[hoppyuppy]

Originally Posted by Louise-ann

From the first episode this week I'm liking the southerners.

I don't like Blackpool, I had a few holidays there as a kid and at that age, it's great. Now I'm in my 20s it's not one of the places I'd want to be.

Have a few days in Lytham or St Annes and take the time for a day in Blackpool, it is not what it was, even as little as 3 years ago. I have no particular loyalty to the place but out of high season, it does have its good points.

[Normandie]

Originally Posted by anyonefortennis

Agreed. B&B's should cost no more than £50/ £60 a night. That's what's supposed to distinguish them from hotels afterall. And the whole meaning of the name. A lot of these places are ridiculously priced for so called B&B's.

BIB: no it's not.

I think your view of b&bs is outdated. The world evolves and while there are obviously plenty of b&bs that meet the "old" style of guesthouse (the Cleethorpes one - Amber House being an obvious recent example) there are plenty that have moved on to deliver what their guests now want and expect... and the cost associated with that is higher, often much higher, than fifty quid a night.

Ten - twenty years ago, an ensuite loo and bath or shower room was probably not the norm... guests expectations have changed and now (as we've seen from comments on this forum) private ensuites are a requirement.

I don't see how one can legislate that a b&b should cost no more than X price. Or even why you'd want to. People earn different salaries. There's no reason why someone on £15,000 a year shouldn't book a b&b commensurate with that income; equally, if someone on £75,000 a year wants a b&b, they may be entirely happy to pay considerably more for the same personal touches that a small b&b can provide and a more impersonal hotel cannot.

A b&b is usually a few rooms in a house. There's no reason why those few rooms should not be in an amazing house in a glorious location for which one pays the appropriate price. Last week's Ashculme is a good example because at the moment they only have two rooms operational with a third on the way.

[anyonefortennis]

Originally Posted by Normandie

BIB: no it's not.

I think your view of b&bs is outdated. The world evolves and while there are obviously plenty of b&bs that meet the "old" style of guesthouse (the Cleethorpes one - Amber House being an obvious recent example) there are plenty that have moved on to deliver what their guests now want and expect... and the cost associated with that is higher, often much higher, than fifty quid a night.

Ten - twenty years ago, an ensuite loo and bath or shower room was probably not the norm... guests expectations have changed and now (as we've seen from comments on this forum) private ensuites are a requirement.

I don't see how one can legislate that a b&b should cost no more than X price. Or even why you'd want to. People earn different salaries. There's no reason why someone on £15,000 a year shouldn't book a b&b commensurate with that income; equally, if someone on £75,000 a year wants a b&b, they may be entirely happy to pay considerably more for the same personal touches that a small b&b can provide and a more impersonal hotel cannot.

A b&b is usually a few rooms in a house. There's no reason why those few rooms should not be in an amazing house in a glorious location for which one pays the appropriate price. Last week's Ashculme is a good example because at the moment they only have two rooms operational with a third on the way.

A persons salary has nothing to do with the cost of a B&B. Of course standards have evolved over the years and improved (in some cases), but you're still staying in someone's house most of the time. Have no room service or other services a hotel gives. Plus you don't have the relative freedom a hotel offers. So the extortionate prices some of these places charge is unjustified. And it's still just bed and breakfast at the end of the day people are looking for at a reasonable price. That's the whole idea of a B&B. If they want more, they would stay at a hotel.

[hoppyuppy]

Originally Posted by Normandie

BIB: no it's not.

I think your view of b&bs is outdated. The world evolves and while there are obviously plenty of b&bs that meet the "old" style of guesthouse (the Cleethorpes one - Amber House being an obvious recent example) there are plenty that have moved on to deliver what their guests now want and expect... and the cost associated with that is higher, often much higher, than fifty quid a night.

Ten - twenty years ago, an ensuite loo and bath or shower room was probably not the norm... guests expectations have changed and now (as we've seen from comments on this forum) private ensuites are a requirement.

I don't see how one can legislate that a b&b should cost no more than X price. Or even why you'd want to. People earn different salaries. There's no reason why someone on £15,000 a year shouldn't book a b&b commensurate with that income; equally, if someone on £75,000 a year wants a b&b, they may be entirely happy to pay considerably more for the same personal touches that a small b&b can provide and a more impersonal hotel cannot.

