The sun is shining on another delightful morning here on Hartington Place, Eastbourne.

Our guests from the Netherlands have just headed out for a trek towards Beachy Head and the Seven Sisters (true pragmatic Dutch stylee, with sandals, packed lunch and ever-so-slightly wary children) whilst others prepare for the opera at Glyndebourne.

Our London journalists have just left with one last rueful look at the sea before heading back to the station. At least it’s an easy journey for their family – just an hour an half back to Clapham Junction and Victoria.

Whilst the children are at nursery and the wife is out at Zumba (is EVERY woman at it these days?!) it’s a rare opportunity to indulge in a pain au chocolat, mug of builders tea and a little rumination in front of the pc and appreciation of all that is good in life.

Maybe, just maybe, there will be an opportunity for a kayak fishing session this afternoon and the possibility of a bass or a few mackeral for supper, post five-a-side football.

Before I lose myself completely in a fog of smugness I’d best crack on with tidying up the dining room and carry up innumerable bags of laundry just delivered. This bed and breakfast malarkey is non-stop.

Great guest-list here over the last few days, surely confirming our position as Eastbourne’s most accommodating bed and breakfast -  including a farmer, his dog and several sheep. All in the same room.

My toddler son is often very fond of our guests, particularly when they love dancing as much as him. Thankfully, the cast of Shaun’s Big Show, running recently at the nearby Devonshire Park Theatre were both generous and enthusiastic, offering us tickets for a performance and impromptu dance lessons in our kitchen.

The childless amongst you might not have stumbled upon Shaun the Sheep, but few parents will be unaware of the slapstick animation, straight from the Nick Parke/Ardman flock and, more importantly, his ability to capture kids’ attention whilst offering an irreverent angle to keep the oldies entertained.

Happily the TV show and its characters have translated well to the stage – sufficiently well to engage my little man for an hour and a half with a plot based around dancing sheep, which is frankly astonishing. Thank you very much indeed.

The theatrical roll-call has been gathering momentum – several of the Hairspray crowd were here over recent weeks and whilst Mickey Dolenz, returning as one of the leads, wasn’t staying here he was out on the town with the cast. Davy Jones, fellow Monkee, was also around apparently for one particularly heavy session in Eastbourne which ended with karaokee in a local pub. How much would you have paid to have seen it – Davy Jones, up with a mic, singing Daydream Believer. Nice touch!

VAT’s gone up. Inflation is following suit. Job cuts are in the air and it would appear that Britain is battening down the hatches. Thank goodness no one seems to be telling our guests.

A busy Christmas and New Year here at The Guesthouse East with a typically eclectic guestlist; escapees chrerishing life away from London, a writer seeking inspiration, stranded transatlantic travellers and a number enjoying festive visits to family locally in Eastbourne, but equally finding delight in the space (and tranquility….) of their suites.

I felt a pang of guilt yesterday suggesting to a lovely couple that the clear blue skies they could witness from the breakfast table made for perfect viewing at Beachy Head so off they walked. Straight into a downpour. Sorry guys. At least you got to enjoy the warmth and creativity of the latest exhibition at the Towner Gallery – Tamoaki Suzuki’s only solo event in the UK this year, featuring his figurative sculptures.  Well worth a visit, especially if you’re slightly damp.

And if you need some plain old economic encouragement to visit this month how about the offer of a free night? Stay for two nights and get the third night free. Crazy, indeed. It’s the least we can do when times are tough.

Call me on 01323 722774 to book your slot now.

The kayak has looked rather forlorn in the lobby recently following the latest family addition and the inevitable lack of opportunity to hit the water in Eastbourne. Two guests here took pity on it and gave it a run-out thankfully, facing the wrath of the lifeguards and launching in the no-go swimming-only zone, the little devils.

Not traditional Eastbourne B&B owners, perhaps

Having limited time for fun has meant new fitness tactics – snorkelling. Sadly my inept swimming has already led to a near miss by the groynes and an embarrassing beaching episode but at least it entertains the sunbathers.

