The Lancaster Manor Bed and Breakfast — Hotel in Gainesville

The Lancaster manor bed and breakfast is a hidden gem in Gainesville. Here is our personal experience. My husband and I booked a night there after our wedding to have a small honeymoon on the day of our wedding since our big one was months away. The day I booked our reservation I fell in love with Connie. Even though she never met us, she was genuinely excited about our nuptials and wanted to make sure we had a memorable stay. The day of the wedding we had a few hiccups that delayed us and there was traffic on our way up so we were going to be late. I was worried because we had set a time for our private dinner. Connie already knew about the traffic and when I called to apologize she was wonderful. She was at the door to great us when we pulled up and took care of everything. We had the most delicious and romantic 3 course dinner and got to know Connie and her husband John. We were pleasantly surprised by their story and the wonderful people they are. We instantly felt at home and connected to this amazing couple. God truly knew this was the place for us to spend our first night as husband and wife. Not only is the food amazing, the decor and ambiance of the house is elegant while still feeling the cozy comfort of a home. You can see they pay attention and put thought into every detail and make every guest feel special. They talked to us like we had known each other for years while still being customer service oriented to make sure our stay was relaxing and joyous. The breakfast was by far one of the best meals I have ever had and I am a breakfast connoisseur. From the cream for the coffee to the homemade jams to the hollandaise sauce, we were in heaven. I wish we could have stayed the week, but we will now be celebrating our anniversaries there each year to remember the first one that was absolutely perfect. Usually I have at least one critic but I really couldn’t find anything I would change. They have considered everything.

Quick run of amenities during our stay for those who are checking a list: Breakfast is included which you can choose pretty much anything you want and starts with a delicious fruit and yogurt parfait. All fresh and creamy and tasty. Dinner is an add on option but highly recommended. It’s 3 courses and you get to choose from a menu sent in advance. Wine or champagne is included. There is a private dinning area and an open one to visit with other guests. Rose room (where we stayed) is connected to a bathroom so you have your own. The soaking tub is wonderful and salts and bubble bath are provided. We didn’t use the shower but it does have one. Lots of towels and robe and slippers are provided. Homemade brownies and cookies are available as well as sodas. Wine and champagne can be purchased but aren’t insanely over priced like a lot of hotels. Hot tub is located on the grounds. It’s not private but depending on capacity you could easily be alone. They will start a fire and bring you drinks as well if you use it. We didn’t because we were exhausted but it looked great and is updated and clean. Connie has several farm fresh items for sale like banana bread, jams, fresh eggs, etc. Tons of social shared space but it also seemed easy to be alone in your own little world. Wi-Fi is great, we had no problem connecting and it was fast! I’m sure there are more that we never got the chance to experience but we will next time. We had a great time and were blessed to meet this loving...

This has been hands down the best B&B experience I have ever had. My mother in law passed away last July, and because of COVID, we were not able to have a proper service. A couple of weekends ago we finally were able to pay our respects. In searching for a venue in Gainesville, The Lancaster Manor B&B was the perfect choice. We rented all four rooms so basically had the entire place to ourselves. When we arrived, we were greeted by the innkeeper Connie who invited us inside and started to show us around. She told us the history of the property and showed us all the rooms, the common spaces and outdoor spaces around the beautiful sparkling pool and hot tub. We went back inside and met her husband John in the kitchen and we sat down with a glass of wine and talked about what was needed for the next day for the service and what we wanted for breakfast the next morning. They are both chefs. While we were talking, John slipped upstairs and put fresh banana nut bread and butter in our rooms. There was also a covered cake dish filled with the most amazing brownies awaiting at the top of the stairs. They helped us get settled in. Saturday morning, we got up and proceeded to the sun porch which is where they serve breakfast. We were first treated my fresh greek yogurt covered in fresh fruit. Then John brought out the most amazing omlets. Connie makes the most amazing bisquits and they have homemade jellies that you can also buy and take with you. You can buy that amazing banana nut bread also!! After breakfast we started preparing for the afternoon event. John and Connie worked tirelessly the entire day making every aspect of the event perfect. John helped me pull the TV out so I could put the slideshow on it while Connie set up tables for drinks and things. John and Connie prepared all the food which was not only delicious, but beautifully displayed. Every single thing was perfect. Even though they were not asked to, they stayed on the floor for the entire event, making sure our guests had what they needed, replenishing things that ran out. Then after the event, everything magically disappeared and was put away. Amazing.

