Couple Alex and Greg run Cinq & Sept, the best of a gay hotel and a gay guest house, in the south of France.

Set in the centre of a traditional wine-making village in the unspoilt Languedoc region, Cinq & Sept is close to the beaches of the Mediterranean and France's second 'gay capital', Montpellier.

We caught up with Alex and Greg to find out more.

What made you decide to open your B&B?
We ‘escaped’ to France in 2003 after working in advertising in London. We wanted to get away from the rat race and get closer to the sun and the sea.

After renovating a few houses and then starting a web design agency here, we decided to buy a beautiful ‘maison bourgeoise’ in a traditional wine-making village, 25 minutes from the Mediterranean.

It’s now home to our Cinq & Sept guest house. We’re absolutely crazy about this part of the south of France and love showing it off to people. So we thought opening a guest house, where we could share our home with other gay men and show them the best of the area, would be a lot of fun.

Who runs it?
We both run it. Greg (42) is the blonde one in the photos on our website and Alex (38) is his partner of 12 years.

In your opinion, what is its best feature?
The house itself. It was built in the late 1700s by someone who made a fortune through war and decided to build a huge, impressive mansion to show off his new found wealth. It’s ‘Italianate’ in style, with original balustrades, stone columns and exposed wood beams and high ceilings. It’s the largest house in the village and once presided over a vast olive farm.


What’s been the most memorable moment for you while running the guesthouse?
Hanging out with guests in the evening, drinking chilled rosé and chatting about their day and life in general. And helping them plan their next day. There’s so much to do here and we love making sure people go to all the best beaches, restaurants and places of interest.

Is there a gay scene nearby?
This area is already really popular with gay men. Montpellier is the San Francisco of France - it’s the second most gay city, and there are lots of great bars, cafes, restaurants and saunas. And all the beaches along the coast have gay sections which get pretty busy in the summer.

What is there to do in the local area?
Lots. Languedoc is the world’s largest wine-producing area, so there’re great wine-tasting opportunities everywhere. The beaches (some naturist) are huge and sandy, many with cool beach clubs along them. There's great canoeing on rivers nearby. There're also beautiful walks and bike rides, spectacular castles, great restaurants and markets and the Canal du Midi. There's skiing in the Pyrénées and pretty villages.


Is there an `average` gay traveller who uses your accommodation?
Not really. Our guests tend to be very relaxed and friendly. They like being able to hang out by the pool with other guests, but also quite like that their suite is self-catering, so they have privacy, too. They come from all over Europe and they're usually between 25 and 55 years old.

What sort of clientele are you hoping to attract?
Our guest house is exclusively for gay men. We’re hoping to continue to attract a good mix of nationalities and ages.

What services and facilities do you offer?
Each suite offers a kitchen, ensuite shower room with 24cm Raindance showers, iPod dock radio, free broadband WiFi everywhere, satellite TV and DVD player, ‘Pima Cotton’ sheets and towels, and views of the surrounding vines. There's a guest manual with all our hottest tips on what to do and where to go.

The share facilities include a large pool with ‘sitting ledge’, a garden with a lounge area, a summer kitchen (where you can help yourself to food and drink) and a dining terrace.


What are your cooked breakfasts like and do you have a vegetarian option?
Our suites are self-catering as we’re in the centre of a traditional village and people tend to prefer buying their own croissants and bread from the local bakery. However, there is a summer kitchen in the garden with an American fridge-freezer stocked with food and drink, allowing guests to eat in our garden lounge or dining terrace areas.

Where do you like to go when you go on holiday?
We live in the country and so quite like going on city breaks to get our ‘fix’ of people and culture. We especially like Paris, London and Barcelona, which is only a three hour drive from us.

The Big Pitch! Why should people holiday in your guesthouse?
We offer luxurious suites, a pool and a garden in the sunny south of France, close to great beaches and France’s second gay capital Montpellier. Plus, you'll get a very warm welcome from Alex and Greg.

And finally, how much does it cost to stay with you?
Before special offers the price ranges from €60 per night in low season, to €95 per night in high season. Special offers often take 15-20% off these prices. Our largest suite also has a sofa bed - so if four people stay, it costs from €27.50 per person per night.

Accommodation Details
Cinq & Sept Gay Guest House, 7 Ave Henri Mas, Roujan, France, 34320.

For more information, call +33 4 67 24 894 46, email info@cinqetsept.com or visit www.cinqetsept.com.

If you own a gay hotel or B&B and would like to be featured in our next gay accommodation fact file click here and get in touch. Email travel@gaydarnation.com for more information. 

Read Our French Trio Guide »
Click to sample the culture and scenes of three gay-wooing Gallic gems: Montpellier, Lyon and Saint-Etienne.

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