From city to country: Londoner begins new guest house life with NatWest loan

A London city worker, Denise Hill, has begun a new life as a guest home owner in the Kent countryside after receiving a six-figure loan from Natwest.

Denise, originally from Bromley, bought the Langmead Guest House in the seaside town of Ramsgate, which previously appeared on Channel 4’s Four In A Bed TV series, with a flexible business loan of £242k.

The generous funding allowed Denise to quit her former job as a quality manager for a London-based housing association in Croydon, providing accommodation for single, homeless people.

The Langmead Guest House was previously owned by husband and wife Derek and Lynne Love for 27 years before Denise bought it, planning to give it a new lease of life. She said: “I’ve always wanted to be my own boss and now, thanks to the funding, I am able to start my very own business adventure.

“I have a friend who quit an office job in London to become a campsite manager in Cornwall and when I saw how happy this friend was, I knew I wanted to do something similar. It will be a challenge but I don’t want to spend the next 12 years of my working life behind a desk.”

However, because Denise was alone with this challenge initially, she knew she wanted to stay closer to London so a guest house seemed like the perfect idea. With the Kent coast on her doorstep, this was a nostalgic move as she “used to visit [the area] as a child and I do a lot of walking here.”

Along with the idea though came several challenges, including finding the right place and finance. Luckily, a financial advisor put her in touch with NatWest, who was able to offer her guidance through its relationship manager, Ahmed Khan “who has been extremely supportive.”

Denise continued: “He came to visit me at Langmead to talk through my business plan and recommended that the finance be approved.”

Ahmed is also a specialist in real estate finance and lending to SMEs. He commented on the success, saying: “Denise is determined and passionate about her new venture. She has an impressive vision for the future of Langmead Guest House and I wish her the best of luck.”

With her plans underway, Denise is now looking to give the house a fresh look. Although nothing major initially, an early 20th century theme springs to mind: “I am interested in developing an art-deco feel to some of the rooms as it’s a 1930s house…

“I am particularly looking forward to working on the garden, a smarten up of the front and putting my own stamp on the rooms with new bedding.”

She hopes her project will be a great success and wants to continue running the business in the next decade, whilst enjoying her hobbies of walking and cycling in the Thanet area. She plans to make the guest house friendly for those with autism and learning disabilities, saying: “I have a lot of experience working with [such] people.

“I have a voluntary sector background, so would like to get involved in the local community, perhaps offering space for meetings and developing a calendar of community-focused walking trips.

“The Langmead Guest House is in an ideal location to attract new guests. I’m looking forward to building on its legacy.”