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The Admiral’s Inn is one of a kind. It is set in Nelson’s Dockyard itself, within the restored walls of old naval offices and storerooms, a lovely retreat with an authentic historic atmosphere, with ancient brick and cut stone walls and hefty beams and floorboards that will cast you back to another age. The Inn is a low key and charming escape for much of the year – its waterfront terrace overlooks the quiet lagoon and is a lovely place to relax for a drink - but in the season it finds itself right at the heart of Antigua’s sailing action and it heaves with activity as parties and the prize giving for the major regattas are held here.
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KEY FEATURES
| Admiral's Inn Antigua is one of the Caribbean small hotel treasures - a historic Antiguan Inn, set in buildings dating from 1788, in the thick of the sailing action. Fourteen rooms and suites, some relatively simple but well priced, restaurant, popular bar, some entertainment (a band on Saturdays in season). |
STYLE
| Authentic (restored) Caribbean Georgian style with a gracious Caribbean welcome |
CLIENT PROFILE
| Independent travellers with an appreciation of history and sailors wanting a stopover on land |
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Admiral’s Inn is unique in the Caribbean, an inn set in a historic building in a restored naval dockyard. There are some lovely historic places to stay in the Caribbean - old plantation houses and palaces, in forts and even convents - but here is a hideaway with real charm at the heart of Antigua’s most historic area, Nelson’s Dockyard.
The Dockyard is a delightful place to spend time. Its restored stone and wooden buildings, neat lawns and capstans (for hauling ships onto their sides to clean their hulls) all give it a lovely air of historic authenticity. You might almost expect to hear sharp blasts of whistles and the rolling of barrels reverberating around the terrace and rooms of the inn. The Dockyard is not just a museum, though. It still has a life of its own, of modern sailing, of working chandlers, sailing businesses and galleys (now smarter, as restaurants) and of course a grog-shop (the Galley Bar). And so Admiral’s Inn has a lively air of passing sailors as well as its sense of historic charm and romantic prettiness.
You arrive at the Inn, assuming you come by land rather than by sea, from the north of the island, skirting Falmouth Harbour and all its restaurants and bars and eventually drawing up at the narrow, gated entrance to Nelson’s Dockyard itself. (There is an entry fee for visitors, but as a guest of the hotel you are not required to pay it. A single payment will be added to your bill.) Once you have entered the Dockyard, the entrance to the Admiral’s Inn is the first doorway on your left.
The brick and carved stone building, which is surrounded by flowers and trees, looks out onto a calm, inner section of English Harbour. It has a mellow air of antique authenticity which sets the generally quiet tone for the inn. Turn left and you are straight into the reception and bar, which are really the heart of the hotel. Huge hewn beams are supported on Y shaped columns like hangman’s scaffolds and the brick walls are exposed. The dark furniture has been lacquered, in keeping with old tradition.
This heart also extends outside, through louvered French doorways topped with special keystones, onto a stone terrace that leads down to the waterfront. The terrace is shaded by casuarina pines, date palms and eucalyptus and set amongst Caribbean flowering plants. In addition to its use as a bar, the terrace also acts as the dining room. Admiral’s Inn is not set on the beach. Instead the view from the terrace looks out onto the inner section of English Harbour, where yachts stand at anchor, rigging slapping metallically against their masts.
The admiral of the Inn’s name is of course Horatio Nelson, who was stationed here as a young captain, in charge of HMS Boreas, before he became famous for his action at Trafalgar. The main building was constructed during his posting to the Leeward Islands, in 1788, using bricks brought from Britain as ballast in outgoing ships. Originally it was the Pitch and Tar Store (downstairs) and the Engineers’ Offices upstairs. It was restored in 1961 and became the Admiral’s Inn in 1962.
The nine bedrooms in this main house, set on two upper floors, are accessed by stairs from the bar. The theme of dark wood is continued on the upper floors in the massive beams and rafters and the huge floorboards on the floor. The corridors are quite creaky and dark, but set into the outer walls, which are white-painted brick about two foot thick, are large windows with wooden shutters that will let the light in. All the bedrooms are different in shape, according to the position they occupy in the building (the ceilings of the top floor rooms are built into the roof). They are furnished with wooden furniture, some reproduction pieces as well as canvas director’s chairs, and in a couple of cases with four poster beds. Fabrics tend to be classic toile, which fits with the traditional aspect of the inn.
Four more rooms are located in a separate annex - the old Provision Store and the Condemned Articles’ Store on the other side of the distinctive stone pillars. These are simply decorated but show off their old age with exposed original stone walls. There is a small patio outside each one and these rooms are air-conditioned. Beyond here is Joiner’s Loft (restored 1972) which now contains an apartment upstairs with two bedrooms (one with a queen bed and the other with twins), again set into the roof. This has a fully equipped kitchen and a loft living room which opens out entirely at one end to give an excellent view of the harbour, where the yachts are parked right outside. The furniture is similar to the rest of the inn.
