Hornsby House Inn — Hotel in Gloucester Point

My wife and I stayed here for our wedding night and could not have been treated worse by the owner of this place. We stayed there for 1 night (which was ridiculously overpriced) and the first issue we had was the horrible attitude from the owner when my wife and the bridesmaids were getting ready for the wedding in the room WE RENTED. Apparently you need to inform him that you will be getting dressed for a wedding in the room THAT YOU RENT (even though we did so when booking the room. He must have a bad memory). I have never heard of informing hotel staff about what your exact plans are for the room that YOU RENT. I seriously thought this guy wanted a play-by-play of our entire stay. Then my wife decided that she wanted to take a few photos of the wedding party in front of the B&B (I had absolutely no idea who's idea this was) and it just so happens that on this day in APRIL mother nature decided to bless us with snow. When we arrived at the house for these few photos, the bridal party and family members took it upon themselves to go inside (probably because it was 33 degrees outside). I take full responsibility for not making everyone stay outside and freeze to death but there were quite a few people to control. I was then summoned into the owners office where one of my groomsmen and myself were berated and admonished for 20 minutes by the owner.....on my wedding day. Not knowing who exactly decided to take the pictures at the B&B, I told him I THOUGHT it MIGHT have been the wedding co-ordinator. I have honestly not been talked to that horrible by someone in my entire adult life. He was a complete and utter a..hole. We apologized profusely only to have his finger wagged in our faces followed by more yelling. We promptly got everyone to leave and went and took the pictures in the battlefield a few hundred yards away. I thought everything was finished but by the time we finished the pictures and got to the reception this jerk had come to our reception and hunted our wedding co-ordinator down. He proceeded to curse her up and down and make a scene at our reception. I have never been that mad in my entire life. If I had caught him at my reception it would not have ended well for him. I can promise that no one I know will EVER step foot in this worn out old house. This man is maybe the biggest piece of crap I have ever met and I hope anyone that reads this thinks twice about staying at this overpriced piece of junk (all of the furniture seemed to come from my grandmother's garage) which is run by a complete schmuck. There werw about 100 other ways to approach this and I could not have been more apologetic when he harrased me for 20 minutes on my wedding day. Going to my reception and attacking my innocent co-ordinator was not one of them. Talking to me, who had absolutely no clue about what was going on, like i am some piece of crap was another. We had 85 year old men and women who would have froze to death had they not had to wait outside. He was a complete jerk for coming to my reception and an even bigger jerk for how he approached my co-ordinator. I beg you to take in to consideration the type of person you willing be dealing with and giving your money to before you commit to staying here. You could go to a million other B&B's and pay much less, have a much better put together home to stay in, have a better environment and not have to deal with someone as rude as this guy is. I will say that the poor girl who actually does the work there could not have been more nice. She honestly looked like she was terrified of this douchebag....but she...

Our third visit to The Hornsby House Inn. What appeared to be different this time was a major effort by a Forestry Service to eradicate the invasive Bamboo growing on the bluff overlooking the York River approximately behind the Dudley Digges House, which is just across the street from the Hornsby House. I, personally, have no quarrel with bamboo, believing it to be attractive and useful; in fact, in Japan it is used like 2x4's in the building of many attractive structures. We may do battle with it, but it is my perception that this battle is being lost as the plant is surviving because it is the fittest. It is equipped to win the evolutionary battle. We may slow it down but I doubt we will win. Nevertheless, the Forestry Service undoubtedly has its reasons, and the upshot is a new, outstanding view of the York River and the Coleman Bridge from the Hornsby House Inn and the Victory Monument across the street which commemorates the fall of Cornwallis, the rise of American independence, and the role the French military played in our struggle.

Because we arrived on a Friday, we were invited to the seminal Wine&Cheese event, featuring crackers, boursin cheese, grapes, and strawberries. As nice a touch as this was, it paled in comparison to the staff taking time out from their duties to engage us in conversation while we nibbled and sipped. Think of that! Other than when the Pool Boy stops to offer you a Slim Jim at the Super 8 Motel when was the last time the staff engaged you in attentive conversation, regardless of whether the Hostess Twinkies and Moon Pies were included on your bill or not?

I'm not sure of the distinction between an Inn and a Bed & Breakfast, but we dined in The Big House for breakfast (our preferred lodgings were in a detached building named The Carriage House). Seated at a long table in the formal dining room among fellow travelers, we were served fresh squeezed OJ, Mobjack roasted coffee, homemade waffles, quiche, berry tarts, and other delicacies while learning of the distant destinations of interesting people.

While you can almost feel the presence of Lord Cornwallis' ghost looking out to sea, discovering again the presence of the French fleet blocking the mouth of the York River and realizing his chance of escape has just vanished, I love to stand on these bluffs looking over the grand river and imagine the drama that once played here, just steps from the Hornsby House.

However, the Hornsby House Inn has become more than an Inn or B&B; it has become quite the destination for getting married. This factoid informs you how beautiful the grounds are and how accommodating are the staff. The fact that we are here for the third time expresses our ratings for this wonderful place. You...

If you're thinking of renting out rooms for your wedding party I would HIGHLY DISCOURAGE you. When I chatted to a worker from this establishment back in February to see if they allow wedding parties to get ready here she told me yes, so I booked 2 rooms one for the Bridal and groom party. Come a week before our wedding in September I called to confirm everything and to my distraught was told we were 'over occupancy'. This was never brought up till then when I booked this which is why I checked with them first before even booking. However they were able to fix this mistake which I was told happened alot by allowing us to use the Pavillion at no cost which I was grateful for. Upon arrival I noticed the Pavillion was right across the from where the Grooms party would be getting ready(the Carriagehouse). I kindly asked multiple times if there was a way to have the giant windows facing the grooms area covered so he couldn't see me when I was in my dress. That is when I had experienced the ABSOLUTE WORST customer service from Julia. She began giving everyone such a disgusting attitude to where she began cussing! She refused to show the groom party the Magnolia room, which was the other room we rented and could use. There was other multiple instances that were brought to my attention after from the experience with this worker. However I wasn't going to let this ruin our special day. BUT when I received the final bill I was charged an extra $300 for exceeding over occupancy, I was never once told this would be charged. Only two people ended up staying the night in Carriage house, which they had to share as they didn't know where the Magnolia room was thanks to the 'lovely' Julia. Thankfully that issue was resolved but I can't look past this awful experience I had at this...