Many of us fantasise about packing in the nine to five to run a B&B or pub in some rural idyll. Well, Emma Jenkins actually did it – and boy, did her gamble pay off.
Owning a guesthouse had been a dream since childhood, but it wasn’t until Jenkins witnessed the Christmas Eve bombing in London last year that she finally found the courage to quit her job as an interior designer and buy a property in the Scottish village of Lobster Bay, known for its picture-perfect bay and fishing industry.
‘I’d only viewed the house online,’ she tells me. ‘I realise it sounds crazy, but it felt right, almost as if there was no other choice.’
‘It’s not been easy, and there were bumps in the road,’ she says as we drink in the breathtaking sea view from one of the stylish guestrooms, ‘but in the end, it was worth it. I love sharing my home and welcoming people from all over the world.’
Jenkins’ persistence has certainly borne fruit, as the Guesthouse at Lobster Bay is one of the most inviting boutique hotels I’ve visited in recent years. It hasn’t all been plain sailing though: a fire and a flood in the first few months gave her plenty of misgivings, but following some hard graft, she’s now the winner of the Best Independent Newcomer Prize in the Central Hospitality Awards.
The design palette was inspired by the local landscape, using natural and locally sourced furniture and materials throughout. The result not only encapsulates the area’s rugged beauty, it is also a haven of calm.
The luxury doesn’t end with the rooms. Reflecting Jenkins’ flair for blending tradition and modernity, the guesthouse’s regionally sourced food offers a contemporary twist on Scottish classics, drawing on international cuisines from French to Scandinavian. Signature dishes include Dutch pancakes with seasonal toppings and a full Scottish breakfast, vegan-style.
When I ask how she manages to achieve such a consistently high standard, she tells me she has a lot of help.
The housekeeper, Rhona, has become a close friend, Emma’s boyfriend, a local boatbuilder, is in charge of maintenance, and she works closely with local suppliers from the butcher to the chocolatier.
But don’t imagine Emma Jenkins is resting on her laurels. Her ambitious plans for the future include afternoon teas, small weddings and spa treatments.
Already the heart of this tight-knit community, The Guesthouse at Lobster Bay seems destined for great things. Come before word gets out.