Ambassador B&B and Inn Next Door is located near the center of Stratford, Ontario, Canada. The property comprises two separate buildings: an inn and a bed and breakfast. Accommodations for guests depend to some degree on which facility they stay at, as each differs slightly in its services. Visitors to Stratford are often attracted to the various theatres that play during the summer, such as the Stratford Festival Theatre, Tom Patterson Theatre, Avon Theatre, and Studio Theatre. The area is known for the Avon River, which attracts many swans. Each year, 24 swans are led from their winter quartering to the river.
Ambassador B&B and Inn Next Door is comprised of two distinct buildings next to each other. It is a three to five-minute walk from downtown Stratford, which is the location of several restaurants, cafes, art galleries, antique stores, and entertainment centers.
The two buildings' exteriors are almost identical. Both the inn and bed and breakfast are Victorian-style red-brick houses with slate roofs and white door and window frames. They have front porches with pillars on the ground level and white railings on the second floor. Four steps lead up to the main floor of each building, and at the bottom of each stair is a pair of stone swans to "welcome" the arriving guests. Ambassador B&B and Inn Next Door also features lawns and flower gardens on both houses in the front. Additional garden space is at the back of each home.
Ambassador B&B and Inn Next Door offers four rentable units per house, making a total of eight. The bed and breakfast units are distinctly decorated and colored: two are blue, while one is green and the other yellow. They all come with queen beds, en-suite bathrooms, radios, refrigerators, and coffee makers. Room 3 also has access to a private balcony in the back with chairs and a table. Three of the inn suites provide a king bed, and the last one comes with two extra-large twin beds. Each suite features an LED TV, individual heating and air conditioning, a love seat, an en-suite bathroom, additional seating, a coffee maker, and a fully equipped kitchen. While the color schemes and decorations of these differ from room to room, they are less distinct from each other than the bed and breakfast rooms. Their interiors are, for the most part, cream and white.
The bed and breakfast offers additional common areas for visitors to sit. The main floor dining room is where breakfast is served each day, but guests are also welcome to use it as a common area. The coffee room features a round table, four chairs, and a variety of coffee and tea options complementary to a room reservation. The front sunroom takes the place of the front porch and is closed off from the outside with a wall. This sunroom serves as an additional seating area for patrons to relax and view Ontario Street while indoors. Visitors can park for free on-site regardless of whether they stay at the inn or the bed and breakfast. Finally, the backyard garden grows all-season flowers and bushes and provides more spots for guests to sit.
A complimentary breakfast is only served at the bed and breakfast. One of the owners, Fuyang Peng, saw fit to provide the option for visitors to either stay and eat in the mornings or leave the premises and cook on their own, hence the inn having individual kitchens. Breakfast is served from 8:30 to 10:00 AM, although guests may eat earlier advance notice is given to Fuyang, in the dining room in the B&B building. They can also choose between a Canadian or Chinese breakfast. The Canadian breakfast typically includes waffles, eggs Benedict, yogurt and granola, toast, or the chef's choice soup. Those interested in the Chinese option can expect Chinese spring rolls, pancakes, dumplings, or wonton soup. Coffee, tea, and juice are also offered at breakfast. Fuyang notes as well that guests staying at the inn may have breakfast at the bed and breakfast for an additional fee.
While staying at Ambassador B&B and Inn Next Door, visitors can visit many attractions in Stratford. Chief among these, according to Fuyang, are the various theaters. These include the Stratford Festival Theatre, Tom Patterson Theatre, Avon Theatre, and Studio Theatre. The Avon River is another common attraction. It was named after the River Avon in England and is known as a place where swans, ducks, and other waterfowl can be found. Visitors can also visit the Shakespearean Gardens, Stratford Perth Museum, nature walks, restaurants, and breweries. Fuyang says that Ambassador B&B and Inn Next Door is well-placed from these attractions as downtown is a three to five-minute walk away.
Fuyang Peng and his wife Beru Zheng, Ambassador B&B and Inn Next Door's owners, want their guests to feel at home when they stay at his property. Fuyang says he and the staff try to communicate often with visitors to attend to their needs and understand what would help them enhance their experience at Stratford. They also provide a free pickup service from the train station upon guests' arrival. Several of Ambassador B&B and Inn Next Door's visitors have left positive reviews about their experience. One patron said, "Very nice atmosphere. Awesome environment and great breakfast." Another visitor commented, "Comfortable, safe, reasonably priced, the boss and the couple are very nice and kind."
The owners of Ambassador B&B and Inn Next Door expect their patrons to adhere to the policies that have been set. Smoking is not allowed inside the buildings, including burning candles or incense. However, guests may smoke in the outside spaces of the property on the condition that nearby windows and doors are closed. Pets are also not allowed at the establishment. Check-in starts at 3:00 PM unless need requires otherwise, and check-out is at 11:00 AM. Additionally, quiet time begins at 11:00 PM each night.
The bed and breakfast closes when the theaters stop operations, but the inn is open year-round. Fuyang explains this is due to the theaters being the main attraction of Stratford, and he does not see the need to open the bed and breakfast while theater attendees are absent. However, the bed and breakfast opens back up within the same month as the start of the theater season.
The Ambassador B&B and Inn Next Door buildings were built in 1923 and owned by several people until Fuyang and Biru, the current owners, took over in 2012. Initially, the business only included the bed and breakfast. Later, the couple incorporated the inn when they decided they wanted to give their guests the option to cook at their leisure instead of being constrained to a schedule. They began the process of opening the inn in 2016, and it officially opened in mid-2018. Regarding future plans, they want to add more space to the overall property.
Victorian
Fuyang Peng
