LUX Xmas 2018

8 Escape Reality Aln House Bed & Breakfast is a beautiful Edwardian home with many original features set in an ideal location just a 10-minute walk from Alnwick town centre and the nearby Castle and Gardens. We profiled the establishment and spoke to Sharon and Joe Lumley who provided us with a detailed insight into the award-winning establishment. It has been operating as a Bed & Breakfast for fifty years, the last owners were there for sixteen years. Following a total re-wire and complete re-decoration throughout, it now has a lovely contemporary feel with USB sockets in each bedroom for charging phones & laptops yet retains many of the original Edwardian features such as the high ceilings with ornate woodwork and stained-glass windows as you enter through the porch. The day to day running of the business keeps us both very busy, especially when operating six bedrooms, and each day something new comes along to set the firm a new challenge. It’s a misconception to believe that once breakfast has been served we have the rest of the day off, far from it. There are so many things to organise from the laundry, food shopping, minor repairs, dealing with bookings and administration, accounts, the list is endless. The team really enjoy meeting new people each day and welcoming them in what they hope will be a relaxing and enjoyable break in this lovely part of Northumberland. The majority of their guests are couples visiting the area for between two to seven nights, some have been coming here every year for more than ten years, others return two or even three times a year. Sharon begins by informing us of how the team ensure that their guests’ initial impression is favourable. “On arrival, we greet guests at the front door and welcome them to Aln House with a big smile. Tea and coffee is served in the guest’s lounge during which time we talk about the facilities in the rooms, e.g. a silent running fridge with fresh milk supplied daily for tea and coffee, bottles of water and complimentary sherry on the landing just outside the bedrooms. “We ask about their journey, where they are from and what they would like to see and do in the time they have in Alnwick. We live on site and are always available to answer questions or offer suggestions for days out and things to see and do. Joe carries heavy