Bed and breakfast scoops gold in national awards

A SOUTHPORT B&B where guests are 'like family' has officially been named the best in the UK.

- BY EMILIA BONA

The Sunnyside Bed and Breakfast is a quintessential northern B&B, there’s a sense of warmth that radiates from the 10-bed-room guest house.

Located in Southport, it is run by Anthony Duffey and his wife Larissa and that air of homely familiarity has seen the Duffeys rack up a loyal clientele of regular visitors.

The B&B was awarded Gold in the VisitEngland Awards for Excellence 2025 last week, fending off competition from across the UK.

VisitEngland Awards for Excellence highlight the very best of England's outstanding tourism industry.

Gold, Silver, and Bronze winners are named across 17 categories ranging from New Tourism Business of the Year and Pub of the Year to Business Events Venue of the Year and Camping, Glamping and Holiday Park of the Year.

Sunnyside Guest House also picked up Gold in the category of Ethical, Responsible and Sustainable Tourism Award.

Owners Anthony and Larissa have worked together to imprint their unique stamp on the building and have struck up a balance between Larissa’s creativity and Anthony's business acumen.

Speaking previously, Larissa said: “I joke with the guests and say Anthony does everything important. I just talk and make tea.”