B-side's Portland B&B resists calls from Airbnb to change logo

A seaside bed and breakfast says it is resisting legal requests from accommodation marketplace Airbnb to change its logo.

Bnb-side in Portland, Dorset, was founded by the B-side arts festival three years ago to help financially support the not-for-profit organisation.

It said it was contacted by Airbnb after applying to register the Bnb-side logo as a trademark.

B-side said the US-based firm claimed the six-bedroom guesthouse could unfairly benefit from, or even damage, Airbnb's reputation and the trademark would cause confusion. Airbnb has been approached for a comment.

B-side said it had asked the Intellectual Property Office (IPO), which deals with trade mark applications, to reject Airbnb's opposition.

Speaking to BBC Radio Solent's Dorset Breakfast show, B-side director Rocca Holly-Nambi described a "significant and unexpected feeling" when the first letter arrived from Airbnb's lawyers, saying they were "a bit freaked out".

"We just looked at each other and went 'wow, what do we do about this? Do we just panic and close it down and forget the name and call it something else?'

"Everybody's reaction was the same, they were like 'no, enough is enough'.

"We're just going to sit with our values and we are going to sit it out because we need to secure the future of B-side festival on the island and the Bnb-side has been our way of doing this."

B-side is receiving advice from law firm Stevens Hewlett & Perkins.

Partner Robin Webster said: "Airbnb's position is that B-side's Bnb-side logo is, amongst others, confusingly similar to its Airbnb trade mark.

"B-side disputes this and is defending the opposition on that basis.

"The proceedings remain ongoing and are likely to continue for a number of months, potentially for another six-to-12 months."

IPO confirmed an application was filed by B-side to register the Bnb-side mark in February 2026 and it had been opposed by Airbnb.

The latest edition of B-side's four-day arts festival closed on Sunday and was attended by about 6,000 people.

B-side, which also organises year-round art projects on Portland, has been offered the chance buy the building at 77 Fortuneswell, which is also home to its arts and community space.

It has so far raised just over £2,000 of its £50,000 fundraising target.