A b&b is usually a few rooms in a house. There's no reason why those few rooms should not be in an amazing house in a glorious location for which one pays the appropriate price. Last week's Ashculme is a good example because at the moment they only have two rooms operational with a third on the way.

I totally agree, it is all to do with disposable income and the desireability of a destination. If I want 3 days away, it will be a B+B with a good reputation and it is now possible to know beforehand that you can expect reasonably good hosts. I tend not to pay more than £100 per night for a couple because it isn't necessary, I have had excellent for less than £60.

If we go for a week it would be self catering, last week in Lytham we paid £450 and it was worth every penny, the lady that ran it actually e-mailed to ask if we had really stayed there!

Once it gets to about £150 per room per night, I think people want to chuck money away but it is all relative.

[Normandie]

Originally Posted by anyonefortennis

A persons salary has nothing to do with the cost of a B&B.

Yes it does because it is an indicator of standard of living and disposible income.

Originally Posted by anyonefortennis

Of course standards have evolved over the years and improved (in some cases), but you're still staying in someone's house most of the time.

And that may be at Amber House in Cleethorpes or it might be in a listed building in several acres of gardens with big guest rooms, bathrooms you can have a party in, a heated indoor swimming pool, a tennis court and champagne with brekkie. Who books what sort of b&b is down personal preference and choice. And money.

Originally Posted by anyonefortennis

Have no room service or other services a hotel gives. Plus you don't have the relative freedom a hotel offers.

Again, dependent on the style of property and what the owner chooses to provide within the price, that is not the case. As for "relative freedom" what freedoms do you think a b&b does not (as a matter of course) offer that a hotel does? Apart from anonymity which is often what does not appeal to someone choosing a b&b.

Originally Posted by anyonefortennis

So the extortionate prices some of these places charge is unjustified.

No, because if you want what the property offers you pay for what the property offers.

Originally Posted by anyonefortennis

And it's still just bed and breakfast at the end of the day people are looking for at a reasonable price. That's the whole idea of a B&B. If they want more, they would stay at a hotel.

No, they may be looking for what suits them and that may not be a hotel with room service and lots of other guests.

The difficulty I have with your points above is, frankly, that they seem extremely limited / limiting. If someone has a wonderful home in a beautiful location, they should not operate a b&b? Guests have different preferences. The people that will be happy with Amber House are not necessarily the same people that would choose any of the more expensive, small b&bs featured over the series. And vice versa. Why would anyone suggest expensive b&bs should not exist in perfect harmony with cheap and cheerful properties... in general they serve different market segments.

[jamtamara]

Originally Posted by Normandie

I think George is a bit of a WUM...


I have my own Four in a Bed on tv at the moment - pretty much identical format but instead of a crappy plaque at the end of the week, the winner picks up 3000€. Seems a much better idea.

It's on for longer - about 50 minutes but there are ads - and you get to see far more of the countryside. There were two local activities - quad biking and a visit to a goat farm with goat milking for dummies as the pastime. Tonights episode was in south-western France so there was much more sun. Which was nice.


Back to 4iaB Grande-Bretagne... they are playing on the north / south divide bit... Tonight's b&b was good value - but the fancy curtains did seem a bit grand and out of place. Not that I'd care if the place was clean and comfy.

Sounds as if the 4IAB Grande-Bretagne crew could take note. Wonder if some of the contestants will cheat to win as they seem to be doing here.

[keniki]

Originally Posted by BirthdayGirl

George looks like a rounder Ronnie Corbett!!

i thought that a well

[ewoodie]

Originally Posted by stefthepest

That bloke who mentioned game plan looked quite frightening with his dark eye makeup. Have never found clowns to be funny. Why do they have to hide under all that makeup?

Why do they have to stereotype the south and north divide! Do we not just take people at face value?

I thought the same! He looked seriously scary.

Re: The North / South divide - is there one? It could be could be an interesting debate.

[nick202]

Originally Posted by Louise-ann

From the first episode this week I'm liking the southerners.

I don't like Blackpool, I had a few holidays there as a kid and at that age, it's great. Now I'm in my 20s it's not one of the places I'd want to be.

I have to say Blackpool has never appealed to me as a place to visit and I say that as someone who's all for holidaying in Britain. I think subconsciously having spent much of my childhood living near Torquay, I have an inbuilt aversion to these large resorts. That said, I've always been keen to visit Brighton, which is a bit of a 'cut above' the normal seaside fare.

