Our next Small Business Saturday spotlight blog is with Catherine Evans who runs the lovely Broome Park Farm Bed & Breakfast near Cleobury Mortimer.
How long have you been running your Bed & Breakfast?
This is my 12th season as a B&B landlady!
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What made you decide to open your small business here in Shropshire?
Shropshire is my home county and after several different careers I was looking for something I could do from home and fortunately the house lends itself to welcoming guests. I love sharing our beautiful area with others (and baking! If I didn’t have guests to bake for I would be the size of a house!)Â
Describe Broome Park Farm B&B for us?
Broome Park Farm is a working farm but the B&B is separate from the muck and grime of the business side, offering our guests the best of both worlds – a peaceful location in open countryside but beautiful rooms and all the home comforts expected in the 21st century.
What are the challenges in running a small hospitality business?
The biggest challenges are also those which make our County so special – the fact that no one knows where we are! Also, having only 2 rooms I don’t need to employ anyone most of the time but finding casual help in busy times or at times of crisis is particularly challenging.
With all that you have achieved so far in your business, what are you most proud of?
I am very proud of all the amazing reviews I have, returning guests are a testament to the warm welcome we offer. I am also evangelical about educating people in where their food comes from, our strap line is ‘a taste of the good life’ and hopefully we offer this with much of our food coming from the farm.
What advice would you give to someone thinking about starting up their own Bed & Breakfast?
Buy the best quality you can, guests have high expectations these days.
What are your plans for your Broome Park Farm B&B in the future?
More of the same- a warm welcome, excellent food and good local knowledge.
What do you enjoy most about running your own business?
I love meeting so many different people, especially those that take a genuine interest in our farming life and want to learn more about the farm. Oh, and the baking!
Interview by Louise Welsby by Buy-From Shropshire
