The Sunnyside Bed and Breakfast is a quintessential northern B&B, there’s a sense of warmth that radiates from the ten-bedroom guest house.
Located in Southport, it is run by Anthony Duffey and his wife Larissa, and that air of homely familiarity has seen the Duffeys rack up a loyal clientele of regular visitors.
They have worked together to imprint their unique stamp on the building and have struck up a balance between Larissa’s creativity and Anthony’s business acumen. That balance has helped them reach new heights and this month they were nominated for B&B of the Year by Visit England.
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“I joke with the guest and say Anthony does everything important,” said Larissa. She added: “I just talk and make tea.”
The couple met in high school while Larissa was on a student exchange programme from her native Brazil. Anthony started the Sunnyside 15 years ago and the couple reunited when Anthony was on holiday in Rio de Janeiro, nine years on they have never looked back.
Anthony from Southport said: “The business is full throttle, we have a holiday in winter come back and start tiling bathrooms, redecorating rooms, and knocking things down. It is a labour of love.
“I think we both love our job, that is the thing about it we enjoy what we do so it makes it easier. At times it can be stressful and we have to push through.”
Anthony, 36, believes that it is the personal touches that set Sunnyside apart, Larissa bakes homemade cakes for guests upon their arrival and even makes her own jam. While Anthony puts his personal touch into the B&B by refurbishing rooms and has started to make Sunnyside honey.
Anthony told the ECHO: “We believe the personal touch and emphasis on quality is what makes us unique and we try to apply that to every part of the business. I think it would be hard to leave and do something else.”
Building up that staunchly reliable client base is one of the keys to longevity in the B&B industry, Larissa, 35, said: “People come back to Southport for the memories, their parents and grandparents used to bring them here.
“They will bring their kids now, so we build up a connection with them. I feel like all the customers that come through the door are like family. Once they come, they come back it is as simple as that.”
In March the Sunnyside won Guest House of The Year at the Liverpool City Region Tourism Awards for the second time. Now they are up for the most coveted award in the country.
Anthony said: “It is like the Oscars of the tourism industry and to get to the final three is beyond our wildest dreams. It has come as a bit of a shock and the level is extremely high. We are just happy to get there.
“We have both worked really hard to make the place what it is today but without Larissa, the business would not be where it is now.”
The winner of B&B of the Year will be announced on June 7.
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