The Quay House

There’s personality aplenty at this family-run B&B ‘stuffed with antiques and curios’ in a former Georgian harbourmaster’s house and three of its neighbours, overlooking Owenglin estuary. You will find clocks, working and broken, here a Buddha, there a Cupid, portraits in gilt frames, bovine horns, antlers, ‘family photos everywhere’. The family in question are the Foyles: Julia and Paddy, who make warm, outgoing hosts, while son Toby runs sister property Blue Quay Rooms. Elegant bedrooms with gilt-framed mirrors and sometimes a four-poster or half-tester have a harbour view, perhaps a Juliet balcony or terrace. ‘It’s all very homely and casual without being sloppy’; housekeeping is rigorous. ‘After we left, my wife and I discovered we had both gone round our large and very comfortable room trying to find dust, and couldn’t,’ writes a reader this year. Everyone has a tale of some little extra kindness; Julia is a fount of local knowledge while the breakfasts are first rate. ‘Large top-class resort hotels can do a bigger spread, but there was ample choice and everything was outstandingly good. We intend to go back.’ (Richard Hall)