A GUESTHOUSE which has been run by the same couple for more than 50 years has been named as one of the best hotels in the East of England.

The Chudleigh Hotel, in Agate Road, Clacton, was listed as the fifth best in Trivago’s inaugural Top Hotels Awards.

The awards used more than 190 million online user ratings from 30 websites to work out the best hotels, regardless of whether they were luxury hotels or family-run B&Bs.

Carol and Peter Oleggini have been running Chudleigh Hotel, where the average price of a room is £84 a night, since 1963.

The proud hoteliers fell in love with the property on their first viewing and haven’t looked back since.

Since Clacton’s heyday, the town has fallen on harder times but the Chudleigh has continued to impress guests.

Mrs Oleggini said: “Everybody in this industry works hard so it is nice to have this recognition.

“We welcome anything that supports our business.

“It’s amazing the amount of businesses that comes to Clacton all year round and the different reasons.

“Clacton is much more than just seaside resort that attracts people in the summer."

Clacton and Frinton Gazette:

“We have a large elderly population in Clacton and a lot of people visit their family, or, more unfortunately, come following a bereavement," she added.

“There are so few establishments in Clacton the ones that are left should be quite busy all year.

“I remember the first time I was chairman of the local hoteliers’ association there were 212 members.

“Now if you were to walk down every street in this town you would only find between 25 and 30.

“That’s the biggest difference between now and when we bought this place in November, 1963.

The couple have been running the hotel for 52 years, but are not ready to retire just yet.

Mrs Oleggini said: “We just love our old house.

“When you spend this many years in a property, nowhere else would feel like home.

“As well as being a business, this is our home.”

The White Lodge in Great Yarmouth topped this year’s list with a reputation rating of 95 per cent. The Chudleigh‘s rating was 94 per cent.

Trivago is the world’s largest online hotel search site, comparing rates from over 900,000 hotels on over 250 booking sites worldwide.