Historic Portsmouth inn fulfills restaurateur's dream

By: Kimberley Haas, New Hampshire.com

In the three months since Jay and Amanda McSharry opened The Sailmaker's House, they have already welcomed guests from around the globe.

Restaurateur Jay McSharry, who owns Jumpin' Jay's Fish Café, The Franklin, Moxy, Dos Amigos, Vida Cantina, The Red Door and other businesses on the Seacoast, said he has always wanted to own a hotel.

"It's an exciting time to be part of Portsmouth," McSharry, a University of New Hampshire graduate, said. "It has grown up and matured so much but keeps its rich history. I am happy to have brought the inn back to life working with Amanda."

For 27 years, the historic building on Court Street was The Inn at Strawbery Banke.

The McSharrys, who have two children under 20 months old, said the time was right for them to enter the lodging market. They worked with the Small Business Administration and Optima Bank to finance the deal.

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"We love what other hotels and inns are doing in Portsmouth, and we are focused on what we do and to do it the best that we can. Our goal is to attract people to Portsmouth. We see our biggest competition as other nearby markets on the Seacoast of New England - Portland, Boston and Newport," Jay McSharry said.

So far, The Sailmaker's House has attracted mostly leisure travelers, but they have seen some business travelers. That includes a local company that bought out the inn for a four-day annual meeting and retreat.

The Sailmaker's House is designed for the self-sufficient traveler but can accommodate just about anyone's needs. That means people who enjoy the freedom of Air BNB rentals can check in at any time and enter their room with a secure key code.

Read the complete article on newhampshire.com.