Since January 2002 the Ashley Inn Bed and Breakfast, located on the corner Bee and Ashley Streets, has been owned and operated by Barry Carol with the assistance of the Inn's Manager, Jan Dolber and of course a helpful staff with an obvious attentive eye for any possible need or minutia that might be out of place.
For guest accommodations, The Ashley Inn offers six individual rooms with private baths, as well as a suite of rooms and a separate carriage house with two bedrooms, two baths, a sitting room and a full kitchen.
Guestrooms highlight the architectural uniqueness of the inn and are taken to period with papered walls, carefully selected color schemes and solid four-poster beds; some canopied. Guest of The Ashley Inn will enjoy the authentic, early 1800's features of the rooms and common areas of the main house such as preserved ceiling medallions from which updated lighting or fans might extend and crown moldings, which draw the eye to the impressive 12' high ceilings. Uniting the high ceilings with the richly polished original wood flooring enhanced with oriental rugs are the oversized paned windows of the era, elegantly dressed to compliment the tasteful blend of genuine period antiques and reproductions completing the atmosphere of fine living.
While maintaining authenticity of the nineteenth century experience is important to the host and staff at The Ashley Inn, twenty first century air conditioning, cable television, and access to refrigeration, ice and telephone as well as complimentary touring bicycles are discreet additions for guests' enjoyment. The exterior appointments are as well maintained as the interior with original working shutters, wrought iron fencing, gabled roofing and double porches that overlook the hand selected garden plantings, decorative brick courtyard and fishpond; all are sustained with the architectural integrity of the structure in mind as the modern day conveniences blend harmoniously with the circa 1832 building. Past and present, paired for the pleasure and comfort of the guests.
Additional traditional touches from times gone by add to The Ashley Inn experience such as complimentary afternoon wine while relaxing before dinner or sipping mid-day tea served from an antique silver service in the well-appointed sitting room. One can experience the genteel pace of another era and indulge in a relaxed, unhurried gourmet breakfast on the piazza under spinning fans. A guest of The Ashley Inn will find him or herself well attended while planning for the next adventure or discovery tour around town. Knowledgeable and quick with a suggestion, the staff and owner of the inn are familiar with the area, restaurants, tours and guides, and are pleased to ensure that your stay with them includes all you might seek.
Well appointed though it is, beautiful and well staffed, but the heartbeat of the Ashley Inn that can't be found anywhere else is in the obvious pride of ownership. If one is fortunate enough to speak with inn owner, Barry Carroll, he or she will be pleased to find a most personable man with a wealth of knowledge who can, with the pizzazz of a storyteller, recount the interesting history of the house, its chilling secrets, some fun facts and maybe even a ghost tale or two complete with tinkling bells, a sweet old aunt and some guest involvement in naming the house "haint". But his knowledge is not restricted to the house at 201 Ashley Avenue alone: the informative history of Charleston, South Carolina and many other interesting subjects are communicated in a casual, attention grabbing manor so to intrigue and educate guests and leave them saying, as I did, "Really? I didn't know that!"
A stay at the lovely Ashley Inn will prove a good choice for the romantic weekenders with the oceans, nightlife and the city at one's feet, or for leisure travelers close to historical attractions, museums, shopping and galleries, or for a business stay, close to Charleston and to MUSC.
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