A bit about the home. It is the oldest residential property in Gaineville and has been kept period down to the push button light switches. All of the guest rooms are upstairs. Two rooms have private baths. The Rose room was the original master bedroom. It has a functioning fireplace. The bathroom has a claw foot bathtub with shower. Beautifully decorated in floral accents. The other large room is the Cowboy room and is where we stayed. It is decorated with a western motif and adorned with pictures of John Wayne. This rooms bath has a walk in shower. The other two rooms are smaller and share a bathroom with a claw foot tub. Upstairs outside the rooms is a nice sitting area with a nice couch and chairs. Also a coffee maker and a small fridge with water, and wine that you can purchase if you desire and are very nice choices. Everything is tastefully decorated and immaculately clean. The next morning, Sunday was checkout. But of course we had another award winning breakfast. My Eggs Benedict were amazing. The entire stay from start to finish was perfect. Whether you just want a quiet stay, or a place to have a special event you should really consider Lancaster Manor. They even have a small private dining room for two people for...

Absolutely exceptional! Every detail of our stay was so remarkable; it’s hard to know where to start: The Lancaster Manor is a beautiful lady - gorgeously restored and meticulously maintained. She has an elegant welcoming, yet upscale, vibe; dripping with the perfect touch of good ole southern hospitality.

The pride of ownership is evident everywhere on this property. The rooms are unique and spot-on in their decor (nothing modern visible in the rooms - no fridge - no tv). Supremely comfortable beds - the linens - superior to any B&B where we have previously stayed. In fact, those sheets were so amazing that Ms. Connie was able to arrange for us to order a set for home - which we did!

The rooms are spotless - the owners inspect each room daily and the standard of cleanliness is the absolute best we’ve encountered at any B&B. They provide a true turn-down service every night with a lovely treat.

Just outside the rooms, in the large landing, there is a fully stocked fridge and coffee bar and Ms. Connie keeps a special home-baked treat for guests to enjoy in this comfy seating area.

The first floor of the Manor is really special from the inviting living room to the elegant dining room and the dreamy huge spotlessly clean kitchen. The solarium, where breakfast is served each day is just…awesome. The Butler’s pantry where private dinners for two are held is really a sweet romantic spot.

The outside area is meticulously maintained by Pastor John. The gardens are pretty and the hot tub is a delight. The pool is fantastic and it’s a really nice place just to sit by after supper and enjoy the waterfall. The grounds are large and set up with the typical lawn games such as corn hole or even bocce ball!

Now to the meals - we literally loved every single thing we ate. If you don’t order the dinner service - you will weep with regret when the aroma from the kitchen comes out to play. Both of these owners are accomplished chefs and the dining experience here is, frankly, divine.

We ordered the beautifully plated and delicious charcuterie for our arrival. We also had the steak dinner - I literally have no words for the cornucopia of flavors - best meal ever. Ms. Connie is a culinary genius - she takes simple fresh ingredients and elevates them until you find your tastebuds in a symphony of bliss.

Pastor John’s specialty is breakfast and wowza - he delivers! Every bite was pure perfection. The meal was a perfect balance of savory and sweet with rich homemade goodness at its core. Coffee was outstanding - overall, a phenomenal experience. We brought home some of their amazing granola and a jar of preserves.

Don’t even get me started on the banana bread. Ms. Connie is famous for it and we just had to bring a loaf home!

Honestly, we have stayed in many B&Bs (and even got married at a “famous” one) and have never written a review because they just didn’t meet expectations - however, I am compelled to write this review because of the exceptional quality of our stay - Connie and John are the quintessential Texas hospitality experts and should lead a masterclass on the right way to run a B&B.

We have a return trip planned, and our kids are flying in, to join us at the Lancaster Manor for an early Christmas celebration. Wish the Manor was not sold out that night because our family would’ve booked all of the rooms. It’s just...