National B&B Week was a big deal this year, and it caught the attention of a number of members of Parliament, who either visited B&Bs in their own constituencies to show their support or signed an Early Day Motion which states:
That this House notes that independent B&Bs, guest houses and family-run hotels constitute a vital part of the UK’s tourism offer and form the cornerstone of our welcome to the world; further notes that the world’s best B&B and four of the world’s top five best B&Bs are British, a point made last month by the world’s biggest travel website based on millions of guest reviews; stresses the important role that B&Bs play in rural and coastal areas, where they are often the only tourist accommodation and play a key function in supporting local livelihoods; urges all Members to visit local B&Bs between 18 and 24 March 2019 during National B&B week; and calls on the Government to promote the message of booking directly with British B&Bs, guest houses and family-run hotels.
Early day motions (EDMs) are motions submitted for debate in the House of Commons for which no day has been fixed. EDMs are used to put on record the views of individual MPs or to draw attention to specific events or campaigns. By attracting the signatures of other MPs (in this case, from across all of the UK’s main political parties) they can be used to demonstrate the level of parliamentary support for a particular cause or point of view.
The Early Day Motion was tabled by Alistair Carmichael, MP for Orkney & Shetland, and was signed by 17 MPs, including Jim Shannon, Wera Hobhouse, Jamie Stone, Chris Stephens, Bill Grant, Paul Farrelly, Mike Penning, Caroline Lucas, Gordon Marsden, David Simpson, Tonia Antoniazzi, Lloyd Russell-Moyle, Sir Greg Knight, Marie Rimmer, David Linden and Ruth George.
Kevin Foster, MP for Torbay, visited Beaches B&B in Paignton and The 25 Boutique B&B in Torquay (pictured below, with Kevin Foster on right) which was recently named the World’s Best B&B by Tripadvisor.
Chi Onwurah (right), the Labour MP for Newcastle Central, visited The Brighton B&B in Newcastle.
Gordon Marsden, MP for Blackpool South (pictured centre, below) visited Number One South Beach in Blackpool, where he met with the hotel owners and the president of local trade body Stay Blackpool, to show his support for the hospitality sector.
Andrew Jones, MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough, visited Newton House and Fountains Guest House in his constituency in Yorkshire.
Michael Ellis, Minister for Arts, Heritage and Tourism (second from right) visited Heath House, Ossett, near Wakefield, to show his support. Speaking about B&B Week, the MP for Northampton North, said: “National B&B Week is a great opportunity for us to showcase this dynamic sector. I hope we can encourage even more people to support British tourism & experience the superb places on offer all across the nation.”
Caroline Dinenage, who is the MP for Gosport, made an appearance (centre) at Milvil Corner in Lee on the Solent.
Canterbury MP Rosie Duffield visited Renville Oast, Canterbury, while Wera Hobhouse (below left), who signed the EDM, visited Bay Tree House in Bath.
Nick Herbert, MP for Arundel & South Downs (centre) was welcomed by Bill and Joan Edwards, owners of The Five Bells Inn in West Chiltington, to celebrate B&B Week.
James Duddridge, MP for Rochford and Southend, visited Gleneagles Guest House in Southend-on-Sea to show solidarity with B&Bs in his constituency.
John Lamont MP showed up at not one but two B&Bs; Craigielea B&B, Galashiels and The Allanton Inn (pictured below, on right) near Berwick-upon-Tweed, in the Scottish Borders.
Patricia Gibson was welcomed by Margaret Cairney and her son Derek, to Nethermains House B&B in Kilwinning. The North Ayrshire and Arran MP also commended the Cairneys for their efforts in supporting their local schools – yet another example of the good work that B&Bs do.
Tonia Antoniazzi MP (left) met Christine Lannaghan at her B&B, Brynawel Farm, in Swansea, to support B&B Week.
Paul Davies, Welsh Assembly member, also showed solidarity with Welsh B&Bs, by visiting Bethsaida B&B and Fields Lodge B&B,in Pembrokeshire.
Along with the 15 MPs who visited
We’d like to say a huge thank you to all the MPs and AMs who visited B&Bs in their constituencies, to the MPs who signed the EDM supporting National B&B Week and of course to the B&B owners who took time out of their busy days to welcome them. Your efforts have helped raise awareness of independent accommodation businesses to a wider audience – and that’s exactly what we set out to do!
Join us again next year for an even better turnout! #BandBWeek