The Essex Inn

While my family and I have stayed at Essex Inn on multiple occasions and enjoyed our stay, I was recently gob-smacked at the level of unprofessionalism and underlying hostility when we had to cancel our reservations due to no fault of our own. In early March 2025, none of our many, many voicemails were answered for weeks on end. All we could do is continue to call and call. These unanswered calls were made not only by me but also multiple family members and friends who wished to make reservations. Again, this went on for many, many weeks, as we were seeking additional rooms to my prior reservation so we could all stay together in one venue during the month of May 2025. Because our multiple calls and messages went unanswered, naturally we found a room block elsewhere to achieve our goal and I immediately left yet another message to that effect at the end of March 2025. I received no return call but did formally cancel the rooms via that same voicemail and moved on. This morning I made a friendly, courtesy call just to make sure we were all on the same page. Well, I was not met with an apology for all the unanswered calls from me and so many other prospective guests. Instead I was met with immediate disappointment and underlying anger that we chose to cancel our reservations despite not having our calls returned or the issue addressed 1:1 in any way. It was an immediate, negative tone and vibe, as if we were unknown to the owner nor guests who supported their business on more than one occasion without incident. Very cold and very telling--just righteous indignation, coupled with zero accountability. Needless to say, we also cancelled our group dinner reservations at 1710 Tavern, as that feeling of unwelcoming indifference is not one we will expose ourselves to ever again.

I was pleasantly surprised staying at this charming inn during a family visit . The new owners go above and beyond to make sure every guest is welcome and comfortable. I stayed in the beige king room. It was a huge lovely room with a super comfortable bed. The linens were top quality and soft . The day was a hot one , but the room cooled down and I was extremely happy to have a cold room. I’m always hot . The bathrooms are old , but this is an old inn. You cannot expect a modern bathroom in an 18 something century inn. Sorry - I’m not a history buff . My 92 year old mother cannot walk up steps and they immediately switched rooms for her to have a ground floor . Her room was huge with a kitchen . It would be perfect for families staying longer than one night . It is very close to the water and you can walk downtown to the quaint little downtown. If you are interested in staying at a charming place vs the same old same old hotels - the Essex Inn is a warm welcome. My sister held my niece’s birthday party at the Inn as well . The food was good, the staff so helpful and they really made my niece feel special . I would definitely stay here again .

We were greeted by the owners Greg and Jennifer and given an extensive tour of the house along with the complete history. We stayed in the beige room which was light-filled, comfortable, quiet, and incredibly clean. The perfect mix of historic with modern amenities. Breakfast was a feast as other reviewers have noted. We used The Essex Inn as a base to explore the Northern Neck (NN). We didn’t need lunch the breakfast was so scrumptious and filling-individually made keeping dietary restrictions in mind. The entire stay was so pleasant. We hope to visit again soon!