BoQ Entrepreneurs: Jennifer and Ian of Next Door Bed & Breakfast
Get to know Jennifer Prince and Ian Penny of Next Door Bed & Breakfast, a boutique accommodation in a century home located in Belleville’s Old East Hill neighbourhood. The house has an interesting past, including being purchased by Canada’s 5th Prime Minister, and original architectural features that have been preserved.
Read time: 4 min
What do you offer your guests?
Next Door Bed & Breakfast is a boutique accommodation with personalized service in a modernized century home in Belleville’s Old East Hill neighbourhood. We have two cozy rooms with Queen-size beds and offer a full breakfast. We can assist with trip planning and make recommendations for local dining and activities. For guests arriving by VIA Rail, we offer local pick up and drop off.
Our large, inviting kitchen is the hub of the house, where conversations flow, delicious meals are created by Chef Ian and new friendships are made. At Next Door Bed & Breakfast, we celebrate diversity and are committed to providing a safe, respectful, and inclusive experience for every guest. We have a very large backyard where we are starting to grow our own food and plan on expanding every year to be as self-sufficient as possible.
How did you get started?
We spent many years exploring the Bay of Quinte and Prince Edward County, including regions along the 401 from Port Hope to Belleville, to find the right home and location to start our business. We had been planning this business for many years, as we both come from the hospitality industry. Ian had been working in many Toronto hotels, bars and restaurants, and Jennifer had been planning large-scale private events and weddings in Toronto venues. But after 30 years there, we wanted to slow down and enjoy a quieter day-to-day life in a smaller city, where we felt we could contribute to the tourism of the region, and really get to know our neighbours and where our food comes from.
What’s the history of this home?
161 Albert Street has a long and interesting history in the community. The house was built in 1874 by C. F. Smith, a local tinsmith and John Pepper, a local carpenter, for approximately $1,000. It has two stories and features a repeated gabled roof, with decorative bargeboards and three (remaining) finials on the corner edges of the gables.
In 1897, it was purchased by Sir Mackenzie Bowell, the 5th Prime Minister of Canada, as a residence for his son Charles Bowell, his wife Ida Elizabeth Steele and their family. Charles was the president and manager of the Intelligencer Printing and Publishing Company in Belleville, Ontario.
Later on, it was a triplex of apartments and has since been lovingly restored to a single-family home.
What makes the Bay of Quinte region a good fit for your business?
So many great reasons! There is a strong push to market and promote tourism and a variety of year-round activities. Something for everyone, from golfing to fishing to theatre and art galleries. There are amazing independent restaurants and local farms that offer agritourism experiences. In the winter, there is ice fishing, skiing at Batawa Ski Hill and snowmobiling. For the arts lovers, we have local stage and live theatre, art trails and hands-on activities like pottery and glass-making. Our Downtown Business Improvement Area, Belleville Downtown District, works hard to put together weekend festivals and activities.
What was the hardest part of starting your business?
Finding the ideal house, we wanted a specific layout and spent many years searching. We looked to buy land or build our own place, but found this perfect home in Belleville. We wanted to stay within 2 hours of Toronto and be near water in a region with four-season activities for our guests.
Do you have advice for local entrepreneurs?
Know your market. Know your customers in your region. Do your homework and research. Make as many local connections as you can. Network with other businesses, not just your own industry. Join your local Chamber of Commerce and other specific organizations.
How do you spend your days off around here?
Touring around to visit farmers, wineries and festivals. We try to see what we can recommend to our guests. We look to go out and meet more local business owners, trying to enjoy many of the fun activities in the area ourselves and take advantage of the beaches, hiking trails and dining too!
Any favourite local small businesses you support?
All local small businesses. Whether that’s a cheesemaker, maple syrup producer, small bakery or restaurant. We check out the antique shops for home décor and head out for a glass of wine at a local winery. We also enjoy a great massage and spa day, and look for relaxing options for our days off.
What do your guests like to do when they come here?
They like to explore the region by enjoying restaurants, shops, hiking trails, live theatre and festivals such as Porchfest, Bluesfest, and the Belleville Caribbean Festival. Many also like to drive around nearby Prince Edward County and spend the day at Sandbanks Provincial Park.
Why are they visiting this region?
Many are coming to explore and enjoy the local tourism offerings that we’ve previously mentioned. Some are visiting family or attending weddings. Others make this a great stopping point on the way between Ottawa/Montreal, and Toronto.
What are you up to in the next year?
Our plans include adding seasonal workshops and fun activities in our large backyard. We hosted a gingerbread house-making workshop last December that we hope to make an annual event. And our large yard includes a vegetable garden that we continue to expand to be able to grow more of our own food and be more self-sufficient, offering a ‘farm-to-fork’ dining experience for our guests. We are just getting started, so each year will be full of new ideas, fun things to offer groups and more food to grow and taste.
