About Us

Kennedy’s Hotel was the first summer hotel in Canada built in early 1881 by Angus Kennedy after moving from Ontario in 1857. Angus was a railway contractor who wanted to participate in the development of the Canada Railway in New Brunswick. Eventually he decided to become an innkeeper. After some initial struggles and fires, he purchased the land upon  which he built the Kennedy's, which opened on May 24, 1881.

The hotel originally consisted of a dining room for seventy-five people, fifty-two guest rooms, and marble baths on each of the three guest floors.  Originally the building was fifty feet wide and one hundred and four feet long, with two elegant verandas donning the front of the building offering a picturesque view of the downtown area and the Passamaquoddy Bay.

Angus, together with his son Frank, were successful entrepreneurs and the hotel flourished. Angus died in 1904 but Frank continued to manage and operate the Kennedy Hotel with glance. Frank also became mayor of the Town of Saint Andrews in 1920 and again in 1932-1934. He died in.1934, at the age of 57. The hotel originally consisted of a dining room for seventy-five people, fifty-two guest rooms, and marble baths on each of the three guest floors.  Originally the building was fifty feet wide and one hundred and four feet long, with two elegant verandas donning the front of the building offering a picturesque view of the downtown area and the Passamaquoddy Bay.

The hotel remained in the Kennedy family until 1946 when it was sold to Gerald O’Brian of Saint John, NB. As part of the contract of sale the name Kennedy was never to be used again. Thus the building was renamed the Commodore Inn. That story didn't last long as in 1947, the property changed hands again to John Taylor, also from Saint John, NB. 

In 1961 the hotel started a new era with a sale to Ian and Leni MacKay from Saint Andrews, during which the name was changed to the Shiretown Inn, a Best Western property. Through the years the Shiretown Inn went through many changes including refurbished guest rooms and an expansion being added to the back of the building. The Shiretown Inn operated with a gracious dining room and 26 guest rooms.

In 1998 it was purchased in a sale to Anita-Thum-Ludwig. The name was once again changed to Kennedy House with the blessing of Janet Kennedy, 3rd generation of the original Kennedy’s. Ms. Thum-Ludwig improved the hotel with the addition of an elevator and other amenities. The property also operated as a senior home. 

The hotel was sold to Chris and Leslie Burley in 2004, with the Kennedy Inn & Shiretown Pub name remaining.

On November 1, 2022 Mr.&Mrs. Burley sold the hotel to Dominique & Mieke Berlenger, landed immigrants from Belgium. Both internationalists, their love for the province and especially Saint Andrews has only grown over the years by investing in multiple housing properties and eventually acquiring the Kennedy Inn landmark. "The building respires so much history and has seen the world evolve over the past 140 years. We can only be thankful and hopeful that, long after our ownership will have ceased, Kennedy House will continue to fulfil its destiny by serving and hosting countless generations of travellers and Saint Andrews' locals, while marking its dominant presence on Water Street." A phased overhaul of the building and its operation is scheduled for the near future.

To this day the property still operates as a seaside hotel with 23 guest rooms. The building still has the elegant verandas encompassing the front of the building and offers magnificent views of the downtown area and the Passamaquoddy Bay. Come enjoy St. Andrews by the Sea at the oldest summer hotel!

Kennedy's Hotel Flyer

(Special thanks to the Charlotte County Archives, Saint Andrews)

Shiretown Inn Flyer

(Special thanks to Henry Hansen)

Frank Kennedy

(Special thanks to the Charlotte County Archives, Saint Andrews)