Northview B&B
Our Story
My name is Christel, I am French, and I come from a small town in Provence. In France, we have ‘chambres d’hôtes’. These are generally private homes whose owners rent bedrooms. You are welcomed by an owner who takes pride in sharing their home and local knowledge. The breakfasts are typically served around a large table where all the guests have breakfast together.
When I arrived in England in the early 90s, I stayed in B&Bs. The architecture of the houses was so different from what I knew. It was fascinating to chat to the owners. They were always happy to share their stories and their knowledge of the area. I thought this was very similar to the French experience except that each room was allocated its own breakfast table. I was not used to being in a room full of people not engaging. The idea of running my own “French style” bed and breakfast in England was starting to take root…
Fast forward thirty years, and here I am in Penrith, chuffed to be running one at last: a Cumbrian French style B&B! To be honest, I wasn’t planning to open one just yet, but circumstances changed, and it was time to turn my dream into reality.
it was time to turn my dream into reality
I was living in London and was working as a fundraiser for a small charity. The COVID pandemic happened, and I lost my job and my home. Not knowing how long it would take to find another position, I decided to relocate to Penrith with the view of a career change: from spending 8 hours a day in front of a computer in an office in an ever-so-noisy and crowded city to embracing the big outdoors and its stunning landscape. My idea was to finish my mountain leader qualification (which, I am proud to say, I did as well as qualifying as a Nordic Walking instructor), to open my very own Lakeland B&B and to offer my guests not only a lovely place to stay but also the opportunity to book guided walks in the Lake District National Park and the Eden Valley. How exciting!
So, I decided to look for a period house big enough to welcome guests while still being cosy and welcoming. The move didn’t take long. I had very few belongings. No need to hire a removal company, a couple of trips with a rented van were enough. I was given the house key by the previous owner and on June 2nd 2021, I became the proud owner of a Victorian house, named North View, in a traditional Cumbrian market town. How wonderful!
I had a clear vision of how to furnish the place. I wanted to acquire pre-loved furniture and objects and buy as little new pieces as possible (although, beds and mattresses had to be new and super comfy, no compromise there!). Friends gave me some furniture, some lovely hand-woven rugs and chairs were rescued from skips, and I bought a lot in local charity shops, and junk yards (primarily from Brunswick yard in Penrith which sadly is closed now), and online marketplace platforms.
“utterly delightful and welcoming place”
Each piece has a story to tell, and I am always delighted to share it with those interested. Guests love the North View B&B ethos and have commented on its warmth, charm and quirkiness. Bettina, one of our German guests, described North View B&B as an “utterly delightful and welcoming place”. Sophia, a film producer, declared the B&B as “so Instagram-able” and asked if she could take some pictures of the house. That comment absolutely made my day! A film producer taking pictures of my house… now that surely is the ultimate compliment!
I just love making, amending, creating and upcycling pre-loved objects. I take a lot of pleasure in visiting charity shops and looking for the perfect object, furniture, book, or utensil. The B&B doesn’t have a particular style; it has my style, and I am delighted that my guests love it.
There are so many charity shops in Penrith that you are spoiled for choice. When I go shopping in town, I can’t resist entering one of them at least. It is cheaper, it is more environmentally friendly to buy second hand than new and it supports great causes… what’s not to like!
I offer guided walks of the Lake District and the Eden Valley. If you need a guide, I’ll be delighted to show you this amazing landscape.