As you pass back and forth you will probably wonder what the curious stone pillars are that stand just to one side of the main building, surrounding a lawn and a small walled off area of water. In fact they were the supports for a boathouse. Set on the top of the pillars (which have been capped to keep the rain off) there was once a sail loft, where the huge canvas sails could be taken off the ships to be stored or repaired.
Back in the bar you see the theme of the British Royal Navy remembered in the decoration, with naval prints, a portrait of Nelson and a plan of his ship, the Boreas. On the bar itself (which came from a different section of the Dockyard) there are even some original graffiti carvings by sailors. But there is also a sense of the modern yachting world in the many flags that hang on the beams and walls - sailors from clubs all over the world leave them in memory of their time spent here. By turns the bar here can be quite quiet, a nice place to come for a drink for a visitor from outside, and then extremely lively. There is entertainment on most Saturday nights in season and the Admiral’s Inn is also a key player in many of the island’s major sailing events. It hosts the prize-giving during Race Week.
It might be important to know that the Admiral’s Inn does not have a resort feel to it - it is not on the beach to begin with. Its atmosphere is genteel and generally calm, and there is a delightful air of the traditional West Indies about it which has largely been lost in the recent run of Caribbean hotels. The rooms are relatively simple, though they are perfectly comfortable and some have a romantic, even quaint historic feel. Although the Admiral’s Inn is perhaps automatically attractive to anyone who is a sailor or who has an interest in naval history, it still has a lovely and convincing authenticity, which suits independent travellers with a horizon beyond the beach. This area of Antigua has plenty to do and to see and Admiral’s Inn makes an ideal and interesting base from which to do it.
STOP PRESS - The Admiral’s Inn changed ownership on 15 May 2009 and is now closed for extensive renovation work. A re-opening date is yet to be advised. |
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Beach & Swimming
Admiral’s Inn is on the waterfront, not on the beach and it does not have a pool. The closest beach is Freeman’s Bay, on the opposite shore of English Harbour (round the corner closer to the harbour mouth, home to the Galleon Beach Club). The hotel boat will carry you across there (with beach chairs if you would like some). There is a restaurant over there where you can get drinks and a meal.
There is also a very nice beach at Pigeon Point on Falmouth Harbour. Admiral’s Inn will drop you there and then collect you. There are some facilities here too. If you would like to go farther afield there are some lovely beaches (with bars) in the South-west – Ffrye’s, Turners and Darkwood Beach.
The inn will provide towels and snorkelling gear for you to take with you to the beach. |
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Sports & Recreation
A windsurfer is available at the inn (but the sport is limited by the number of boats in the harbour), so for watersports they recommend going through the nearby St James’s Club, where you can buy a day pass into the resort and use their sporting facilities. Scuba diving is also available. It takes place right outside English Harbour and along the southern shore.
There are very good opportunities for hiking, with a number of trails in the area. Most importantly they enable you to discover some of the district’s extraordinary history in its forts and barracks. |
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Staff
The key faces at Admiral’s Inn are Ethelyn Philip, the manageress, who has been there for many years, and Norman the barman. He has been there for over 20 years and makes a mean daiquiri. |
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The Rooms
The rooms at the Admiral’s Inn are in three different locations, in the two upper floors of the main building, in an annex that looks across the old boat house and sail lost, and beyond it in the Joiner’s Loft. They are different in shape, according to the position they occupy in the building, and some use the setting, the original walls or the position in the roof, to give a sense of the age and tradition that they represent. They have quite simply decorated, and have traditional fabrics and wooden furniture, some reproduction antique. A couple of the rooms have four poster beds. While thirteen are ‘hotel’ rooms, the Joiner’s Loft is a two bedroom apartment (one with a queen bed and the other with twins). It has a fully equipped kitchen and a loft living room, the end of which opens out entirely. Eight of the rooms in the inn are air-conditioned, but some, with high ceilings and thick walls, are quite acceptable with fan ventilation. |
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Dining
The dining room at the Admiral’s Inn is set outside on the stone terrace right in front of the bar, under a covered area to one side or in the shade of the casuarina pines. They offer all three meals.
The fare is fairly international, with Caribbean dishes available too. Burgers and sandwiches available at lunch, but you can also expect Caribbean soups and platters of local fish and seafood. |
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Children
Children are welcome at Admiral’s Inn, however there are no facilities specifically for them. |
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Useful Hints
The inn is open to the public.
Each guest is asked to pay a small fee to enter the Dockyard initially. Ths will be added to your bill and paid to the National Park Authority. |
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Practical Facts
Annual Closure: The Admiral’s Inn is due to change ownership on 15 May 2009, when it will then close for extensive renovation work. All of the present staff are due to retire. A re-opening date is yet to be advised.
