Cottage lodge is the best B&B in the New Forest (Guardian 2007). Now we are delighted to be in the finals for the Best B&B in the South East Region (as defined by TSE - the Tourist Office). The results are announced in late October and we have all our fingers crossed.

Cottage lodge is a five star Bed and Breakfast. What does that mean to you when you book at room?

It means you are buying a room in a family run 12 bedroom bed and breakfast. We are a former hotel. So your room isn't just along the corridor from the family. It is a hotel-style arrangement. You will find parking at the front of the building. A warm welcome, a clean room with a TV, radio alarm clock, hair dryer, coffee and tea tray provided. You will sleep on a quality mattress, with fresh sheets and blankets. You will have a clean en-suite bathroom with either a shower or bath. There is a small Snug Bar for you to have a drink in the evenings. In the morning you will be served a good quality locally sourced breakfast.

You can check in from 9am to 9pm. We close reception at 9pm. Check out is at 11am. You can leave your car or luggage all day on the day of arrival or departure.

The property is located in the heart of the New Forest Village of Brockenhurst. So you have all the fun of 12 delightful eateries/pubs on the doorstep, bike hire/horse riding nearby, plus two world class spas in the village, but you are still able to walk out onto the forest in just a few minutes.

What do the new star ratings actually mean? Everything has changed on the ratings system: the ratings have harmonised and become tougher.

By May 2007 all the properties in the National Park had been re-assessed under the new schemes.

We had to make a decision to stay as a hotel and do evening meals (12 lovely eateries on our doorstep - how can we compete?) or convert to a guest accommodation status doing Bed and Breakfast. We chose to be a five star Bed and Breakfast rather than a three star metro hotel. At the moment Cottage Lodge is the only B&B in the New Forest National Park to achieve the new AA five-star rating.