19th March 2015

We’re thrilled to welcome yet more new additions to the website…

Chale Bay Farm (above) is an award-winning, family-friendly, luxury guesthouse nestling in rolling fields in the south-west of the Isle of Wight. Located on the Isle of Wight’s Heritage Coast in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), it boasts panoramic sea views of the iconic Needles and the chalk cliffs of Tennyson Down. Set in 26 acres of countryside, Chale Bay Farm provides an idyllic and tranquil setting for your holiday, but is within easy reach of the rest of the island and its countless attractions. The guest bedrooms and suites are set around an attractive courtyard with an illuminated water garden in the centre. They each have their own front door and offer uninterrupted views out to the sea or of local beauty spots.

The charmingly pretty façade of Little Dane Court, which is located in the tree-lined market town of Tenterden, Kent, hides some intriguing secrets – it was once a smugglers’ house with a secret window in the roof. What’s more, behind the inglenook fireplace there’s a ‘priest hole’ used to hide priests during the religious upheavals of the 16th and 17th Centuries. With such a fascinating past, not to mention oodles of period charm and character, it’s a totally unique place to stay. Today Little Dane Court offers boutique bed and breakfast accommodation in a choice of four guest bedrooms and a self-contained suite of rooms in the garden. Home-cooked evening meals can be provided by prior arrangement.

Wallace’s Arthouse is a truly unique boutique B&B in Leith, which is less than two miles from Edinburgh, is almost as characterful as its charming owner Wallace Shaw. Following an illustrious career in the fashion industry, Wallace has created his very own ‘arthouse’ in Leith Assembly Rooms. The classic lines and imposing period features of the Grade A Listed building are the perfect backdrop for his eclectic collection of art and objets, many of which have been collected on his travels around the world. Wallace makes it his mission to allow his guests to immerse themselves in art and culture – he regularly hosts art exhibitions, music recitals and whisky tasting at the Arthouse. In the past, it has also been the venue for some of the smaller scale Edinburgh Fringe Festival events.

If you like your own space, you’ll simply love the luxurious, self-contained, five star-rated boutique boltholes that are Heald Country House Retreats. You get to stay in your own private, converted barn, where the master bedroom sits on a mezzanine above the spacious lounge with its plush sofas and wood burning stove. You also get your own dining area, surround sound entertainment system and a private outdoor area to enjoy when the weather is good. Guests can stay on a self-catering or bed and breakfast basis; a luxury breakfast hamper is delivered for you to enjoy at your leisure if you opt for the latter. Having joined forces with the Cheshire Spa of the Year, Heald Country House Retreats offers on-site beauty treatments and massages, which can be enjoyed in the privacy of your barn in front of a roaring fire. Activity breaks can also be arranged – from horse riding and cookery classes to craft workshops.

The Angel Inn in Hetton, North Yorkshire is widely credited with changing the face of pub grub; it began serving quality, meals made with freshly prepared, seasonal, locally-sourced ingredients in the days when most country pubs were still churning out chicken in a basket. You can dine in the relaxed Bar Brasserie or book a table in the slightly more formal Restaurant before retiring to the comfort of one of nine beautifully-appointed guest bedrooms. Wherever you choose to eat, you’re in for a gastronomic treat. Meat and game are sourced from the Yorkshire Dales and Lancashire, fresh fish comes from the East and West coasts, and legumes and soft fruit from local farms. It’s a great base for exploring the Yorkshire Dales, not to mention a memorable setting for family parties, weddings and corporate functions. The team pride themselves on their flexible, approach to meeting customers’ needs.

All Seasons may look like your quintessential seaside guest house from the outside but, inside, it’s a whole different story. This super stylish coastal retreat offers accommodation and breakfasts of an extremely high standard; it’s a world away from the old-school seaside B&Bs of our childhood. No wonder it has bagged a place in the 2015 Michelin Guide! Located in the quaint and unspoilt North Yorkshire seaside town of Filey, it’s just a five-minute walk from the beach. Nothing beats rock-pooling on Filey Brigg, but, if you do want to venture further afield, Scarborough, Whitby, the Yorkshire Wolds and the North York Moors National Park are all within easy reach.

Happy browsing!

Kirsten and Lucy

The Boutique and Breakfast team.