Holiday let among the best, say Visit England judges

A PIERCEBRIDGE office that was converted into a holiday let has won a top tourism award.

Oscar’s Barn, along the B6275, last week received Visit England’s Rose Award, the highest accolade an accommodation provider can achieve. Only 100 such awards were made this year.

Owners Tony and Andrea Atkinson created Oscar’s Barn after converting it from the office of their sound engineering company.

A feature of the office was a grand window giving a magnificent view over the countryside.

Ms Atkinson said: “We used it as a very nice office for three or four years. People visiting would say ‘why don’t you [convert it]?’. So we did. People love it because of the view and it is very peaceful.”

That people enjoy staying there is evident in the nomination for the Rose award – it is based on feedback from guests and Oscar’s Barn received consistently high scores.

The features of the facility come from the couple’s own experiences. Ms Atkinson said: “We have travelled the world so we set it up in a way that we would want to experience. I don’t set it up any different to what I would expect really.”

The stunning views are complemented by the plush interior which offers comfort with modern facilities. Guests, who come from across the country including Milton Keynes and Devon, can expect to arrive to a welcoming homebaked cake or cream teas. Another feature of the self-catering facility is that the owners ensure guests who travel from far can expect to find enough for breakfast the morning after they arrive.

Ms Atkinson added: “If I know it is a special occasion I will put something special out, like a bottle of Prosecco.”

Oscar’s Barn sleeps two, while a nearby annex to the main house, named Foxglove, can sleep two more, allowing for parties of up to four. It is dog friendly and guests can enjoy DVDs, games and books if the weather is wet and they want to stay indoors.

The name for the facility comes from Oscar, a papillon dog Ms Atkinson used to have. The dog would love to lie down at the window while his owners worked.

On winning the coveted award, Ms Atkinson said: “It has really taken off. In the first year we got four stars and the next year we got gold. We are one of only six in the North East [to get the Rose award] so it is quite an accolade.”

VisitEngland director Andrew Stokes said: “It’s great to see the diversity and quality of accommodation available across the country with each of the winners demonstrating outstanding customer service.

“And it’s this level of commitment to ensuring visitors have the best experience combined with the amazing range of settings and attractions that have domestic and international visitors out exploring and spreading the economic benefits of tourism throughout the country.”