Welcome!

Tucked away in a rural idyll, Killennan House looks exactly like the ‘home-from-home’ that Averil’s guest are searching for. Fresh from receiving her award at the five star Royal Horseguards Hotel in London, she told the Sentinel that she was thrilled to receive the recognition after nearly 30 years’ service. Averil said: “I am honoured to have been a finalist and to be recognised for doing something that I love doing. I will continue to offer guests the friendliest welcome at Killennan House and make every guest’s stay an enjoyable experience.” It couldn’t be any other way with Averil’s welcoming manner backed up by her superb baking skills!

Thanks to her dedication and attention to detail, she has put this quiet corner of the North West on the map for many hundreds of foreign visitors coming from France, Italy, Germany and the USA. The setting, amidst mature trees and shrubberies, is exactly how they imagine this part of the world to be, with a fine, sensible farmhouse beautifully furnished giving a traditional feel. But it wasn’t always like this.

Averil explained: “My husband James and I bought Killennan House in 1974 when it was a derelict farmhouse dating from the mid-1800s. In 1981 we set about the task of renovating and extending the property whilst retaining as many of the original features as possible, such as the balustrade and the coving. In 1982 we opened for business. At that time, we had eight Swiss labourers who were working on the nearby hospital and who, for about five years after they left, were still sending me Christmas cards and fabulous Swiss chocolates!”

Over the years, the busy mother-of-three has kept abreast of developments in the field and has acquired computer skills which now enable her to set up and run her website and deal with internet bookings. But it’s old-fashioned favourites - such as a firm mattress, cleanliness, home cooking and a good breakfast - which Averil believes are the secrets of her success.