A WEST Kilbride business has been named Best Bed and Breakfast of the Year in the Scottish Hospitality Awards.

The Carlton Seamill B&B scooped the prestigious title at a glittering ceremony in Glasgow’s Crowne Plaza Hotel on Monday, June 26. The West Kilbride B&B was shortlisted for the same accolade at the first Scottish Hospitality Awards last year.

Avril Rennie, who owns the Carlton Seamill B&B, said: “I attended the dinner and I was at a table of lovely people. To my astonishment I was announced as the winner. Last year I was regional winner. I didn’t expect to do any better than that.

“It was a big surprise, I was a totally taken aback. To be a finalist two years running was amazing.

“They read out the overall winner and suddenly it was me and I was being called up to the platform and doing a speech. I genuinely didn’t expect it.

“I’m just amazed. Winning this award was a collective effort. I’m very grateful for the people who help me run the place.”

Avril inherited her childhood home on Ardrossan Road after her parents Robert and Helen died. She and her late sister turned the property into a B&B around 15 years ago.

The 67-year-old said: “My parents bought it when they got married in 1949. So much of the house has my parents through it. It’s very vintage.

“A highlight for the business last year was when Judy Murray came to stay. She was doing Tennis on the Road at the schools. She opened West Kilbride Tennis Courts then she stayed with me then the next day she went to Ardrossan Academy. She was a very pleasant lady."