Heart of England Tourism Awards Bed & Breakfast of the year Immaculate, Comfortable and Highly Successful One of Chesterfield's best-kept accommodation secrets celebrates its tenth birthday in February. Abigail's a small guesthouse run by Gail Rodgers, catering for out-of-town visitors who need a temporary base in North Derbyshire. During the week these consist mainly of businessmen, whose connections with Chesterfield's rapidly growing commercial scene means that they're constant visitors. At weekends, Gail's busy with a full house of leisure visitors, ranging from people afar, who want to explore the Peak, to guests at local weddings who need somewhere to sleep during what's usually a hectic social visit. In 1990, Gail bought a house in Brockwell Lane, a smiling residential area. Working in the old AGD (Royal Mail accounts HQ), she cast about for something more exciting to do. She let a spare bedroom (which conveniently had an en suite bathroom) to a visiting Royal Mail contractor; he stayed for a year, during which time she commandeered another bedroom for similar duty, and let that out as well. Enjoying what she was doing, she brought the house next door, and converted that, too. The result is a guesthouse which, though small, is scrupulously clean and very comfortable (there's an en suite bathroom, TV and coffee-making facilities in every room). Gail added a breakfast room and joined up the garden', these overlook a superb view across Chesterfield, westwards to the heights of East Moor. Abigail's has been awarded the English Tourist Board three-diamond accolade, and Gail and her indispensable right-hand, Dorothy, have both received diplomas in the Tourist Board's "Welcome Host" scheme/ There's a beauty salon next door, run by Gail's friend, Debbi, who is happy to open her doors in the evening to any of Gail's lady guests who'd like a bit of pampering after rushing about admiring the countryside, or who'd like a professional make-up job before attending a wedding. Not surprisingly, her guest's become her friend's and return to enjoy the outstanding hospitality and a relaxing breakfast overlooking the garden, with it's pool and waterfall. Visitors come from far away... her Japanese guests adore the water and organise photographic sessions round the pool.