I am considering giving up my job to run a bed and breakfast in England or Wales, somewhere not reliant on the season, so not at a seaside, but somewhere with lots of natural trade, such as the peaks, the lakes or a walking destination in Wales.

I am at the very beginning of considering this. I aim to take business advice and financial advice, but are there any Mudcatters already in the b&b business who can give me first hand advice on any aspect of running a b&b - 'do's and 'don'ts', pitfalls to avoid, things to consider? Or are there any non-b&b-running 'Catters who can contribute what they like and dislike in a b&b?

If this gets off the ground, I aim to run it with folk themed weekends, involving instrument playing workshops, instrument-making workshops, dance weekends with ceilidhs, 'meet the artist' with gig weekends, all with accommodation and food provided and, of course, for a limited number of people and therefore much more intimate than the smallest festival and enabling a large element of personal tuition. Would this work, do you think?

Any contributions based on personal experience of the job, your personal likes/dislikes of b&bs, folkie ideas for a b&b, or reasons why my ideas are or are not viable, would be most welcome.

Thanks all.

Stower.