We opened our Bed and Breakfast in Hatton, near Tutbury and Burton-on-Trent, in August 2007 and from the start we were anxious to hear what guests thought of our service.

“You deserve to do well,” said a couple from Surrey who stayed in our Burton room early in September, who were attending a wedding at Willington.

A good start.

We have lost count of the people who have used the expression “slept like a log” or, about our breakfasts, words such as “excellent”, “terrific”, “wonderful” or the German equivalent (from one of a group doing specialist work locally) “wonderbauer”.

James booked in for one night while he fished the River Dove. He stayed for three nights and said, “it’s the best bed and breakfast I’ve ever stayed in.”

Helen and her husband were visiting her parents in Hatton and stayed for two nights in the Ashby room. She said, “I want to wrap that mattress up and take it away with me.”

Carl, who stayed for one night between making deliveries from Ipswich to Mickleover and Foston, went further. He wanted to put the whole king-sized bed in our Burton room in his van. He added, “I stay in bed and breakfasts most nights of the week and, trust me, yours is superb.”