History of Landladies in Seaside Guest Houses
Beach holidays, donkey rides, buckets and spades, sticks of rock, sand in the sandwiches, but nothing says a british seaside holiday like the seaside landlady.
Since the early days in the late 19th/early 20th century bed and breakfasts have been a prominent feature in coastal resorts like Great Yarmouth and Blackpool.
Originally referred to as boarding houses, bed and breakfasts were run by strict hard-faced landladies who definately ruled their guest house roosts. Stern and forbidding, they enforced the rules of the house with a rod of iron. Boarders needed to follow the rules to the letter. Once breakfast was over guests were not allowed back into the house except for meals-whatever the weather! Doors were locked at ten.
Over the years guest houses developed into comfortable home from homes. Landladies have become family friends. Visitors came back year after year. The rules changed for the better, guests were made welcome, they could come and go as they pleased with their own front door keys. Some became licensed.
Gradually over the years as fast food chains developed and with good value restaurants developing the need for evening meal diminished. The licensing hours changed and so did the need for bars in bed and breakfasts.
The early days are a far cry from the bed and breakfast of today.
Some guest houses cal themselves Bed and Breakfasts Visit Britain now classes us all as Guest Accommodation for rating purposes.
Regardless of what we are called, todays b&b's have come a long way, with modern en-suite rooms, colour TV's with Sky or Freeview, tea and coffee making facilities, Wi-Fi access. Surprisingly we are still asked what time we lock the doors and gusets are still surprised that they have their own key.
The seaside landlady lives on!
The Beach House Bed and Breakfast
B&B Guest House
14 Wellesley Road
Great Yarmouth
Norfolk
NR30 2AR