" Thrice as nice,
and tower above others "
Some
knowledgeable people in the hospitality business
apparently believe it’s impossible to succeed
with a bed-and-breakfast unless you have at least
eight rooms.
The Turrets Guesthouse, recently opened in the
beautiful, sedate city of Armidale in the northern
tablelands or NSW looks likely to explode that
theory.
It has three rooms, but what rooms – twice, if not three times,
the size of the average motel room and 10 times as stylish, each with
several large bay windows looking out on to soothing gardens. These are
rooms you could swing a cat in – several cats, in fact, if pets
were allowed which, like children, they are not.
The Turrets Guesthouse is a large heritage-listed
house built in 1886 for a socially significant
local businessman’s family – the turrets
are purely decorational. Tucked away in the city’s
smart South Hill district, it has been redesigned
as a “secluded retreat” for adults
– the discerning who appreciate quiet, quality
and plushy comfort, as does new owner Claire Geissler,
who lives in part of the house. She bought it
a year ago when she decided to leave Sydney and
do something different with her life.
“I wanted a house I could enjoy as well as my guests,” she says. “It
gave me great joy to get it”.
With years of experience in publicity and marketing she knows people
and what they want. She is also a professional interior decorator – and
it shows. All-white walls (mercifully uncluttered by rustic art) in
a naturally well-lit house add to the sense of airiness and space.
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The rooms have king-size beds equipped with electric blankets and duvets that
would cover an elephant (it gets chilly in winter) and ceiling fans in case
the normally mild summers turn hot.
There
are super-size pillows for back support – nice
to know someone recognises that part of the pleasure
of a weekend or longer away is reading in bed,
among other things. What’s
more, there is a rare appreciation of the need
for bedside lights and throw light on your book
rather than the ceiling. If you don’t have
a book, the latest fashion and design magazines
are at hand – no tatty old copies here.
And, what
do you know, the television and DVD set-up is
neatly positioned in your line of sight at the
foot of the bed and not at some neck-breaking
angle elsewhere. As well, each room has its own
huge heated bathroom with mirrors galore. There’s
a tub big enough for two, a swarm of towels,
iced water, homemade scented soaps, fancy bath
oils, the works.
Altogether, these really are guestrooms you are
happy to return to after doing the city and the
pretty surrounding country. Late nights out are
no problem; you will have your own key. And whatever
time you get in, you can be assured of the peace
and quiet the Turrets Guesthouse promises. Every
night is silent night – no cars, rowdy home-gowers
or anything else.
In the morning, Geissler, always on hand to engage with guests in the
lounge, goes out of her way to serve a different breakfast dish each
day at a time to suit you.
This has been a rave, I know but if you can’t
enjoy a stay at The Turrets Guesthouse, you won’t
be content anywhere. Happily, there are signs that
the word is getting out – visitors are arriving
from north and south. That eight-room theory is
already looking frail. Still, it’s good to
know the owner is planning to add another three
rooms in the future.
James Hall was a guest of The Turrets Guesthouse.
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