Happy couple scoop three top hospitality awards (From Gazette Series)

Happy couple scoop three top hospitality awards

5:00pm Thursday 23rd October 2008 in

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A COUPLE who quit their stressful jobs to run a bed and breakfast have won a trio of top awards.

Sue and Pete James gave up well-paid city careers to live out their dream and open Fern Cottage B&B in Pucklechurch.

The couple, who have been married 33 years, are now seeing their 12 years of hard work pay off after scooping three titles in the Excellence in Tourism Awards for the South West.

Sue, 52, said: "We had hit rock bottom.

"We were going to sell up because the house had become too big when our children left home but we sat down one afternoon and thought about what we could do with the place.

"We converted the stable block and although it was a scary jump, it has been an incredible journey."

Sue, who was a personal assistant to the managing director of an engineering firm and head of the company’s health and safety department, said it was the best thing she and husband Pete, 57, had ever done.

"We work together so well and we get on better than ever now," she said.

The pair’s passion for fresh local food and their environmentally-friendly outlook has earned them awards in the tourism Oscars.

Fern Cottage were finalists in the Taste of the West, bed and breakfast of the year competition and sustainable tourism of the year categories.

Project manager for the awards Robin Barker said: "Fern Cottage is recognised by the judges as one of our elite businesses achieving a rare balance between excellence, sustainability and affordability. "In an extraordinarily competitive sector, for Fern Cottage to be recognised as a finalist in not just one, but three categories is testament to Sue and Pete’s dedication. "Their ongoing investment of time and money in ensuring their business is at the top is a role model to all."

Added Sue: "We are extremely proud to have got this far.

"It is just the two of us running a four-bedroom bed and breakfast and we were in same categories as top celebrity restaurants.

"We put everything into the place and are very passionate about what we do here."