A Butler's Manor Bed & Breakfast
Table Of Contents
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An elegant Colonial house built in 1860 by William Jagger, one of the earliest English settlers of Southampton, A Butler's Manor takes its name from Christopher's profession. A proper British butler with over 20 years experience, Chris has run estates in both Europe and America. The personal service that is the hallmark of his profession, along with Kim's attention to detail, will make your stay at A Butler's Manor an experience in hospitality you won't soon forget.
After a day spent enjoying the world-class ocean beaches, postcard-pretty villages, or award-winning wineries, come home to relax at A Butler's Manor. Stroll through Chris's magnificent English cottage garden en route to the sparkling, private pool. Enjoy a book from our library under the wisteria-covered porch on balmy summer afternoons, or before a crackling fire on cool evenings. Or simply unwind in the garden and watch the birds and the butterflies.
For some, the chief attraction of our beautiful area is our pristine ocean and bay beaches; for others, it's wandering our quaint villages. The villages that comprise "The Hamptons" are fortunate to have a fine variety of good restaurants, some within walking distance of A Butler's Manor, running the gamut of very casual to fine dining. A full binder of local menus is available for perusal in our living room.
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Travelers are always looking for memorable and relaxing experiences. Let’s discover more through the words of our innkeepers. Many thanks to Christopher and Kimberly Allen for sharing their own secrets with BBOnline.com! Why do most travelers stay at your inn? People stay with us because they like what they see on our website, and they read the reviews on Trip Advisor and other forums.
What are you best known for?
We're known for our personal service and attention to detail and for our breakfasts.
What makes your inn unique?
Point of distinction is that Chris really WAS a butler for over twenty years, so his knowledge of personal service is without parallel. And, people think it's neat to meet a real English butler.
What do you love most about your inn?
What we love most about the inn is our stunning English garden, with saltwater pool. The serenity of it blows a lot of our guests away.
If someone has never been to your city, what is the #1 reason to come visit? We are a destination location: The Hamptons. Most visitors come for our pristine beaches (ranked number one in the US by National Geographic last year!), but our guests from farther afield come because the want to see what the cachet behind "the Hamptons" is all about -- huge mansions, glitzy stores, celebrities with houses out here.
What’s the best compliment you have ever received about the inn? "A Butler's Manor is a wonderful retreat from NYC. In fact, it's a wonderful retreat from the Hamptons."
What’s the best kept secret about the area? The fact that "real" people live here year round...and that the best time to visit is the shoulder seasons of May/June and September/October, when the crowds aren't here.
If a traveler is staying at your inn for 4 nights, what should he/she do in the area? We have a written itinerary for both the South Fork (Southampton to Montauk) and the North Fork (40 wineries, agricultural, plus an outlet mall) that we recommend to guests, which is also available on our website so that they can plan their visit in advance or even access it through their iPad or phone.
Is there anything within walking distance of your inn? Train and Hampton Jitney (express bus from NYC)...the village of Southampton, with great shopping, thirteen restaurants within a mile's radius
What is your favorite restaurant/food in the area? Plaza Cafe, extraordinary Continental food, one of the highest rated restaurants in the Hamptons.
Any good area guides/websites that travelers could reference? Besides ours (an extensive "What to Do" page, beyond the itinerary)
How many rooms does your inn have? We have 5 rooms.
Do you accept pets? We do not accept pets. We recommend guests to the pet-friendly places in the area.
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In opening A Butler's Manor, Chris and Kim are fulfilling a lifelong dream, utilizing their combined hospitality skills to make guests welcome and comfortable. In addition to Chris's years in private service and a jointly held love of entertaining, they owned their own catering company in California and freelanced in catering for nine years before starting A Butler's Manor.
British-born Chris worked in estates in Europe before moving to California in 1985 to run a property in Laguna Beach. He met Kim (while playing darts in an Irish pub in Newport Beach, CA), and they married in 1988. They moved to the East End in early 1992 when Chris accepted a position managing an estate in East Hampton.
Kim, a native Californian, is a writer (the author of two published books, including a memoir about Chris's life in service, titled A Butler's Life), and is currently at work on her second suspense novel.
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Breakfast at A Butler's Manor is a culinary treat which will more than prepare you for a day of enjoying all that the Hamptons have to offer. Begin with early-bird coffee: Freshly-brewed gourmet coffee and a full assortment of teas are available outside your door each morning so you can enjoy a cup first thing in the morning.
Served on fine china and crystal, Kim's sumptuous breakfasts begin with a fresh fruit course served with homemade bread, muffins, or scones and real, freshly-squeezed orange juice. A gourmet hot entree follows. Examples include Banana-Stuffed French Toast, Zucchini-Cheddar Blintzes, or Manor House Omelet (a real favorite among guests, and a featured recipe in our cookbook).
Weather permitting, the tables on the Rose Garden patio will be set so guests can enjoy breakfast to the sounds of the fountain and the warmth of the morning sun radiating through the branches of our 150-year old Sycamore Maple tree.