AN Edwardian-themed hotel in Middlewich has been named one of the best for value after winning a Channel 4 reality show.

Rowena Moore, of the Sandhurst Hotel in Chester Road, opened up her home, which is based on life in 1902, to three other B&B owners for the TV series Four in a Bed.

The business woman also visited guest homes in Blackpool, Chippenham and Friary Wood with her sister Angela to judge the hospitality and quality.

Rowena and the other contestants were asked to pay what they considered fair for their stay.

She was declared joint winner with Stevie and Leigh of De-Lovely in Blackpool on Friday when both received the full asking price for their rooms.

Rowena, who has run the Sandhurst Hotel with her husband Steve for almost seven years, said: “I couldn’t believe it. I was shocked as I didn’t think we would win.

“But I’m pleased we did because we work very hard. We did it really to put Middlewich on the map.”

Despite her victory, Rowena had to take her fair share of criticism and clashed with Julie-Anne Barrow, of the no-frills Red Box Guest House, throughout the show.

She added: “You get used to different walks of life when you open up your home and you do meet people like Julie-Anne and how I deal with it is to smile and nod and walk away.

“But I feel she made it personal. It wasn’t easy.”

Tensions particularly ran high in the final episode when Rowena’s rivals commented on the limitations of her hotel’s Edwardian theme and she left the room.

She said: “It’s all very well these reality programmes but when people get their teeth stuck into you, you don’t see the bigger picture.

“I found it a stressful time as it was filmed over Christmas which is a busy time anyway. It was intense. Each day was 18 hours.

“They have to make a TV programme and I guess someone has to be the ‘bad guy’ but if I wasn’t as strong as I am it could have been quite devastating.”

But Rowena told the Guardian that she enjoyed the experience overall and some people who watched the show have already been in touch.

“I’ve had a lot of enquiries about the restaurant,” she added.

“One couple have made a booking as they said they wanted to step back in time and felt the hotel had a Downton Abbey feel to it.

“The show has sparked some interest and opened up a lot of conversations.

“We give a glimpse into an old fashioned world and that’s important in these contemporary times we live in.”

- Rowena was joint winner of the first round of Channel 4’s Four in a Bed which is split into three sets of B&B contestants - The episodes are still available to watch online at channel4.com/programmes/4od