Pinch us!
Keswick Cottages has been named Best Community Business at the Pride of Cumbria Awards 2026.
And whilst we’re incredibly proud of the award itself, what it represents means even more. This isn’t just recognition of a business; it’s recognition of a belief we’ve held onto since day one…
Keswick Cottages began back in 1995 with a young family and a caravan.
Yes, a caravan!
And even 31 years later, one thing has never changed: the idea that Keswick is more than just ‘somewhere to go on holiday’ or ‘a town in the Lake District’.
Keswick is our home. Our community.
Keswick is unique. It’s the people that make it unique, and we want to keep it that way.
That’s where our motto came from:
‘Book Local. Let Local. Support Local’.
It’s simple, but it underpins everything we do.
In the Papers…
At the beginning of a very exciting night at the Greenhill Hotel in Wigton, we got to read the write-ups on lots of fantastic local people and businesses. It’s still shocking to be in the same room as some of these incredible, inspiring people!
In case you missed it, here’s the bit on us:
“The next finalist is Keswick Cottages, led by Managing Director Anthony Fearns.
Their nominator said: “Keswick Cottages is built on a genuine commitment to giving back to the town. The business employs local people, supports local supply chains, and promotes dozens of independent businesses free of charge to hundreds of thousands of visitors each year.
Through community events, charity support, and family-focused initiatives, the team ensures tourism benefits the people who live and work in Keswick.
Anthony’s quiet dedication and belief that businesses should uplift their communities has made Keswick Cottages a cornerstone of the town.”
As you can imagine, we were beyond shocked to win! We, especially Anthony, were literally speechless.
Having had some time to decompress and recover from the shock of winning, here’s an exclusive comment from Anthony Fearns: expert holiday let agent, not such an expert at public speaking…
“It was such an honour to even be considered for such a prestigious award—and an even greater honour to sit in a room filled with, what I would call, the heroes of Cumbria, listening to their stories, and feeling inspired by the incredible work happening across our county.
To then hear our name announced as the winners came as a huge shock, which probably explains the slightly rambling acceptance and swift retreat!
Having had time to let it all sink in, what I should have said on behalf of all of us is…
Thank you.
Thank you to those who recognised our hard work and dedication, and saw fit to name us as the winners.
Thank you to our housekeepers, who are the backbone of what we do. The pride they take in leaving each property spotless and welcoming for guests they may never meet is remarkable—we simply couldn’t do this without you.
A special shout-out goes to our beloved ‘Aussie Sar’, Ann Gladas (who retired last week after 20 years of service), and Rich & Debs Charley—for whom no clean is too much trouble, and we can’t imagine Keswick Cottages without. Our housekeepers are as much a part of the Keswick Cottages family as our office staff and owners, and we cannot thank them enough.
Thank you to every member of our team, past and present, who has taken on our mantra, worked meticulously to uphold our reputation and keep our local values at the heart of everything we do.
Thank you to our property owners, who share those same values, and continue to put their trust in us, even when there are bigger, more high-profile alternatives out there. Their commitment to supporting a local, independent, family-run company over multinational businesses speaks for itself.
The alternatives may be bigger, but they are certainly not better—and we work hard every day to prove that.
Thank you to our guests—so many of whom have been coming since 1995—who continue to spread the word and return year after year. We so often hear from new visitors, “We didn’t know Keswick Cottages existed, but now we’ve found you, we wouldn’t go with anyone else.” It’s because of you that we’re able to grow and, in turn, support the local community.
I can’t name everyone—there simply isn’t enough room—but I do want to make a very special mention to Rebecca, who for over a decade has been the heartbeat of Keswick Cottages. Her dedication, care, and commitment have shaped the experience of so many, consistently ensuring that both our guests and property owners feel genuinely cared for.
And if Rebecca is the heartbeat, then I have to mention the very heart of Keswick Cottages—Sarah (Sar to us!). No one works harder or with more pride and dedication, always giving her all come rain or shine, often without the recognition she truly deserves. Her commitment makes such a difference to everyone around her—from the office and housekeeping teams, to our guests arriving to spotless homes under her keen eye.
Finally, Ali.
The core of our family.
Her hard work, unwavering support, and incredible patience have been nothing short of extraordinary, especially during some of the toughest times we’ve faced (floods and COVID come to mind). Those periods tested not just the business, but our family as a whole, and Ali carried that weight with strength, resilience, and total commitment.
Quite simply, without her, we would be nowhere near the business we are today.
A family business is nothing without the strength of the family around us.
Ali’s parents, Gill and Dave, have always supported us and been there when we needed them—not just to help us grow the business, but more importantly, our family.
This journey has truly been a family effort, and what we’ve achieved would not have been possible without all of you.
This award is not for an individual—it’s for our entire team, our owners, and our guests past, present, and future.
We hope anyone reading this can take real pride in helping to build this local, independent business into what it is today.
