The historic Bee and Thistle Inn has been transformed to retain the integrity of the historic landmark built in 1756, whilst also providing a link to the past and nurturing artists of the present.
Guest rooms have been redecorated and each feature work by a different local artist including Adrien Broom, Pola Esther, Brian Keith Stephens, Thomas Caleb Goggans, Elizabeth Weiss, Jacques Pepin and featured artists from The Cooley Gallery and the Diane Birdsall Gallery.
Tourmaline gemstone objects d’art and Simon Pearce hand blown glass from the E.F. Watermelon Gallery are on display in the common areas. Striking outdoor art installations by Michael McLaughlin and beautiful shell sculptures by Chandler Davis dot the picturesque grounds surrounding the Inn.
Innkeepers Linnea and David Rufo are continuing to forge the trail that the historical figure, Florence Griswold, envisioned in the mid 1800s. Miss Florence was the daughter of a successful ship captain; the Griswold family lived in the mansion right next door to the current Bee and Thistle Inn, which was then the residence of Judge William Noyes and his family. The Griswold family’s fortune reversed during the Civil War, and the resourceful Florence transformed the home into a boarding house. Artists began to visit and the Lyme Art Colony was born.
Now Miss Florence’s mansion houses the renowned Florence Griswold Museum and both the four-year, nationally accredited school, Lyme Academy College of Fine Arts and the renowned Lyme Art Association are only a few steps away.
Formerly from the Berkshires and New York City, Linnea Rufo has had her roots planted in the hospitality industry for over 30 years as a chef, event planner and hostess. The couple purchased the property in 2006 and began the painstaking process of transforming the inn, which now features a modern, artistic interior decor.
Artists from the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan have started to frequent the Bee and Thistle on weekends, enjoying the artistic guest rooms. One recently refurbished room is reminiscent of John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s 1969 honeymoon suite at the five-star Amsterdam Hilton where they held their “Bed-In-For-Peace.” Instead of song lyrics scripted on the walls, The Bee has painted an excerpt from a love letter from Mark Twain to his wife, Olivia.
In April, Courtney Love stayed at the Bee and Thistle during the opening of her first formal art exhibition at the Lyman Allen Art Museum, which came to New London from Fred Torres Collaborations in Chelsea, N.Y.C.
The “Bee Inspired” Art Night is planned for this coming Thursday, June 27, from 5 to 8 p.m. Visitors will have the opportunity to tour the Bee and Thistle’s dining and guest rooms to meet the artists whose work fills the Inn’s spaces, both inside and outdoors. There will be interactive activities and musical entertainment, along with complimentary wine and cheese.
Chef Kristofer Rowe’s kitchen is a hive of activity, in which he uses only the freshest local and seasonal ingredients to produce his award-winning, Zagat-rated menu. The new lounge, completed in March, has a contemporary flair with a relaxed feel evoking style and comfort.
No longer just a place for anniversary dinners, the Bee and Thisle is now a great stop for drinks and appetizers. “Bee Happy” Hours on Tuesday through Thursday evenings from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. offer complimentary appetizers, $4 beers, $5 glasses of wine, $6 specialty drinks and the Inn’s famous Bantam half plates.
Thursday night’s “Bee Indulged” three course dinners including a complimentary bottle of wine are affordable at just $75 for two people. Lunch is served on Fridays and Saturdays both inside and outdoors.
“Early Bee” specials with a 5 p.m. dinner reservation also on Fridays and Saturdays offer one half price entrée with the purchase of another entrée presenting a pleasant opportunity for theater-goers before evening shows and after matinees at the Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center, Ivoryton Playhouse, Goodspeed Theater and Garde Arts Center.
“Bee Laid-Back” on Sunday afternoons … drinks and appetizers are served outside, and local musicians whose careers are just beginning to burgeon will perform for guests.
“Bee Spirited” Petanque (or “lawn bowling”) is a group activity on the Inn’s beautifully landscaped back lawn, which is offered monthly from late spring through early fall. Groups of friends can come together for some friendly competition followed by food and drinks.
The Bee and Thistle is still a perfect location for a New England wedding. Couples can make the Inn their home and enjoy exclusive use of the property for garden nuptials against a sunset canvas on five acres along the Lieutenant River vista. Choices include dinner with dancing and service for 200 guests on the south lawn, or an intimate gathering that includes dining fireside.
The Bee and Thistle Inn is located at 100 Lyme Street, Old Lyme, CT 06371. For more information, visit www.beeandthistleinn.com, telephone: 860.434.1667, email: [email protected]