Marco Gabbiadini, a former Premier League striker, has turned his hand to running a bed and breakfast in York after retiring from football at the age of 35. Gabbiadini, who played for Sunderland, opened Bishops guest house in 2003 with his wife Deborah. The couple have filled the guest house with mementos from Gabbiadini’s playing days and have been recognised as one of the best B&Bs in York. Gabbiadini said that he and his wife had both grown up in families involved in the hotel and guest house business, making it a natural choice for their second career.
Gabbiadini said that running the guest house was a hard job, requiring flexibility and a willingness to be hands-on. He said that he and his wife were brutally honest with each other during the working day, which helped them to run the business effectively. The guest house has 11 letting rooms, blending modern and classic decor, and offers high-end accommodation during race meets and in the summer. Gabbiadini said that the key to success was providing a comfortable bed and good breakfast.
Gabbiadini pays close attention to TripAdvisor reviews and said that his wife acted as the diplomat of the house when responding to comments. The couple have won three York Tourism Awards for Guest House of the Year. Gabbiadini said that while he did not win many awards as a player, he had made over 700 appearances for his clubs and won Player of the Season six times.