A CUMBRIAN Bed and Breakfast is celebrating after being named as one of the best in the business by TripAdvisor.

Colin and Sarah Sproule have owned the Portland House in Keswick since 2019 and have earned rave reviews for their stewardship.

The couple's impressive work hasn't gone unnoticed as their B&B has been recognised by TripAdvisor as one of the top 1 per cent of travellers' favourite destinations for the second year in a row.

Sarah said: "We always fancied owning a B&B so we decided to do it.

"But we had no experience at all before we did this so we just like to think that we give our guests a good experience when they are here.

"We try and help them out and be knowledgeable about the area and give them a nice home-from-home. Those are the sorts of responses we’re getting on our reviews, how friendly and welcoming we are.

"We provide nice accommodation, big rooms, and a nice breakfast, that’s the important thing.

"Bed and breakfast, it’s in the title.

"We love the area. Keswick is a lovely little town, it’s a nice place for people to come and visit. We’ve met some great people doing this. Some of them are such regular returners, they are more like friends now really."

Colin and Sarah moved in in August 2019, just a few months before coronavirus brought a halt to the country.

This affected business for around 15 months but people's inability to travel abroad ensured that the B&B was a popular destination for those who wanted to holiday in the UK. 

Colin added: "I try and go out of my way to help. During the summer months, we have a lot of triathletes end up here. They want to get up early and go out. We must be the only B&B that will get up at 4am to give someone a bit of breakfast before they go!

"I just try to go that extra mile for them because obviously, we want them to return, or to recommend us to their friends.

"That’s all we can ask for."