The Distinctive Inns of New England (DINE) are delighted to welcome the Inn at English Meadows in Kennebunk Lower Village, ME as their newest member. This elegant inn offers contemporary décor in a beautiful setting within walking distance of Kennebunkport’s thriving Dock Square.
In January 2020, the Captain Jefferds Inn was sold to a hospitality developer owning multiple inns in Maine and New England and thus ineligible to join DINE. It did not take long for the DINE membership to identify the Inn at English Meadows as an ideal Southern Maine inn replacement. The bonus came when innkeeper, Elizabeth Arruda, 
was delighted to learn of the chance to join the distinctive inns group. She immediately jumped on board after being invited to join by DINE members.
While steeped in history and welcoming guests for more than 75 years, the décor and vibe at the Inn at English Meadows is decidedly contemporary/chic/seaside after a number of renovations from former innkeepers who were architects and collectors of modern art and décor. Located in Kennebunk’s Lower Village and an easy half-mile walk from Dock Square in Kennebunkport, Maine the inn is surrounded by beautiful gardens bearing herbs and tomatoes which appear on the breakfast table and flowers that adorn the guest rooms and dining tables during the summer months.
This Greek Revival style home was first built in 1860 by local farmer Asa English and was one of the first homes in the area to install indoor plumbing. As a nod to contemporary conveniences preserved, guests staying in the Sunrise Room (the home’s original master bedroom) are always intrigued by the arched doorway and a serpentine wall which were built to call attention to this important feature and still there.
The English family began a dairy business in Kennebunk after the Civil War, keeping the cattle in the attached barn and renting rooms in the main house now home to the inn. Much later, the barn became a carriage house, which was long after divided into seven guest rooms. The hayloft inside the old barn became the second floor of the inn with the uppermost part was converted into the Carriage house Suite which spans the entire third level. In a nod to its original purpose, the tack room, where the saddles and bridles and other equipment for the English family horses were stored is now the Tack Room Suite with a private entrance and a luxurious modern bathroom. Much later, in the 1950s, a small private cottage was added in the rear meadow and now serves as a two-bedroom private pet-friendly bungalow for guests.
The inn has had several owners, with each one adding to the décor, interior design and contemporary feel of the inn. From interior designers to architects, all the owners of the Inn at English Meadows have meticulously created an elegant Southern Maine inn to serve today’s travelers with quality amenities and surroundings. In 2018, Elizabeth took ownership of the inn, and her license plate (Dream Inn) announces for the world to see that she’s found her dream job in the perfect place.
Elizabeth and her capable kitchen staff strive to offer “the best breakfast in Kennebunkport”. Featuring the abundance of fresh produce, meats and foods locally available in Southern Maine. Breakfasts also feature herbs, tomatoes
, edible flowers and more from the inn’s own gardens. Look forward to freshly baked goods utilizing recipes passed down through generations of Elizabeth’s family, creative breakfast entrees like Goat cheese and garden chive slow-scrambled eggs with garden-grown marinated, tomatoes, Lemon ricotta, blueberry pancakes with pure Maine maple syrup and North Country maple sausage or Spring or Autumn vegetable hash with poached egg and crispy prosciutto. Add in locally made Greek yogurt and granola made in-house, and you’ve got the perfect way to start the day. The inn’s signature locally roasted English Meadows blend coffee and a beautiful selection of teas start the day right and are available throughout the day along with freshly baked cookies which greet guests each afternoon.
Guest rooms also feature abundant refined amenities like Vera Wang hypo-allergenic mattresses, down duvets and pillows, luxurious FRETTE fine linens, and bathrobes and slippers for guests’ use. Flat screen TVs and phone charging stations guarantee you’ll stay connected plus complimentary wi-fi is available throughout the inn. Of course, hot tea and Nespresso machines are available 24 hours a day and guest refrigerators are in public areas of the inn. Rooms vary from enormous suites – some with kitchenettes, gas fireplaces, and/or whirlpool tubs to private bungalows, and king and queen bedrooms. Two rooms with private entrances are dog-friendly and come with dog beds and extra towels (see dog policy here).
In keeping with the distinctive nature of all DINE inns, the Inn at English Meadows stands out among New England inns offering the finest in hospitality, comfortable accommodations and quality experiences in a beautiful destination. From here, visits to additional DINE inns are within as little as a two-to-four-hour drive. Why not include the Inn at English Meadows on your DINE travel itinerary while exploring New England this spring, summer or fall?
In New Hampshire: Manor on Golden Pond in Holderness & Chesterfield Inn in West Chesterfield
In Massachusetts: Harbor Light Inn in Marblehead, Gateways Inn & Restaurant in Lenox, Deerfield Inn in Historic Deerfield and Captain’s House Inn in Chatham on Cape Cod.
In Connecticut: Inn at Harbor Hill Marina in Niantic (complimentary breakfast shown in top photo here).
In Maine: Camden Maine Stay Inn in Camden. Inn at English Meadows in Kennebunk Lower Village.
In Vermont: Rabbit Hill Inn in Lower Waterford & Grafton Inn in Grafton