Can you tell us a bit about the history of your business?

Originally, my husband and I started Ivyhurst B&B because visiting performing artists to the Arts Centre were unable to obtain local accommodation.

We carried out a lot of research to ensure that the business was legally complaint and met all regulations. I attended the Waverley Borough Council Level 2 Food Safety in Catering course which was really useful and Waverley also sent out an inspector.

How are you different from the competition?

Frankly, there is currently very little competition even for Airbnb. In fact, we would like to see far more because during the peak summer season we have to turn so many away.

We offer a clean, contemporary style of accommodation with a traditional English breakfast which is very unusual with Airbnb bookings. We thought we might opt for a more continental style breakfast but guests love their full breakfast!

We have a triple room, which can stretch to four with a camp bed which enables families to stay together which is very popular and hard to find locally.

What are your favourite bits about the work you do?

I tend to be the ‘front of house person’ while my husband likes to hide in the kitchen making breakfast! We just love meeting such interesting people. We get a lot of foreign guests through Airbnb and we like to help them tour the tourist sites in the area.

What do you most like about working in Cranleigh?

We have lived in Cranleigh for 23 years and have made so many friends through the Arts Centre and more recently when we started the business through Cranleigh Chamber of Commerce.

I like the fact that I can cycle down to our compact High Street and get everything I need.

Has your company/organisation got any exciting plans for the future?

The most exciting plan is that we have actually built a contemporary Scandi style house in our garden and we will be moving the B&B into that. Our regular guests have watched it being built and are excited about staying in it.