The soon-to-open 94-room Beauport Hotel stretches its arms toward Gloucester Harbor, enclosing a broad terrace. Comfortable lounging furniture and a fire pit invite dallying, if the views of islands, lighthouses, fishing boats, schooners, pleasure boats and all the activity of a working harbor were not arresting enough. Located on a peninsula known as “the Fort,” a mixed residential and industrial part of Gloucester’s historic waterfront, this is the first luxury hotel on Gloucester Harbor in many a year. Now its gambrel roofs and copper-lined cupola rise above a strip of beach, ready to welcome visitors.
The building is on the site of the old Birdseye fish freezing plant, and the architectural firm, Olson Lewis + Architects of Manchester-by-the-Sea, the interior designer, Gloucester native Pieter Niemitz, and builder Windover Construction have incorporated references to that history. The copper-clad tower, for example, echoes the form of the concrete tower that once rose above the Birdseye plant; the pool deck on the roof, which offers some of the most glorious views anywhere, is called the Birdseye Rooftop Deck and Bar.
Other references to area history include the name of the 110-seat restaurant, 1606 at Beauport. 1606 was the year Samuel Champlain sailed into Gloucester Harbor and declared it “le beau port” —the beautiful harbor. The Beauport Hotel has hired executive chef Michael Bates Walsh to develop a contemporary New England menu featuring fresh local ingredients. There is a separate 16-seat private dining room, as well as 150 seats on the Oceanside terrace. All have splendid views of that rarest of waterfront destinations: a working harbor.
“Today’s tourists want an authentic experience, which we provide. Gloucester Harbor is beautiful and always busy with activity,” says Director of Sales and Marketing Kurt Hosman. With 20 years of experience in the hospitality industry, the Cape Ann native is delighted to return to the area. “We have partnered with local businesses to provide products and services rooted in the community. We will also provide a shuttle bus to take guests to various destinations around Cape Ann.”
The guest room décor incorporates local references with driftwood-like ceramic floor tiles in the bathrooms and boat cleats used as drawer pulls. Instead of the usual dispiriting, bland hotel-room art, the guest rooms are decorated with archival black and white photography of fishermen, sailboats, and St. Peter’s Fiesta, Gloucester’s festival devoted to the fishing fleet. The rooms, which vary from 450 square foot standard rooms with king beds or two queens to spacious suites with fireplaces and balconies, have stunning harbor and city views. Robes and slippers are provided for all guests, and amenities include high tech electronic ones as well as old-fashioned room service.
“We have tried to create the spirit and the atmosphere of an elegant old coastal hotel,” Hosman says.
The Hotel is open to guests mid June