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66 - CAPE GAZETTE, Friday, April 21 -April 27, 2000
Royal Retreat in Lewes reflects traditional British B & B
By Jen EUingsworth
The Union Jack flag flies high at
the Royal Retreat bed and break-
fast at 425 Kings Highway in
Lewes.
The former site of the Little
Mermaid bed and breakfast was
re-opened this spring by innkeep-
ers Roy and Joann Birch. Infused
with old English charm and Victo-
rian flavor, the traditional British
bed and breakfast is chock-full of
nautical and historical items col-
lected by Roy Birch, a retired lieu-
tenant commander of the Royal
Navy. Serving during the Falk-
lands conflict aboard the HMS
Broadsword, his large collection
of memorabilia is spread through-
out the inn and includes letters,
documents, photographs, paint-
ings and maps reminiscent of his
23 years with the Royal Navy.
Formerly of Odessa, the couple
moved to Lewes after years of vis-
iting the Cape Region. They fell
in love with the area, they said,
and decided to perpetuate their
lifelong dream of owning a•busi-
ness and moving to the Delaware
shore.
"He wanted to open a bed and
breakfast and I wanted to live at
the beach," said Joann Birch, a
Baltimore native who retired after
seven years as vice president of
patient care services at Bayhealth.
"We both got what we wanted."
The Admiral Lord Nelson Suite
on the third floor is a four-room
deluxe suite with aprivate bath-
room, bedroom with full bed and a
large sitting room with sleeper so-
fa. The decor of the room is fash-
ioned to make occupants feel as
though they were actually in the
admiral's day cabin aboard the
HMS Victory.
Roy Birch said he enjoys talking
with others about his service in the
Royal Navy. Pointing to a com-
mission from the Queen of Eng-
land, he quips, "Anytime anyone
says I'm misbehaving, I just tell
them I have a commission from
the Queen stating that I'm an offi-
cer and a gentleman." That docu-
ment joins other noteworthy
pieces, including a letter from
Margaret Thatcher and a Royal
Navy sword that hangs in the great
loom.
The second floor of the Royal
Retreat features the Lighthouse
Room, a large bedroom with
queen bed and a shared full bath-
room. Guests are supplied with
complimentary bath robes to use
during their stay. The Blue Wil-
low Room gets its name from the
fine Engfish china guests will find
displayed there. "My idea of a bed
and breakfast is similar to that of
England's," said Roy Birch, who
was born and raised in Liverpool.
"That is that the guest has the en-
tire run of the place and can enjoy
it all." Amenities of the Royal Re-
treat include rooms with central
air, a private entrance, off-street
parking, special packages, free bi-
cycles for guest use, champagne
turn-down service and full English
breakfast.
The Royal Retreat is also the
home of Prime Minister Dame
Maggie Thatcher and Princess
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Fergie Dutchess of York, the cou-
ple's dogs.
A screened gazebo and large • se-
cluded garden in the rear of the
property is also a focal point. The
innkeepers serve an "afternoon de-
light," including English tea sand-
wiches, flavored teas and scones
with Cornish cream, .daily around
5 p.m. in this area. The Lewes
Garden Tour, slated for Saturday,
ffCONOR, PIPER a FLYNN
M/V/c Kacffman,
Plr®
226-4159 Local
June 17, will include special guest,
local artist Julie Molyneux and an
exhibit of Falklands memorabilia
in the gazebo. Local landscaper
Paul DeVilbiss is also working
with Roy and Joann Birch at Roy-
al Retreat.
For more information, call 645-
8913 or see the Web site,
<www.lewestoday.com/RoyalRe-
treat>.
OPEN HOUSE
Saturday April 22
11-3 p.m.
Jen Elllngsworth photo
Roy Birch, left, lieutenant commander of the Royal Navy,
and Joann Birch are shown here with Prime Minister Dame
Maggie Thatcher, center, in the Lighthouse Room of the Roy-
al Retreat Bed and Breakfast in Lewes.
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