A BED and breakfast run by the same Forest family for nearly 30 years and a youth hostel based at an 800-year-old castle have been named among the best places to stay in the country.
Christine and Nigel Preest of Deanfield B&B in Parkend scooped the VisitEngland ROSE award, sharing the honour given to only 100 accomodation providers nationwide with fellow Wyedean destination St Briavels Castle YHA.
The couple travelled all the way to Luton last week to be presented with the Recognition of Service Excellence ROSE) award 2019 after 27 years running the B&B, which they bought as a family home in 1986.
The awards recognise accommodation providers across England who provide “outstanding” customer service for guests.
And Christine, whose six en-suite bedroom B&B near the Woodman Inn also boasts a Visit England Breakfast Award, said: “It’s fantastic news, as the award covers all sorts of accommodation, from hotels to B&Bs and glamping sites.
“We’ve got a five-star Trip Adviser rating, and the Visit England quality scheme assessor was suitably impressed to put us forward for the prestigious award.
“We’re delighted, it’s an incredible feeling. We travelled to the Luton Hoo Hotel and Spa with all the other winning businesses from across England and the ceremony was amazing.
“What we strive for is to make people’s experience so good in the Forest that they want to keep coming back,” added Christine, who runs the B&B in the former quarry-master’s house with husband Nigel and the support of daughter Nikki.
“All of us in the Forest are in it together, trying to give great customer service so people want to return to this fantastic area.
“We love our guests and are so proud to live in the Forest of Dean. ”
Making the presentations on Tuesday, October 22, VisitEngland director Andrew
Stokes said: “The ROSE Awards highlights those businesses who go above and beyond for their customers, providing the highest levels of customer service and ensuring repeat business, driving visitor growth and boosting local economies.”
You can also live like a king at fellow ROSE winner St Briavels Castle YHA, where King John built a hunting lodge in the early 1200s.
The hostel set in the Wye Valley AONB describes itself as a venue with magical charm and a “real wow factor”, set amid the 800-year-old Grade I-listed castle.