We can be grateful the constant sunshine of the last few weeks has warmed up the sea a little. Not that the stream of family and friends have been tempted.  The beach-side cafe has some sort of magnetic hold.

If you fancy a stay at our boutique B&B in Eastbourne give us a call on 01323 722774 or check out the suites here

I’m talking of Benni, Bjorn, Agnethe and Anni-Frid rather than the Martin Luther variety. Oh yes – Abba are back at the Eastbourne bandstand this friday, May 7th!

It’s the tribute band sadly, but there will still be fireworks among the blond wigs and glittery boots.

Given the recent cold snap I’ve had to sniff out ideas to keep my clan (and guests) happy here at The Guesthouse East B&B in Eastbourne. Thankfully, there’s a new free exhibition at the Towner whenever you need some shelter from the elements – A Walk in the Park: Images of the South Downs. The Observatory Science Centre is also worth a visit for hands-on fun – check out the Zany Zone of Experiments.

We’re already pretty packed from June onwards so I suggest you make a May visit here if you fancy sampling our delights. We have some special offers on this month so take a quick look.

It seems that celebrity status isn’t reserved purely for guests at this rather chic bed and breakfast in Eastbourne. The Guesthouse East was on the telly (again) recently with filming here as part of Escape Down Under.

It seems we could be on the verge of losing Sally, a pillar of the running club based here, to the NE coast of Oz at some point this year, as tropical temperatures, surf, sand and the prospect of a relaxed lifestyle won her and her family over. Ok, Eastbourne might not have the sand but don’t we tick most of the other boxes??

It’s disorientating munching on Cheerios on a Sunday morning, gazing not upon the lapping waters of the Channel in Eastbourne but the murky skies of London.
It’s always a treat catching up with friends and an impromptu weekend away from our boutique bed and breakfast in Eastbourne, but it’s sad to have to postpone our pregnancy pilates and pampering weekend.
The micorclimate in Eastbourne is as real as ever, protected by Beachy Head and the South Downs – we’ve hardly had any snow on Hartington Place, set just back from the sea – but bad roads and icy pavements elsewhere is no place to risk an outing for a pregnent lady. We really felt for the mums-to-be (some had had the weekends as presents off loved ones, others were coming with partners primed for several hours of prodding and pampering courtesy of our esteemed masseur). The good news is that we’ve set an additional weekend – 29th/30th January.
So, if you fancy an introduction to pregnancy pilates and a weekend of pampering to feel at your best in the run up to the birth give us a call 01323 722774 for more details.

Chill wind, frost-bitten fingers, a precarious ledge and vertigo. A great combination. Hotelier life in Eastbourne with a Grade II-listed property is nothing if not rock ‘n roll – a spot of pointing above a window bay has been the crescendo of the morning after seamlessly adopting the roles of cleaner, financial analyst, website optimiser and bookeeper. And a nice sounding chap is on his way round to look at a suite so I’d better get my customer-facing head back on, dust myself down and look vaguely presentable.

Given that I must be on about 37p an hour (if I if I did the maths) I should make myself available for contracts – the minimum wage sounds VERY appealing…..

….but this Eastbourne hotelier is on the verge of feeling festive. Maybe it also has something  to do with the barrage of signs advertising the Jack and the Beanstalk  production at Devonshire Park Theatre which kicks off this Friday. Apparently, it stars Emma Barton from Eastenders (currently enjoying fame as Roxie Hart in Chicago in the West End, I gather) and all manner of classic panto high campness. Fee fi fo fum indeed.

And if you’re on the razzle dazzle in Eastbourne over the Christmas and New Year period can I suggest that you leave the car at home, waive the extortionate cab fare and simply crash over here at The Guesthouse East - we’re very central (just a few minutes from the theatres and resturants), have comforting thick and fluffy duvets and I promise that my full English will set you on the road to recovery the next day.  Give me a call on 01323 722774 to book one of our suites.

You know you’ve made it in the world of Sussex bed and breakfast when the Rye & Battle Observer run a piece on you, titled Blob acclaim for The Guesthouse East. The editorial team clearly have an eye for detail with the title gaffe….but at least the word is spreading about the lastminute.com top 10 travel blog success.