The Groton Inn — Hotel in Groton

We had our wedding in February at The Barn at Gibbet Hill right up the road, but about half of our guests stayed at the inn (as did we!). When we booked our venue, we stopped at the inn to talk about booking room blocks for our guests, and Holly was wonderful. She showed us around the inn and let us take a peek at all the different style rooms, and even showed us their largest room (326) that we ended up booking for ourselves for a few nights before and after the wedding.

The outside and inside of the inn was beautifully decorated, and there was almost always a roaring fire going in the lobby. On the morning of our wedding, they made sure the courtyard was clear so that we could do some “first look” photos out there, and they even lit the outdoor fireplace for us! It was not only beautiful, but it was welcome warmth for taking pictures outside on a cold winter day :)

They have breakfast on site in the Keeps Conservatory on the first floor each morning, and while it is a breakfast buffet, it’s a great selection and the omelette station is great if you want to customize your meal a bit. There is staff that comes around to clean up plates, set tables, and offer up drinks, so it’s not the type of thing where there’s nobody around during your meal. We ended up hanging around well after breakfast was over just chatting with wedding guests over coffee, and the staff had no problem with that (and even encouraged it!), so they won’t rush you out the door once they stop serving food.

We had hair and makeup artists come up to our room for the morning of the wedding to help all the ladies get ready, and the inn was wonderfully accommodating - providing us with a couple taller chairs when they realized they needed it, and being so gracious about coming to clean while we were out of the room when I let them know that it appeared we had ended up with some makeup on the carpet.

A couple quick things about room 326 itself: it has beautiful views of the rolling hills and the restaurant next door, and it’s a very large room (easily accommodated the 8 women in there while we were getting ready for the day), with a very large bathroom and radiant heated bathroom floors. However, it’s so large and roomy because it’s a handicap accessible room, which means there are the necessary support bars by the toilet and in the shower. The shower is completely open with only a shower curtain to pull across to allow for a wheelchair, which means the water gets all over the bathroom floor. The radiant heat does help dry it out a bit more quickly than if it didn’t have it, but we ended up rolling up towels to line the floor to keep it from flooding everywhere during our stay. While I wouldn’t call the room “romantic”, it was great for what we needed.

Everyone that works there that we encountered was an absolute pleasure to deal with, and all of our guests shared the same sentiments. We hope to be...

This place honors its past as a historic property by providing weary (and world-weary) travelers a place to rest tired bones and psyches.

Readers of my Inn Credible New England articles know of my disdain for cookie-cutter hotels and my tips for avoiding getting “inn” trouble. The only real competition 15 minutes away hit all the wrong boxes.

Conversely, folks at The Groton Inn were friendly and helpful from the get-go. This included initially rescheduling my stay and then waiving the cancellation fee when a flood warning prompted requesting a change the day before my rescheduled visit. It is very clear that the corporate place down the road would not have done that.

The inn further was very awesome to ensure that I had a safe and comfortable stay that accommodated my needs related to a serious underlying condition. Rooms having windows that open was an underlying plus.

Seeing a fire in the lobby on arriving on a slightly cool and damp October morning provided a terrific welcome that desk clerk (and dog lover) Millie reinforced. Hopefully, she can persuade the inn to put a dog on staff. (Catie Copley was a good friend, and I still believe that her hotel was asking for trouble putting a Christmas tree where they knew that Catie and I played fetch with her teddy bear. She only came close to knocking down the tree.)

Knowing that I would be tired and was looking to fully relax, the inn kindly booked me in a quiet end-of-the-hall Regency King room that had a tub and a full-sized sofa where I spent the evening snuggled under the provided throw while watching the ‘70scom “One Day At A Time” on my Blu-Ray player that I easily connected to the room television.

Afternoon desk clerk Jean was just as gracious and kind. Dealing with the public these days is not easy, and having to tell tired and hungry folks that their room is not ready is not fun. Jean handles th like a pro and understands that folks desperate to settle in for the night are not at their best.

Even healthier folks will thoroughly enjoy the serenity of this place in this area that is most conducive to having fun during the day and resting up in the evening before another day of shopping, apple picking, dining, and just enjoying the historic vibe of this wonderful area.

The but-wait-there’s-more is the included breakfast to which I look forward tomorrow. I am sure that it will surpass the generic morning fare of the places that essentially are the same in all 50 states and Canada.

I came to the area to visit family and look forward to making a stay at the inn an annual event. I can only hope that there will be a dog whom I can whip into a frenzy...

Wedding - Where do I begin?! First off, if you are considering staying here, or hosting a wedding or event here, do it! You will not be disappointed.

Secondly, We worked with Eleanor on our event and could not have been more impressed. She was responsive, detailed, professional and accommodated all of our questions and requests.

We hosted our wedding at the Inn on a Saturday in July 2023. We had 87 guests and they stayed on the property in gorgeous, comfortable rooms. The bridal suite was large and luxurious with a Juliet balcony overlooking Gibbet Hill. The groom’s suite was enormous.

I wanted an intimate wedding with a laid-back, but classic garden party feel. Eleanor understood my vision and delivered! The ceremony was held on the back lawn, cocktail hour in the courtyard and reception in the Prescott Room. We took photos on the front porch and by the courtyard fireplace. Each space was BEAUTIFUL. When I asked if we could string lights across the courtyard, Eleanor went above and beyond to meet with hotel staff and outside vendors and made it happen. When I asked to do our first dance under the courtyard lights, she made that happen as well! She was amazing; exactly the type of person you want to work with when planning your big day.

The event itself was seamless. The team really knows how to run an event. The Catering/Kitchen was amazing. We had two signature cocktails and our guests told us the spicy margarita was made perfectly. We offered beef tenderloin and chicken as meals to our guests. Both were delicious and cooked perfectly. Countless guests told me it was the best wedding food and drink they have ever had, and more like upscale steakhouse food than typical wedding food. The Inn staff set up décor for us (signs, photos, candles, card boxes, etc.) and broke it down at the end of the night for us to pick up the next day.

The weather was extremely hot, humid and rainy on our wedding weekend. We lucked out and it didn't rain on our actual wedding day, but the Inn staff handled the possibility of rain professionally and calmly as it presented itself over and over again throughout the day.

We had a live acoustic/dj duo recommended by the Inn perform for the ceremony, cocktail hour and reception. They were amazing as well and I highly recommend them for TGI events. They fit the vibe and helped the event flow smoothly.

Our guests enjoyed the included breakfast each morning. It was delicious; again not typical hotel food. On Sunday we were able to meet up over breakfast, sit together and say goodbye to everyone who came to celebrate our wedding.

I could keep going on…The whole experience...