Dress Code: Informal, however as the inn is open to the public it is requested that you are reasonably attired
Facilities: Bar and restaurant, with steelband or local string & flute band on Saturday nights during the season
Complimentary: Snorkelling equipment, windsurfer, beach transfers: by boat to Freeman’s Bay and by car to Pigeon Point; beach chairs and beach towels
Other services: Front desk can arrange local hikes with a trail guide, sailing and fishing excursions arranged
Children: Welcome however they are not specifically catered for
Accommodation: 13 rooms and 1 two bedroom apartment
Room Types: Each room has a ceiling fan, and an en suite bathroom with shower. There are 9 rooms within the inn itself and 4 in the annex: 3 Minimum Rooms with twin beds which are located on the top floor with exposed roof space. 3 Moderate Rooms on the first floor, rear facing, with twin beds and air-conditioning. 7 Superior Rooms with three on the first floor, with harbour views, one with a Queen size four poster bed and two with twins, and one with air-conditioning. Four are in the separate Annex, one with a queen size bed four poster bed, the others with twins, all are ground floor each having a private patio and air-conditioning. The Joiner’s Loft is in a separate wooden building with steps up into the loft with skylights only (no windows bar the living room), and has a fully equipped kitchen, a twin bedroom, with bathroom off the hall with shower only, a double bedroom with ceiling fan and en suite bathroom with tub/shower, and living room with small TV, with a wall of shutters opening to the waterfront.
Credit Cards: Visa, MasterCard and American Express |
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Rates
| | 04 May-15 Dec 2009 | 15 Dec-04 May 2009-10 | | Meal Plan | EP | EP | | Minimum Room Single Double | 90 105 | 130 160 | | Moderate Room Single Double | 95 115 | 140 180 | | Superior Room Single Double | 105 130 | 150 190 | | 3rd person in mod/sup only Child U12 sharing room | 30 15 | 30 15 | All rates are in US$ per room, per night and are subject to 10% Service Charge and 10.5% Government Tax. EP=room only. All rates are subject to change without notice.
A 3 day deposit is required to secure all bookings. Deposit will be refunded once written cancellation is received 21 days prior to arrival in the winter season, or 14 days prior to arrival in the summer. STOP PRESS - The Admiral’s Inn is due to change ownership on 15 May 2009, when it will then close for extensive renovation work. All of the present staff are due to retire. A re-opening date is yet to be advised. |
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Special Offers
FREE NIGHT SUMMER SPECIAL - during the summer months, Admiral's Inn offers the 5th night free. Valid for stays 06 May-14 Dec 2009. |
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How to Book
If you wish to make further enquiries or a reservation, please use the WEB LINK or DIRECT EMAIL ENQUIRIES facility at the top of this page to make contact with Admiral's Inn, or if you wish to telephone them, please click on TELEPHONE CONTACT to reveal the number. |
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Locality
Set right in Nelson’s Dockyard, the Admiral’s Inn has all of the interest of the dockyard right on its door-step. There is a museum, several other restored buildings and a couple of restaurants and bars as well as a general air of boat-borne activity, so it is a good place to spend some time.
The English Harbour /Falmouth Harbour area has many bars and restaurants, a marina, gift shops, provisioning store, bakery, post office, ATM, bank, internet café, a craft market, museum and of course the historic docks. It should be noted however that while things are very lively in the winter season, during the middle of the summer everything is fairly quiet and a number of businesses take a couple of months holiday.
Where nightlife is concerned, apart from English Harbour and its various bars, the highlight of every week is the Sunday afternoon barbecue at Shirley Heights Lookout, where visitors and locals gather to party and watch the sunset with a drink or two and enjoy a live steel band concert, followed by a reggae band. |
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Meet & Greet
The easiest way to get to the Admiral’s Inn on arrival in Antigua is to take a taxi at the airport despatch stand. The transfer will take around 30-40 minutes. If you are booking through a travel organiser, it is likely that their representative will be at the airport to meet you. This service and your return airport transfers should be included in the cost of your holiday. Please check at the time of booking. Alternatively, if you are travelling independently and would prefer to have someone meet you with a pre-arranged taxi, a Transfer and Concierge Service is offered by St James Travel & Tours. |
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Getting Around
There is quite a lot to do for an independent traveller in this area of Antigua, including several lovely beaches in the South-west. There is a reasonable bus service between English Harbour and St John’s, but it is harder to get farther afield.
A rental car enables you to explore the island at your own pace, to visit some of Antigua’s excellent beaches by day and then go out to the restaurants in the evenings. We recommend you book in advance via your travel organiser or direct with Thrifty Car Rentals, who will deliver to the property and issue your Antiguan driving licence, price US$20. Vehicles can be left at the airport or be collected from the property at a pre-arranged time on your departure day. Be aware that around Christmas and over the sailing festivals there can be a shortage of cars in Antigua, so you are advised to book well in advance. Also book early if you want one for a week or more because the pre-booked rates can be better. |
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