Quayside House (sample) is one tall terrace house: we live on the ground floor, the guests sleep in the six rooms above and beside us, and everyone meets at breakfast.
The house was built in 1884 for a ship’s captain who wanted to see the harbour from his bedroom (sample). By 1920 it was lodgings for sailors, and the staircase you climb is the one they climbed.
We bought it in 2014, painted every room a different colour and named the rooms after the paint. The stairs we kept: fifty-two of them from the front door to the attic.
52
steps
King + sofa bed
34
steps
Queen, shower
Two singles
17
steps
King, bath
Double, shower
0
front door
Tables for twelve
King, wet room
Steps
Quay Street sideGarden side
Steps are counted from the front door. The ringed Garden room is level from the side gate.
Street side rooms look over Quay Street and the masts in the harbour. Garden side rooms look over our garden and the backs of the houses on Rope Walk, and are the quietest on a Saturday night.
There is no lift. If stairs are hard for you, ask for the Garden room, which is level from the side gate to the shower.
Rooms
6, each with its own bathroom
Floors
4, the attic under the roof
Step-free
The Garden room
Two of us run the house, with help on busy weekends. You will meet us at breakfast.
Rooms, requests and the garden (sample)
Answers every room request herself, usually within the hour.
Breakfast and the bread (sample)
Up at six to bake. Knows every walk from the door.
Weekend help (sample)
Makes the rooms on Saturdays and Sundays.
Send a room request or call the house. We reply the same day with the rooms free on your dates and the price; nothing is booked until you confirm (sample).