It's always been my dream to start up a Guest House near the sea; to meet all different sorts of people; do some home baking; and generally be the hostess with the mostess!
I am very lucky in that my dream is coming true...
Some background on me... I left school at 18 after completing my A Levels, and shortly married by husband of 5 years after that. I started off working in a Motor Garage as a sales assistant in Plymouth, and moved on to some Team Leading for the Local Authority and later into Brokerage.
I enjoyed the orgnansiational feel of being in an office and definately the commradery of my team mates, but I just always wanted to be my own boss, and do my own thing.
It was one of those strange evenings, where my husband and I were sat around chatting with my Parents; my Dad was unhappy in his work, and we just suddenly thought, 'why don't we just go for it'?!!
So we did!!
It has been an incredibly long journey. We had three houses to sell between us, which were on the market for over a year, and then suddenly the housing market picked up again and our houses toppled like domino's.
We had looked around at all sorts of Bed and Breakfasts in and around Looe, and fell in Love a couple of times. Unfortunately one was out of our price range; and then one of us stumbled accross a property just outside of Looe, a beatiful Country house. This was completely different to what we had been looking at; unlike Looe Harbour it had ample parking, garden space and just general space, which so many of Looe's properties just didn't have because of the area.
Unfortunately the sale fell through, it was a huge diaappoiintment to us, as it is hard for four people all to like somewhere so much. We also got told of the sale falling through the day my husband and I were moving, so it was understandably very stressful!
Our house sold and we moved in with Mum and Dad for a month. We were all feeling quite low, wondering if we were all going to be homeless with just four weeks until my parents completed on their sale. But we picked ourselves up and went looking again.
The previous house falling through had really done us a favour though. We realised what we really wanted and what was important to us: space for all of us, parking, no hassle of traffic and garden space as we all love the outdoors. The realisation of this taught us we didn't have to buy a property right on the harbour; so we came to look at Dovers House, just 1.7 miles outside of Looe.
As soon as we drove up to it we knew it was home; ample space, bright and airy and an excellant location to escape the hustle and bustle of Looe in the Summer.
We put an offer in, which was accepted and then we were at the mercy of the bank, solicitors and all the other people that needed to get involved. We were so close, yet felt so far, as in total it took nearly three months for the sale to go through, and we were living in a very cramped holiday let during the winter storms.
That all seems like a distant memory though!! We are now moved in; we started re-decorating two days after getting here to prepare for the Season. An oh how we all love it!!
Not only do we have our own space but we really couldn't of chosen a lovelier part of Cornwall. The people are all lovely and it is such a stunning area of natural beauty, with Coastal walks and beaches right on our doorstep.
Dad and I are running the business, and absolutely loving it. We have had some trial runs and some 'real' guests and they have all been a success. Its great putting out own stamp on the business and introducing our personal touches.
We are hoping for a good season, though there is still a lot of work ahead to get started on.
Will keep you posted on our progress :)
www.dovershouse.co.uk
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