[gilliedew]

Originally Posted by ewoodie

I thought the same! He looked seriously scary.

Re: The North / South divide - is there one? It could be could be an interesting debate.

As we live in the East of England, all this North/South divide seems meaningless to us, didnt the Olympics show what a united country we are?

[jarreth68]

*Cough cough* erm, excuse me - mind if I sidle in for a bit? It's ok, I'll stand in the corner quietly. It's just that I seem to have got very, very lost...

Having gone into mourning after the last Coach Trip I sort of abandoned DS for a bit and never realised this thread was here and that most of the nice people from that thread watched fiab and that they would be here on the thread that I didn't know about, not that I posted much on the other thread cos it got a bit shouty sometimes... And anyway, awfully embarrassed at the interruption....

But, for what it's worth I really don't like the north/south thing this week, nor the inverse snobbery that seems to be kicking off re bridge & tennis matches. For a start there's no one northern on this week... It would take me 2/3 hours to drive south to their places

Anyway, I'll just go back to my corner - will there be a buffet at any point?

[SolarSail]

We've lived in the south east, London, the south Wales/England borders, the middle and the north west. Not found any difference - we've found really pleasant, funny and helpful people all over.

As regards what makes a B&B I'd say it's scale/the personal element and not price that determines. I'd pay more for a good B&B than for a cheap hotel, but it's whatever fits your brief really isn't it.
I enjoy the experience of going out to a restaurant in the evening rather than a hotel affair, but equally have enjoyed a meal at our host's kitchen table, which has been very reasonable money for exceptional quality.

PS Jarreth have just seen you there, now don't be shy, if the buffet's run out, someone will always run out for a bag of chips - what do you like to go with?
Never mind, tell me tomorrow, as I'm just about to turn in.
Nice that you found us though, even if it is a bit late in the series

[jarreth68]

Originally Posted by SolarSail

We've lived in the south east, London, the south Wales/England borders, the middle and the north west. Not found any difference - we've found really pleasant, funny and helpful people all over.

As regards what makes a B&B I'd say it's scale/the personal element and not price that determines. I'd pay more for a good B&B than for a cheap hotel, but it's whatever fits your brief really isn't it.
I enjoy the experience of going out to a restaurant in the evening rather than a hotel affair, but equally have enjoyed a meal at our host's kitchen table, which has been very reasonable money for exceptional quality.

PS Jarreth have just seen you there, now don't be shy, if the buffet's run out, someone will always run out for a bag of chips - what do you like to go with?
Never mind, tell me tomorrow, as I'm just about to turn in.
Nice that you found us though, even if it is a bit late in the series

It's ok ta - there's some greenish crisps left over in the bottom of the bowl, And I can soon fish the fag end out of this flat perry

I didn't even know this series of fiab had started! Had to catch up on it all with 4od

Never mind, think ill turn in meself - those crisps are lying funny...

[Ten_Ben]

Originally Posted by ewoodie

Re: The North / South divide - is there one? It could be could be an interesting debate.

This north/south divide..... probably has a gate in it somewhere

[riverside 57]

I thought tonight's B&B was lovely for where it was! If I was going to Blackpool I would love to stay here, the rooms were lovely, and very clean, and the breakfast looked great!

People moaning about not having a more elaborate choice for breakfast while only being charged £50 per night for two people are just plain nit pickers! I think this place was excellent value for money!

[Ethelene]

Originally Posted by daisydee

But do you think they would normally put out a big bowl of prepared fresh fruit for breakfast? I sometimes think that there is a false representation of these B&Bs by the owners - putting on a show for the viewers. If anyone on here ever visits any of the B&Bs we've seen - please report back!

I was thinking that exact thing. I've never come across such a luxury in a £50 B&B.

[theid]

Originally Posted by Shrike

So this weeks theme is "Chippy Northerners Vs Posho Southerners"
Shame the Yorkshire pair didn't get the memo as they seemed to mark the boys down the most (or maybe Yorkshire Vs Lancashire trumps N vs S?)

And oh the irony of Mrs. Yorkshire wearing a sweatshirt proudly proclaiming "I love London"!

[anyonefortennis]

Originally Posted by Normandie

Yes it does because it is an indicator of standard of living and disposible income.

