Celebrating our first year in The Old Bakehouse - by Steve and Fiona Warren

So we made it to the end of our first year in business running The Old Bakehouse. What did we learn? Well, quite a lot actually!

As newbies to the world of hospitality, we were as daunted as we were excited by the idea of running a guest house in this gorgeous part of the West Country. Leaving behind our small family terrace home and busy office jobs in London, the move to historic Colyton on the edge of the stunning Jurassic Coast was always going to involve a learning curve as steep as the Devon hills surrounding us!

But in the last 12 months we have had a fantastic time - and appreciated a few important lessons - adapting to a new life in the country and building a hospitality business we hope will continue to thrive in 2024. Aside from the upheaval of moving in, followed by several months of renovations, redecorating and refurbishments, these are the things we’ve learned and loved about life in Colyton and running a guest house.

Working 24/7

As anyone who’s ever watched Disney’s restaurant drama The Bear will know, running any kind of hospitality business means you’re likely to be working all day, all week, especially during the summer season. A regular flow of visitors means saying goodbye to weekends off, so it was important to snatch the odd hour at the beach during rare downtimes between guests departing and new ones arriving (more on those gorgeous beaches later).

Full English Breakfast

Making the perfect full English breakfast is harder than you think, especially when you need to make up to eight in one go every morning. Timing is everything, but the secret is making sure you source as much delicious local produce as possible. So it’s a big thanks to Anton’s Butchers of Colyton for the bacon and sausages and nearby Far Strete Farm for supplying such scrumptious eggs.

Keeping it clean

A deep appreciation of health and safety and an important understanding of the science of hygiene are crucial to making guests feel comfortable and confident during their stay. So we were thrilled when the Food Standards Agency awarded us a ‘five’, the highest rating for health and hygiene.

The art of changing a room

This is a crucial one. Cleaning bedrooms and en-suite bathrooms after guests leave so they can be ready for new customers. And it’s a tough job if you want to be as thorough and efficient as possible. It’s an important part of the daily routine and one where teamwork makes the dream work (as they used to say in my old marketing job).

Wonderful guests

We’ve really enjoyed meeting and hosting our guests. It’s probably the best part of the job and it’s fair to say we’ve met some wonderful people this year who really appreciate the effort we put in. Customers have visited from all across the UK, Europe, the US and Australia, and left some glowing reviews too. We love learning about other lives and cultures as well as giving out tips on the best places to visit and things to do in the area.

Learning about the rich tapestry of life in Colyton

There’s so much to see and do in Colyton, with some top quality annual events, including the colourful town Carnival, annual tractor procession and Christmas Fair. There’s also a range of marvellous pubs and restaurants in the town and nearby villages. Colyton is also of hugely important historical significance, known as Devon’s rebel town for its role in the Monmouth Rebellion. Every summer, heraldic banners are displayed on buildings signifying famous residents past and present.

And most of all the fantastic beaches…

No visit to The Old Bakehouse would be complete without a visit to the stunning beaches just a short ride away. These include Seaton, which can be reached by tram from Colyton, as well as Branscombe, Beer and nearby Lyme Regis in Dorset. Swimming is great, not just in summer but for some hardy souls a year-round activity.

If you want to book a break at The Old Bakehouse, check out the ‘Book Your Stay’ section of this website for availability and best prices. We look forward to seeing you!

2023 in pictures. Some of the sights and sounds of life in Colyton!