What would you do if you were building your B&B from scratch?

[Fiona_Cairns]

Hi
We're building a house with 4 B&B rooms next year. What do you wish your b&b had, or what couldn't you live without?

For example, friends who run a b&b advised us to make sure we have plenty of storage, so we have asked the architect to add washing, drying and linen rooms, as well as additional storage rooms upstairs.

Any other ideas?

[Sue: White Horse Walking Holidays]

Yep, you do need lots of storage space. I would also like 2 washing machines and 2 dishwashers. Specific space for guest crockery, cutlery & glasses.
A guest lounge (we do have one, I consider if quite an important asset these days.)
Sort out your parking spaces. We have a reasonably sized drive but people can park very awkwardly. We have marked out the parking bays and have had no problems with dodgy parking since doing that. It's perhaps not pretty but it works.

[Caz2000]

I agree with the storage especially linen and ironing - I am swamped in extra pillows and duvets :rolleyes:!

I mentioned on your other post about fire alarms/exits/fire doors etc - make sure you get an L2 system wired in while you're building if your fire officer recommends it.

Oh and extra plug sockets/TV sockets - one of our rooms had just one double socket when we decided to open it for B&B we realised it wasn't enough and we had to retrofit TV sockets to the room too. Think about where you'll put the bed so that the TV/plug sockets are in a sensible place in another room we've had to run a long coaxial cable for the TV as the socket is in a daft place.

Caz

[Raincliffe1]

I would install larger shower cubicles to all the en suites (say 800X1000), make sure there is a minimum of 4 x double sockets per room all at a useable height (1m ish). Plenty of sound insulation between any partition walls, I would not site any televisions on a partition wall due to noise transference; a good wi-fi provision (strong signal)is a must. As with previous post if starting from scratch I would put in the highest level of fire alarm system as regulations will only get more demanding. Regards electrics to rooms, we have each shower,room lighting and mains on a separate RCD for each room (3 per room) that way if anything trips off it only affects that one room, I would recommend this.

[erikburger]

Make sure the B&B part of your house is seperate from the private accommodation.
Lots and lots of sockets and TV areal/Sat. points.
A Utility room with fridge, freezer, microwave, iron, fresh milk, jugs, spare coffees and teas, spare soaps and shampoos, and all the tourist information and maps, walking sticks, umbrellas, etc etc.
Showers only - no baths! (As people WILL flood your house)