Sentry Mead took part in the Channel Four show ‘Four in a Bed’ in 2011.  It seemed a good idea at the time – the opportunity of letting more people know that we were here and offering, what we hope is, a really good, relaxed and informal break for guests.  I just had to hope that we weren’t going to get some of the more eccentric contestants that I had previously seen on the show.  I was quite nervous when we showed up at the first establishment.

But, we were not disappointed in the slightest!  All the contestants on our show were wonderful people with fantastic businesses to show and we had the most amazing time with them all.

Dan and Mardi, in Brighton, are exceptional hosts where nothing is too much trouble and we had a lovely stay at their city-centre boutique guesthouse.  We got to try sea-kayaking which was an experience as the seas were particularly rough!

Alan and Jane were just starting up a floating self-catering barge on the river Thames and we got to be on the inaugural cruise.  It is a fabulous experience and I hope, one day, to be able to return.  They have already been to visit us here on the Isle of Wight!

Then we visited Phil at his wonderful, traditional, cosy and friendly Gloucestershire pub – and got a lesson in pie-making!  All jokes aside, his pies are pie-tastic, as he would say (and available through mail-order)!

Then it was our turn to host, which is when it decided to rain – no, not just rain, pour!!  And we took them on a boat trip!  Still we watered them all with Cava and hoped they would be okay.

We all had a great time and we all still keep in touch.  Hopefully, we are unique in being one of the few shows where we actually all got on and did nothing but laugh throughout!

We shall remember the experience for a long time.

We came second by the way to a very well-deserving boat on the river Thames!