eviivo Awards 2019
Outstanding Host Award
2019 Winners
Gilian & John from Bradle Farmhouse
Wareham, Dorset
About the Property
From ironing shirts for a nervous groom and best man, to giving lifts and changing the wheel when guests had a puncture, Gillian knows how to rise to the occasion for her guests. She is a welcoming, helpful and inclusive host, often showing guests around the farm to meet the animals and help with feeding – one guest even delivered a lamb!
The Judges Said
“The hosts of this property know how to rise to the occasion – whether it’s helping guests in a jam or lending a hand last minute, these hosts are real life guardian angels.
Welcoming, helpful and inclusive, they know what guests want from a stay. They even go the extra mile by showing guests around the farm and let them get involved with feeding time.
The judges especially liked the kind and caring nature of these hosts, and how memorable they are to their guests.”
Shortlisted Properties
Amanda, Ranscombe Manor & Cottage
Kingsbridge, Devon
Amanda wants guests to make themselves at home. If guests are visiting friends or family in the area, She invites them all to the Manor to socialise together. She shares her local knowledge, books tables for guests and will even run them back to their car the next morning if they’ve taxied back! She’s great with children, always offering games and playtime ideas.
Graham & Karen, Ashbury B&B
Malvern, Worcestershire
For Graham and Karen, the best bit of the job is making friends for life. By treating guests with warmth and kindness and providing a personal experience, both the hosts and guests get more out of the stay. Like the time they put up birthday banners on the patio for a guest’s birthday tea party and then were invited to join in the celebration.
Hannah, Dairy Barns
Hickling, Norfolk
All guests at Dairy Barns have host Hannah to help them make the most of their stay in Norfolk. She helps them plan days out, gives lifts to the local pub if there are no taxis and works around guests’ check-in requirements whenever she can. She even came to the rescue when a couple staying with her crashed their car in a ditch – what a hero!
Michelle, The Heidi B&B
Southport, Merseyside
This host treats her guests as part of one big family, looking after them, baking them cakes, calling taxis and even taking pictures of her guests’ stays and framing the photos as a thoughtful leaving present. Michelle also takes her elderly guests to bingo if they are not able to go by themselves, which they always appreciate, especially if they get to shout out ‘bingo’!.
Tracey, All Seasons B&B
Portrush, County Antrim
Tracey always endeavours to go the extra mile for her guests, sometimes literally, when giving guests lifts to town. She’s often found baking a cake for guests’ birthdays or anniversaries, or having guests for afternoon tea as a treat from her. She willingly does laundry and ironing, and even provides homemade cuddly knitted toys for children.
Ian & Casie, South Park Farm Barn
Ludgershall, Wiltshire
Foreign guests in particular love Casie’s encyclopaedic knowledge of tourism attractions and places of interest across southern England. Ian speaks French and German allowing him to help them fill in their travel plans. Many guests are interested in sustainability and Ian’s commitment to this, backed up by a Green Tourism award, reassures and inspires.
Julia, Cwtch Farm
Rhiwfawr, Neath Port Talbot
Julia is very attentive to her guests, and always enquires about dietary requirements so that everyone is catered for, providing chocolates and homemade brownies, or vegan treats and gluten free gifts so that every guest has the same treatment. She will always go and pick wild flowers from the garden and put them in the rooms to brighten up the place.
St Clair & Jan, The Chimes B&B
Wansford, Cambridgeshire
This hosting team always offers to return guests’ property left behind, free of charge. They once returned a set of false teeth found in a bed to an elderly guest from Germany! The Armitages also provide homemade cookies in every room and help however they can – even polishing a vintage Rolls Royce for a guest attending the owners rally!
Gary, Hazelbank Country House
Keswick, Cumbria
Nothing is too much trouble for host Gary; as he says to his guests – he works around them, not the other way around. He welcomes them with afternoon tea on arrival, and provides complimentary chocolates, sherry and homemade shortbread. Being welcoming is key, Gary believes, to enriching guests’ stays at Hazel Bank and making their visits memorable.
We’re proud that so many of the properties we work with leave their guests wanting more. One reason guests so often wish they could B&B another day is the superior service they receive. Research shows that when it comes to reviews, properties in the independent sector significantly outscore the chain hotels in this area. The Outstanding Host Award is designed to recognise the owners or managers who go not just the extra mile, but act like the world is not enough for their guests.
Outstanding Host Award judging criteria
- The winning host will go the extra mile for their guests.
- Hosts may offer extra services to their guests.
- Judges will take into account the reviews published on the host’s website, TripAdvisor and Online Travel Agent websites for evidence of outstanding service.
Meet the expert helping judge this category
Miranda Martin
Portfolio Director at Independent Hotel Show
Rosemary endeared herself to the nation when she took part in I’m a Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here, where she proved she could cook just about anything, anywhere! She regularly appears on popular television series The Real Marigold Hotel and Marigold on Tour and was a much-loved judge on The Big Family Cooking Showdown.