Step back into a time when the Caribbean was a popular port-of-call for English sailors and pirates! If you are looking to escape the modern world, then The Admirals Inn in Antigua might be just what you are looking for. Built in 1788, the Admirals Inn is not only a hotel, but also a historical site. It is located at Nelson’s Dockyard in English Harbour and once served as an office building for the Engineers at the Dockyard. It was also used as a storehouse for pitch,...
Step back into a time when the Caribbean was a popular port-of-call for English sailors and pirates! If you are looking to escape the modern world, then The Admirals Inn in Antigua might be just what you are looking for. Built in 1788, the Admirals Inn is not only a hotel, but also a historical site. It is located at Nelson’s Dockyard in English Harbour and once served as an office building for the Engineers at the Dockyard. It was also used as a storehouse for pitch, turpentine, and lead. You can even see some original pitch marks at the foot of the stairs in the main entrance way.
The Admirals Inn consists of 3 separate buildings: the main house, the annex house across the lawn, and the Joiner’s Loft just next to it. The Joiner’s Loft is a separate, double-room apartment with its own kitchen and living-room looking out over the harbour. All the rooms have either air-conditioning or a ceiling fan and are decorated with a simple, Colonial English style. With high-beamed ceilings and wood floors, one feels as if they really have stepped back at least a century or two. There are no televisions or computers in the rooms, though, so as not to disturb the historical aspect of the hotel.
Inside the restaurant, the bar countertop used to be a workshop bench and you can even see some of the original sailor’s names carved into it. As one walks the grounds you will find large round brick pillars that used to support a large boathouse. Other historical offerings nearby are Fort Berkeley about a half a mile walk away, a Dockyard Museum, and Shirley Heights which is the army counterpart to the naval military at Nelson’s Dockyard.
Besides the historical parts of Admirals Inn, one will also appreciate the easy access to swimming and snorkeling at beautiful Freeman’s Bay which is just across the harbour. The hotel will be happy to take you there in their boat, free of charge. They also have small sailing boats that are free to use within the English Harbour. Other activities can be found very close by. Price Range – From $90 to $400 a night
