My Bed and Breakfast For Sale

The guest house has opened other opportunities.

We originally bought the guest house to escape the grind of 9 to 5 and take more control of our lives and it has certainly allowed us to do just that.

The Torbay Lodge benefits from being established for many years so it is on all the accommodation listings for the NHS, education, emergency services and forestry commission. Dumfries is also the administrative centre for Dumfries and Galloway – so when someone comes from an interview they often contact us for accommodation. If successful, they will generally book back in and look for places to rent.

We were always surprised to find that people struggled to find well maintained affordable rental properties in Dumfries. Five years later we now have four properties for rent in Dumfries – so this is what I mean when I say the guest house has opened other opportunities.

Does this mean there isn’t enough money in the bed and breakfast? – not at all I just am a workaholic – ask Suzy – but I did want to explain why the bed and breakfast is on the market. I know other B&B owners that spend at least three days a week on the golf course.

The Torbay Lodge Guest House allowed us both to work from home and have an instant income.

That said, it was a a big move and, in hindsight, the words from another local B&B owner proved to be so true. “Derek, 99% of the people who come into your house are not just nice but really nice” – there are many great things about running a B&B -  how right he was!

The Torbay Lodge remains busy throughout the year which means we have the freedom to choose when we want to take a holiday and not have to OK it with anyone else first.

Buying an already established guest house meant we were up and running from day one (actually my first introduction to running a bed and breakfast was 14 full cooked breakfasts  – which was a bit of a daunting start as there was just Suzy and I – who was seven month’s pregnant!)

We have been running the guest house for five years now and I have never once missed looking at the back of a lorry on the M6 for hours each day.

So that is why I am selling the bed and breakfast. It is a good business and been going strong for fifty years and I am sure it will serve the next owner equally well.

If you are interested in viewing our guest house, ask a question, seek advice on buying/ selling a B&B, or share your knowledge then feel free to contact me.

Derek Pennycook

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