The Jefferson Inn — Hotel in Southern Pines

Overall, my experience at the Jefferson Inn was nothing special (not terrible, not amazing). However for $185 (plus tax) per night there is a certain level of quality, amenities and service that you expect. And although there are some redeeming aspects to the Jefferson Inn, unfortunately my experience as a whole left me a bit underwhelmed. Here are my pros and cons:

PROS: Welcoming and friendly staff. Everyone we spoke to was very nice and we were greeted with a hand written welcome letter in our room. Clean Room. Nothing seemed dirty, dingy, or suspect. Outdoor bar with live music (although there was no live music during my stay). Bathroom was spacious and had a nice shower with a double shower head. Bath robes were available. LOCATION! Probably the biggest redeeming factor to the Jefferson Inn. Located right in the middle (walking distance) of numerous restaurants, shopping, and entertainment options on Broad St.

CONS: Room was smaller than expected. Also, the TV was very small (maybe 28”). Although the pillows and duvet were very nice, the middle of the king bed was sagging and needed to be replaced. The Jefferson is marketed as an Inn and Restaurant. However according to the staff, the restaurant has been closed for a couple of years (even before COVID). No food is served, even at the bar. Perhaps a name change is in order. When I booked the reservation, it stated breakfast was included. However when I checked in I was informed they no longer offer the breakfast buffet. She said they only have small “grab & go” items (picture included), but then quickly referred me to a restaurant down the street. The dive bar across the street was terribly loud (yelling, laughing, motorcycles, etc). Even after the bar closed at 2:00am, it took about 30min for everyone to clear out. Woke me up several times. Then around 6:30am the train that passes through Southern Pines came toot-tooting down the railway (located across the street). Obviously these last two points are no fault of the Jefferson Inn, but it also doesn’t make for a conducive sleeping...

My experience? So far... Awful. First let me caveat by saying that this review is not based on staying at the Inn but based solely on what I have experienced there socially. I have been so disappointed in the establishment I don't EVER want to return. First) I was very rudely rejected by one of their bar tenders. She REFUSED to even TOUCH my state issued ID as she exclaimed "I won't accept that" without any explanation as to why... STATE ISSUED. (NC gives you a temporary paper ID until your hard copy comes in the mail... So once my old ID was expired and I await for my new one in the mail I'm apparently out of luck even though it is the only option I have.) I had no other issue at any other location and I honestly would not have been so upset if it wasn't for the way she treated me in that moment. I stayed with my friends as they drank as they had already ordered but she so very rudely came over and told us we had to leave based on the fact that she could not verify my age (I'm 30). Second) I have a certified registered and trained service dog and I was told that I had to leave their establishment if I had him with me as he was not welcome. (At the time his vest was on and he was simply sitting there)... I exclaimed that he was a service dog and pointed out his vest in case they did not notice but I was told that it did not matter and I had to go. (granted, the gentleman was very polite in the way he told me so this is not in defense to that but solely on the situation)... I explained that it is completely illegal to refuse a service dog in an establishment but was still told that I so needed to leave. (FYI...I didn't even have a drink in my hand so I still can't understand their reasoning). They have enough business due to the lack of bars in the area so it's not like they will be missing my business however my experiences there have been so unpleasant I am likely to not return. I honestly would give zero stars but one star is the lowest rating allowed. They don't deserve everyone's business just because there is no where...

We have stayed at the Jefferson Inn before and absolutely loved the charm, location and the staff. We booked a room last week not aware that the ownership has changed. To our huge disappointment, what was once a quaint charming historical property has been stripped of its antiques and reduced to a "AirB&B" look alike with grey laminate floors and grey paint and chrome fixtures. No longer is there staff at the reception to greet you. There is no reception area at all and the management neglected to mention there is a very large construction project going on inside and out. The bar is no longer there and the patio area was filled with construction material and equipment. Guest must now use a passcode to gain entrance into the lobby and their room. At 8:00 in the morning we were awakened by a painter setting his ladder up against our bathroom window. I got up and closed the blinds hoping he would move to another area once he realized the room was occupied. He did not and he continued to work and sing loudly. When he moved to work on the window overlooking our bedroom, I asked him to work somewhere else until check out time but he would not leave. Only after I took his picture and called the management company to complain did he finally move his ladder to another area. (The was 2 hours later). When I called the management company my call went straight to voicemail. When I received a call back about an hour later, the lady I spoke with apologized and had no explanation as to why we were not made aware of the construction project when we booked our room. She offered us a discount on a future visit. Needless to say, there won't be a next visit so the gesture was mute. I gave a 2 star rating because the location is good and the rooms were clean to be fair but the lack charm, amenities and staffing left me totally disappointed and the construction worker refusing to work somewhere other than our windows was unacceptable. It was a total...