We hope we continue to receive this support going forward, because receiving this award has only made us more determined to prove that growing a business doesn’t mean losing your core values.
It doesn’t—and we won’t.
Changing the Narrative – What Sets us Apart:
Book Local & Let Local
Our aim has always been not just to operate in Keswick, but to contribute to our town in a meaningful way.
We know that tourism can be a complicated topic.
One comment we still hear from time to time is that businesses like ours “take housing away from local families.”
We understand where that concern comes from, and in many ways it is right, its also right that tourism is a vital part of the local economy, so understanding how we actually work, and why choosing to let with us is so much more beneficial for Keswick than other multi-national companies.
Why ‘Book Local’ & ‘Let Local’ properties matter.
We work on behalf of many owners, managing and marketing their cottages to guests from all over the world, helping to support our community initiatives. What that means in practice is:
We employ local people, work with local businesses, and hire local tradies!
Keswick Cottages is owned and ran by a local family.
Local businesses benefit from increased footfall that we drive with our handy guest app, highlighting only local, unique businesses.
Therefore, the income generated by tourism stays in the local economy, rather than being sent abroad or elsewhere in the country. Just think about how different things would be if a holiday let was with a larger, national (or multi-national) agency, or just on a booking platform: the majority of the monies generated could be not only leaving the local community, but the county, and in some instances, the country.
Our aim over the years has been to get this message across to potential owners: if you’re looking to let your holiday property, let with a company that actually benefits not only you and your guests, but the community its in.
We remain dedicated to customer service, always having a real person to answer the phone and deal with any enquiries, helping out anyone who needs it, no matter how small or silly your question may seem! You would not believe how many calls we get a day (an hour!) asking if we know the number for other agencies in the area, as they are simply not reachable.
What it comes down to is…
We actually care.
For guests;
For our owners,
and for Keswick.
We are a small, independent, family‑run business — and everything we do is designed to make tourism work for the people who live here, not against them.
Over the years, we have seen numerous independent agencies born, and ultimately be sold to the highest bidder a few years later.
It would be so easy for us to do the same.
There have been times, due to the pressure and bad publicity about this industry, that we have considered the numerous offers to sell.
We refuse.
We refuse to be bought out, because we refuse to give up on our commitment to changing the narrative about holiday letting, and giving owners the option to let with an agency that gives back.
What does ‘Support Local’ actually look like?
“Support local” can sound like a phrase that’s easy to say and harder to define.
For us, it’s something very real — and very practical.
In 2026, that looked like:
- Promoting dozens of local independent businesses completely free of charge. Through our website, social media, and guest partnerships, we connect hundreds of thousands of visitors with Keswick’s fantastic local scene. From elm and Piri Fresco to Theatre by the Lake, the Keswick Alhambra Cinema, Nichol End Marine, Jimmy’s Social Club, and Sup To You Paddleboard Hire — to name a few – we’re proud to help amplify what’s already brilliant.
- Running community-focused events and competitions, including our collaboration with Woofchester’s to find Keswick’s Cutest & Scruffiest Pups, alongside seasonal activities like Christmas bauble decorating and Easter competitions for local children.
- Supporting local charities and events, including Party in the Park and Circus Starr — helping bring the community together in meaningful ways.
- Backing local talent and creativity, such as supporting filmmaker Stuart Armstrong’s Leavers Day, Liam Hemstock’s The Bigger Picture. Opportunities like these matter in a place like Cumbria, where creative industries can be harder to access.
- Stepping up in times of need, including housing local families displaced by house fires — something we’ve done multiple times this year alone.
Beyond 2026…
- During the Covid‑19 pandemic, we housed NHS workers and helped coordinate a wider network of property owners to do the same.
- We support the Keswick Food Share, encouraging guests to donate unused food, which we collect and deliver weekly to reduce waste and support those in need.
- We prioritise local suppliers and tradespeople at every level — from linens supplied by Out of Eden in Kirkby Stephen, beds from sealy, pup packs from Woofchester’s in Barrow, to the local tradespeople who keep our properties running smoothly .
When we talk about supporting local, we’re talking about something bigger than individual actions.
We’re talking about a way of doing business. Our mission statement.
Winning Best Community Business means more to us than we can easily put into words, because this award belongs to more than just our team.
It belongs to the local businesses we work with; the owners who trust us with their properties; the people who stay with us, and the wider Keswick community that support us every day.
Every booking made with Keswick Cottages contributes to this ecosystem.
It helps keep money in the local economy. It supports independent businesses. And it helps us continue investing in the community we care so much about.
Tourism in Keswick can work for local people.
And together, we’re proving that it does.
If you’ve ever stayed with us, worked with us, recommended us, supported a business we’ve recommended, or simply been a part of the Keswick Cottages story — thank you.
We couldn’t do it without you, and with your continued support, we will continue to use our platform to support local people and businesses.
The future is on our doorstep
Signed
The Keswick Cottages Family
