Men with the golden touch

My eyes popped out of my head when I walked in The 25 Boutique B&B in Torquay, Devon.

For this most-lovely bed and breakfast in Britain’s former kiss-me-quick capital has been crowned the nation’s most “Unique B&B of the Year” at the AA’s 2018 B&B Awards. And truly deserved too because it two owners, Andy and Julian Banner Price, have taken an old house and turned it brick for brick, new wall by new wall into a palatial home better fitted than most British hotels and almost too good to be classed as a bed and breakfast.

Indeed of all the celebrity and luxury homes I have covered in a lifetime 25 is up there with the best – and reminds me of film star Jane Fonda’s pad in Deer Valley (aptly named) ski resort in the Rockies in Utah, which had solid gold taps, marble floors,  and silk sheets and curtains throughout  – and her picture windows overlooked the ski slopes of one of America’s best resorts.

There is total perfection at The 25 (named plainly after the house’s number in the road) and all the house’s glitz and space-age looks were hand-done by the illustrious duo; to offer six very different, sensational bedrooms, all with cutting edge design by Andy and the latest technology by former IT Manager Julian.

Julian said: ‘At ‘The 25 we literally took the building and started again. It was an opportunity to make sure we did everything right: from high pressure showers to sockets in the right places,  and space-age lighting and fixtures. But it’s much more than that. It’s all the little touches that make us such a unique, special place to stay.’

‘That’s right’, Andy continues, ‘daily home baked goodies in your room, pillow mist, mood lighting, hand written notes, Elemis toiletries, bathroom TVs, movies on demand – we’ve tried to think of everything to make a stay with us truly memorable – we’re also blessed with a fantastic location, the English Riviera is renowned for its climate, making it a great all year round destination.’

So far in 2018 accolades are stacking up for this ultra-stylish B&B, the skilled couple won Silver for B&B of the Year at Visit England’s 2018 Tourism Excellence awards and topped that being crowned  also Unique B&B of the Year at the AA’s B&B Awards. All his comes hot on the heels of their Travellers’ Choice Award placing them in the top five in the UK and top ten B&Bs in the World.

This is one B&B that’s certainly earned its Boutique status,  and I am sure even Jane Fonda would agree.

Rooms from £99, to see more and book visit www.the25.uk