Third time lucky: Staffordshire B&B bags tourism title again

Colton House, run by husband and wife Ron and Gay Lawrence, has once again scooped Best Guest Accommodation and Best for Sustainable Tourism at the annual Enjoy Staffordshire awards held at Drayton Manor this week.

It means the Grade II star listed venue on Bellamour Way will be automatically entered to the Visit England finals and given the chance to defend its national title which it won earlier this year.

Mr Lawrence, aged 71, said: "It is very satisfying for all of the effort which goes in. It is the third time we have won it and the award ceremonies are the highlight of our year. We have to nominate ourselves for the awards but we have no idea what is going to happen. We are not shortlisted or anything like that.

"We could come away with nothing."

The couple moved in to the early 18th century Georgian building in 1977 and made it their family home where they brought up their three children who have now grown up and moved out. In 2005 they launched their Colton House business and having ploughed thousands of pounds into it, they now have 11 double bedrooms all with en-suites as well as a lounge, bar, dining room and conference room which is used by some of the major businesses in town including Amazon workers who currently host meetings there.

Over the years the venue's reputation has spread, helped no doubt by five-star rating on websites such as Tripadvisor, there have also been plenty of high-profile guests in the last decade including the likes of members of Austrian royalty, the von Habsburg family.

Mr Lawrence said the hotel was the first Grade II star listed property in the country to be given permission to install double glazing windows which has helped it scoop sustainability awards.

He added: "We just enjoy it. The great thing about doing it is that we meet lots and lots of amazing people. It's not like a job it's more like having friends come over to stay. It makes the house come alive."