happily have a chat over a cup of tea… or a pint in the pub next door!
Crafnant House is our bed and breakfast in the village of Trefriw, Eryri | Snowdonia, in North Wales.
Our B&B has five guest bedrooms decorated in a modern style.
A delicious breakfast is served each morning in our dining room.
We look forward to welcoming you to Wales soon!
Are you planning your holiday in Eryri | Snowdonia and North Wales and looking for the best accommodation and places to stay and visit?
In 2025 our beautiful region will again be high on the list of destinations for short weekend breaks and longer holidays!
The stunning landscapes, diverse scenery, historical sights and amazing variety of unique adventure activities draw people to Eryri | Snowdonia and North Wales from all over the UK, Europe and increasingly the rest of the world.
There is a wide variety of unique and interesting accommodation to choose from too - including Crafnant House, our boutique B&B near Betws-y-Coed!