Inn History
Echoes of Elegance: The Timeless Tale of The Carisbrooke Inn
The hidden gem of the historic community of Ventnor is just down the beach from Atlantic City. At the time of its incorporation in 1903, the city of Ventnor was a place of rest and retreat at the Jersey shore for families vacationing from nearby Pennsylvania, New York and Washington, D.C. Today, people from all over the world come to vacation in Ventnor because of its proximity to the Atlantic Ocean, its fabulous restaurants and unique shopping, and its easy access to the nightlife and excitement of Atlantic City and the Casinos.
The original Carisbrooke Inn, built in 1891, was a grand ocean front inn and the first hotel established in Ventnor. This fine hotel served as the center of all social and political life as the town of Ventnor, New Jersey evolved. Its name, “Carisbrooke”, was acquired from the Carisbrooke Castle located on the Isle of Wight in the picturesque resort town of Ventnor, England. Unfortunately, this beautiful hotel was demolished in the winter of 1910-11. In 1996, the current Inn was established and paid tribute to the original Carisbrooke Inn by assuming its name.
The architectural style of the current Carisbrooke Inn is an American Foursquare – a post-Victorian style which shared many features with the Prairie architecture pioneered by Frank Lloyd Wright. Its boxy shape provided roomy interiors for homes on small city lots. Many Foursquares are trimmed with tiled roofs, cornice-line brackets, or other details drawn from Craftsman, Italian Renaissance, or Mission architecture. The Carisbrooke Inn still retains many of its original features as when the property was first built in 1909. In addition, the Inn has been painted in an historic color scheme consistent with the American Foursquare era.
Parking
Seamless Arrival
Upon arrival you may temporarily park on the street in front of the inn.
Complimentary off street parking is provided for one standard sized vehicle per room. Our parking lot is not adjacent to the building but located around the corner about 600 feet from the front door of the inn.
You will be provided a dated parking pass upon check in which must be displayed on the dashboard of the vehicle at any time it is parked in our parking lot.
We employ a towing service to monitor the parking lot who will tow any vehicles without a valid parking pass out of the lot without notice and at the vehicle owners expense. Please do not park your vehicle for any reason in the parking lot without displaying a valid parking pass.
Over sized vehicles can not be accommodated in our parking lot. Please check with us if you are unsure about your vehicles size before you arrive.
**Use of our parking lot is complimentary, however not guaranteed. While we strive to meet our commitment to provide parking for our rooms, circumstances beyond our reasonable control may prevent use of the parking lot or individual spaces during portions of your stay.
Hospitality
Welcome to Warmth: Experiencing Our Signature Care
From the moment you step through the tiled vestibule at The Carisbrooke Inn, you are greeted with The Carisbrooke Inn’s unique “European Hospitality”. Your innkeepers, John Battista, who is a second generation Italian American who has traveled around Europe extensively and Agnes Debicz who is a Polish immigrant have created an inviting and relaxing experience for you. Since hospitality is an integral facet of the European way of life and has been for John & Agnes, they strives to bring this concept of hospitality to the Inn.
Covid-19 has changed the way every business provides hospitality. We have tried to blend a personal touch with many peoples desire or need for a hands off approach. While we continue to have staff available during check in to greet you or help you for the most part we allow guests to check themselves in at their leisure. We are always available if any help is needed.
After arriving at your guest room and settling in, you have some time to explore the inn, enjoy some tea or coffee in our parlor or indulge in one of the many seasonal treats available in our parlor where you can relax and meet some of your fellow guests.
What says hospitality better than food? We believe every guest should start their day with an energizing and delicious breakfast. We offer our guests a full complimentary made to order breakfast at our neighboring cafe, North Beach Cafe & Creamery. We use the freshest incgredients to make from scratch a full menu of options to get your day started right. Our breakfasts include several choices from our bakery, eggs and omelets, and items from our griddle all made from scratch and all made in house.
The hospitality does not end at breakfast. Stop by the cafe later in the day for some of our homemade ice cream or italian ice (served seasonally).
In addition to the distinctive cuisine you will find at the Inn, John, Agnes and their staff are personally available to help you plan your activities during your stay. Whether you choose to dine at one of the Atlantic City area’s finest restaurants, spend a day dolphin watching, or even antiquing in Historic Smithville, John, Agnes, and their staff will assist you with directions, reservations, transportation and anything else that you may need to make your stay more pleasant. While food and personalized service are important facets of European Hospitality, attention to detail is equally significant. Specifically, the guest rooms are individually appointed with simple and elegant décor.
In each room, a guest will find antique and vintage pieces of furniture, crisp linens, and a modern bathroom all of which are combined to create a luxurious yet comfortable resting place. Also, if you are celebrating a special occasion, our staff is happy to put surprise treats in the room for your loved one, such as gifts, flowers, candies, or anything else you would like. Many guests love the convenience of having details such as this taken care of by us.
Testimonials
What Client’s Say?
“I planned this weekend for my fiance and I it was the best I’ve ever been in. Cozy, very clean, feels like your home, service is to die for..Baked goods makes you go back for more…all of the room’s are better than a hotel room.”
a guest from New York City
“This was my second stay at the Carisbrooke Inn. It had a great atmosphere, making you feel very welcomed and relaxed. The room was very clean and neat. My favorite part was hanging out by the fireplace sipping wine and chatting with other guests. Great service and accomadating my special requests were the highlight of my stay.”
a guest from Hagerstown, Maryland
“Two years in a row we stayed here and absolutely loved it. This year we had the newly renovated Room 9 , OMG FABULOUS!!!! Agnes was so nice and very helpfull and those cookies she makes are the best. The breakfast was sooo good. It is so nice to stay here and then go minutes up the road to AC.”
a guest from Delaware
“This was our second visit to the Carisbrooke Inn, and it won’t be our last! John and his staff were excellent hosts; friendly, informative and helpful without being overbearing. The meals were great and the housekeeping was exceptional. Much better than a hotel, and convenient to the beach and boardwalk.”
a guest from Allentown, PA