THE GUEST ROOM: The guest room is upstairs at the front, bright and sunny but the curtains do make it dark enough for sleeping. Reportedly the mattress is comfortable, range of pillows. The room is mostly pretty quiet - a bit of rush hour traffic, & the bin lorries early on Wednesday - but the double glazing helps. No noise from the other semi next-door as there is a room between your bedroom and their front bedroom - and the guest will feel private (I use the back part of the upstairs). Lots of storage, and a desk for admin, good lighting. Full fibre broadband & robust wifi - freeview TV - hair dryer (could provide a hair straightener if needed) - remote control fan if it gets super hot like summer 2022. Electronic thermostatic radiator - so the room can be at the temperature that suits you and your work schedule - I can amend the schedule and target temperature remotely if necessary. For an instant quick heat blast there is a fan heater.
The rooms will be cleaned - and linen & towels will be changed - about once a week/fortnight - timing by arrangement as I will not normally enter your room except with notice/ by agreement - and obviously not on your days off if you stay in.
THE WET ROOM: The wet room adjacent to the guest room is for guest use only - thermostat controlled shower & hot water when you need it. Plenty of towels, and a freshly laundered long towelling bath robe.
THE KITCHEN: The kitchen is well equipped - microwave, ovens, dishwasher. There is dedicated guest food storage cupboard and fridge space. Guests are very welcome to cook, and then can eat in the kitchen - or take upstairs (with the usual care about spillage with soft furnishng about the room). For short stay guests especially, basic cooking ingredients are available (salt, pepper, oil, herbs, spices ...).
I am happy to provide a 1st evening meal /snack on day 1 if you need to arrive late in the day after a long journey.
LAUNDRY: Reliable washing machine in small separate room downstairs, instructions hanging on the wall - though pretty straightforward. Washing power, laundry sheets, Vanish stain removal, non-bio powder, delicates liquid - all available. Laundry bag in bedroom for your use + clothes airer for clothes once spun to air dry… put it by your radiator, or in the lobby outside your room, over wet room towel warmer, or hung over banisters if necessary. There is enough warmth in the air to dry spun washing. There is an outside washing line if you have a particualr desire to use it. A dryer is also available in the laundry room but use only very occasionally for final softening or making sure something is bone dry - that’s all I use it for. Don’t leave the dryer going if you are out, check regularly. The laundry room has its own smoke detector given the reported risk of electric fires, especially from dryers (though I am pretty obsessive about maintaining things in the house so risk should be tiny).
THE HOUSE: The house is an Edwardian red-brick semi with original features, handsome to look at, beautifully decorated and carpeted. A restful and comfy house, equipped with an intruder alarm, linked also to smoke and carbon detectors - guests can feel safe and secure. The outside porch light is on all the hours of darkness so arriving back after a show is well illuminated. Also there is a bright LED street light right opposite my house so your way is well lit.
I am sociable and will chat - or not - depending on what you want and will not intrude - but I am interested to make sure you have what you need.
THE GARDEN: The back garden has lawn and flowers and trees and a pond - and has various seats and private places to chill if you have any spare time and the weather is kind. The locked shed can store a bike if wanted.
PARKING & TRAVEL: Street parking works ok - always enough space either directly outside the house or close by. The no.50 bus into town is <100 meters at the end of the road. Depending on the time of day it will take 20-30 mins - the service is very frequent. It arrives near the south side of the city centre, very close to the Hippodrome, and the Alex; it’s a walk or tram ride to the Rep, ICC, Arena on the west side.
THE CATS: Two young pure black cats in residence. Very cute, gentle and friendly-ish. I prefer they are kept out of the guest room to prevent any allergy issues with other guests. You do not need to love cats - just be kind. They will stay out of your way most of the time, though do come up to strangers to have a sniff. Please don’t let them out of the front door!
GUESTS' GUESTS: Guests' "significant others" are very welcome for a night or two- just let me know.
NEIGHBOURS: My neighbours at 71 and 67 are lovely - and will always help if you need anything and I am not around.
THE LOCALITY: It’s a peaceful leafy suburb. Shops are very close - a Tesco Express is 10 mins walk. Kings Heath is increasingly a centre for cafe culture, bars, deli food - and has well known music venues - if you have any time to do anything but work and sleep! A GP medical centre with a pharmacy is 10 mins walk away - an optician too. Gyms and a pool are within walking distance/ short drive.
BIG RULES:
* The intruder alarm must be used - at night too. It’s very easy to use - it has always worked out fine so far. It does mean we need to stay in touch enough for us both to know whether to set or not - this is normally simple and need only be the odd Whats App or post-it. It might feel a bit of a faff and there is no intent to get in the way of you doing exactly what you want when you want. My app enables me to set / unset remotely if needed.
* Kitchen to be kept reasonably tidy & wiped down - without being slavish fill/ empty dishwasher as necessary - or wash up & put away.
* The storage and preparation of food in the kitchen only - not in your room.
* Recycling of waste into the right bins in the kitchen - the bins in your room will be emptied by me on the “rooms refresh” day but meanwhile if you need to as they are full please transfer to the kitchen bins.
* No smokers - no smoking anywhere in house or garden ever by anyone.
* No naked flames/ candles.
* Speak up (or text/message or a post-it note) if you need anything or have a query. I will of course help in emergencies (& have done so).
* Electrical gadgets to be restricted to phone, tablet, laptop - enquire if you feel something else is essential.
* And finally Covid…. well it hasn’t gone away has it - hand hygiene & clean surfaces is the easy bit, but it’s airborne so we need to discuss when you book if an LFT on day 1 for both me & you is the right thing - I have a supply.
THE ENVIRONMENT - NO PLANET B:
I do what I can to use energy and water wisely - without being uncomfortable. The house is double glazed. The CH controls allow precise room temperatures and timings; the HW is heated when a tap or shower is turned on. There are though limits to what one can do in an early 1900s house.
Recycling and waste separation is done diligently at this house … then it’s over to the council to do their bit! Uncooked food waste goes onto my compost heap.
Digs' Features
Private Bathroom
Shower
Sink
TV
Freeview
Radio
HairdryerEn suiteShared BathroomBathSatelliteDVDCDTea/Coffee FacilitiesFridgeLock and KeyDouble GlazingBlackout Blinds
The Host has indicated to TheatreDigsBooker that the following ticked measures are in place.
The host hasn't yet indicated the accessibility of these digs.
The host hasn't yet indicated the child-suitability of these digs.
Short-Term Let Licence Letting licences are not required for digs in this area at the moment.
Gas Safety
This Host has not yet confirmed they have a current Gas Safety Certificate. One should be on display at the time of your booking as this is a legal requirement.
NOTE: Theatre Digs Booker does not vet accommodation listed on the site. We rely heavily on the information provided by Hosts and the feedback given by Guests.
Please see any Guest reviews or the Host Profile for more information.
This host has opted to only receive bookings from registered theatre professionals.
Please log in or register to proceed.
Not a theatre professional? Go back or start a new search.