And that may be at Amber House in Cleethorpes or it might be in a listed building in several acres of gardens with big guest rooms, bathrooms you can have a party in, a heated indoor swimming pool, a tennis court and champagne with brekkie. Who books what sort of b&b is down personal preference and choice. And money.

Again, dependent on the style of property and what the owner chooses to provide within the price, that is not the case. As for "relative freedom" what freedoms do you think a b&b does not (as a matter of course) offer that a hotel does? Apart from anonymity which is often what does not appeal to someone choosing a b&b.

No, because if you want what the property offers you pay for what the property offers.

No, they may be looking for what suits them and that may not be a hotel with room service and lots of other guests.

The difficulty I have with your points above is, frankly, that they seem extremely limited / limiting. If someone has a wonderful home in a beautiful location, they should not operate a b&b? Guests have different preferences. The people that will be happy with Amber House are not necessarily the same people that would choose any of the more expensive, small b&bs featured over the series. And vice versa. Why would anyone suggest expensive b&bs should not exist in perfect harmony with cheap and cheerful properties... in general they serve different market segments.

If someone opens a B&B in a period property with a beautiful location usually indicates they are doing so out of necessity to pay their mortgage or to pay for the upkeep of their enormous homes. It's not out of choice by the comments they make. So why should guests have to fork out £150 to £200 a night just to help these people to keep their homes.

[mouthalmighty]

Rutland Terrace only has two rooms. How are they going to accommodate everyone?

[Ondine]

Originally Posted by anyonefortennis

If someone opens a B&B in a period property with a beautiful location usually indicates they are doing so out of necessity to pay their mortgage or to pay for the upkeep of their enormous homes. It's not out of choice by the comments they make. So why should guests have to fork out £150 to £200 a night just to help these people to keep their homes.

People work for money, to earn a living and to pay their way. No-one runs a b&b just for fun. If they did, b&bs would be free. If you don't want to pay £150 to £200 for what they offer then go somewhere else that's more in your price range.

[Shrike]

Originally Posted by mouthalmighty

Rutland Terrace only has two rooms. How are they going to accommodate everyone?

Literally four in a bed?

[Firespire]

Originally Posted by daisydee

But do you think they would normally put out a big bowl of prepared fresh fruit for breakfast? I sometimes think that there is a false representation of these B&Bs by the owners - putting on a show for the viewers. If anyone on here ever visits any of the B&Bs we've seen - please report back!

On Tripadvisor there are photos of Breakfast at Cherry Tree House Hotel, there is certainly Pineapple and some fruits available and something in the bowl above ice.

http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel_R...e_England.html

[SolarSail]

Originally Posted by anyonefortennis

...So why should guests have to fork out £150 to £200 a night just to help these people to keep their homes.

I don't really understand your reasoning
People either set their rate to reflect what they're offering in terms of location, quality and service etc. or, if they set their rate far too high and don't stay in business long.
But people don't pay to keep the owner's home, they pay for what they get in return.

Originally Posted by Shrike

Literally four in a bed?

Boom Boom.

[jamtamara]

People pay out money for the service they are getting. It is not to 'subsidise' the owners. Just as we receive wages or salaries for work, the money we receive is not given for that reason.

There is a regulatory system of stars and other measures so this would logically suggest that there are different standards of accommodation.

[Lizaj]

Originally Posted by jarreth68

*Cough cough* erm, excuse me - mind if I sidle in for a bit? It's ok, I'll stand in the corner quietly. It's just that I seem to have got very, very lost...

Having gone into mourning after the last Coach Trip I sort of abandoned DS for a bit and never realised this thread was here and that most of the nice people from that thread watched fiab and that they would be here on the thread that I didn't know about, not that I posted much on the other thread cos it got a bit shouty sometimes... And anyway, awfully embarrassed at the interruption....

But, for what it's worth I really don't like the north/south thing this week, nor the inverse snobbery that seems to be kicking off re bridge & tennis matches. For a start there's no one northern on this week... It would take me 2/3 hours to drive south to their places

Anyway, I'll just go back to my corner - will there be a buffet at any point?

jarreth68..do you mind if I ask the origin of your name. I just my "j" is jarrett and you don't meet that many of us..not oop here anyway.( I only taught one family with the same surname in 30 years of teaching).......the father in law being one of those pesky southerners...