B&B spring 2014
Porches, a Bed & Breakfast located along the towpath in downtown New Hope and is aptly named. As you face the three-story brick building, you’re struck by the porches—wraparound porches on the front, the sides and on all three levels, the largest running the full length of the structure on both the ground and second floors.
Porches was built in 1815 as a house, according to owner and innkeeper John Byers, “When the canal came through New Hope in 1830, the building was used to store grain. The arrival of the railroad coupled with the decline in barge traffic led to it being converted back into a private residence.” He added, “After all, the canal is between the railroad and this building, ruining its usefulness as a grain storage facility.”
Byers purchased Porches in 2000. “I never aspired to having a B & B,” he said, “but owned the adjacent properties. It had been opened as a bed & breakfast in 1995 or ’96. My business was renovating structures and building businesses. My obsession is to take a rundown building and fix it up. I was in real estate and flipped houses for thirty years.”
When John took over Porches, there were five guest rooms. He gradually has expanded that to the present 12, six in the main building, four more located in the Gatekeepers Cottage—one of those a large room with two beds. The remaining two are in the small building Private Quarters, one a two-story room, the other adjoining. John explained that the adjoining room cannot be rented by itself, while the two-story one can be.
Every room has a private bath and access to WiFi. Eleven have either queens or kings, while the smallest room has a double canopy bed. Eight have televisions, all cleverly hidden from view. And with every room, you can step outside on a porch, balcony or patio. In fact, with all but one, you can enter the room without having to come through the front door.
To finish reading about Porches, turn to page 166 in the Spring issue of Bucks County Magazine.