Paul Chatenoud of the Green Gate replies: “It’s not me that doesn’t like Americans, it’s Americans that don’t like me. I’ve recently had 10 American couples who decided, once they saw the B&B, they didn’t like it. Most didn’t tell me to my face; they said they were going into town for a drink, then called up and cancelled, refusing to pay. The cottage is exactly how The Sunday Times described it: remote and basic.

It’s got low ceilings, brown water — but is in the most beautiful place in the world. Some Americans love it, most seem to hate it. They want an old cottage that is actually brand-new.

It’s only Americans that this happens with and I can’t take the risk any more. I have revised my website to warn that the Green Gate is the opposite of the American way of life. I advise Americans to come and look first, but not to book in advance.”

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