When you’re in Fredericton, New Brunswick, you’ll find the Crowne Plaza Lord Beaverbrook in the heart of the action.
Park your car, check in, and take a stroll. The first thing you’ll notice is that it is a very walkable city.
The four-star, downtown, riverfront hotel is a hop, skip, and jump from markets, restaurants, museums, and galleries. Plus, you can walk nearby trails or cycle the bike paths.
The exterior is a tad tired, but don’t let that stop you. Go in by the main entrance off Queen Street and you’ll be met by curling cast-iron stairways and friendly staff at the registration desk.
Crowne Plaza Lord Beaverbrook details and background
Originally built in 1948, the Crowne Plaza Lord Beaverbrook is named after New Brunswicker William Maxwell Aitken. He moved to Britain in 1910 with his family, was elected as a member of parliament, and became a hugely successful newspaper publisher. He was a very influential political figure.
In 1911 Aitken was knighted and became known as Lord Beaverbrook.
Although it is 75 years old, the hotel has been modernized over the years. Guests who enjoy a dip will appreciate its full-sized, heated indoor pool, and hot tub. Work out buffs can head to the fitness center with an elliptical machine, treadmill, and free weights.
Recently updated guest rooms come in King and Queen bed configurations with free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs, desks, and mini-fridges. If you are looking for something more spacious, the one King bedroom suites are 530 square feet in size with jetted tubs, a living room area, and a sofa bed.
Go for the views
Make sure you ask for a view of the Saint John River. The extra cost is worth it. This beautiful waterway is also known as the Wolastoq River, which means ‘The River of the Good Wave” in the language spoken by the First Nations peoples of the area, the Maliseet and Passamaquoddy.
Take a look out the window in some of the rooms in the Crowne Plaza Lord Beaverbrook, and you’ll be able to see the Bill Thorpe Walking Bridge. The 1905-foot former rail bridge spans the river and is named after a deputy mayor who helped establish the Fredericton Trail Network.
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Accessibility and gathering spaces
Hotel accessibility covers wheelchair-accessible rooms, parking spaces, and ramp access to the property. Making it convenient for guests, the accessible rooms are all located on the ground floor close to the exit.
If you’re holding a business or social event, there is also meeting space available, an executive boardroom, a business center, and a ballroom that holds 500 for special events.
Dining options at the Crowne Plaza Lord Beaverbrook
To quickly alleviate hunger pangs, grab a quick packaged snack or soft drink from the Lobby Market, right behind the reception counter.
Do you prefer a hot meal and some leisurely conversation? The Crowne Plaza Lord Beaverbrook, offers two options. The Joyce Pub provides a menu stocked with dishes made with local ingredients. You can dig into locally-produced food with mains such as bangers and mash, pulled pork poutine, and bacon-wrapped scallops.
Head to the pub for inventive cocktails and ciders. But it’s known for something else. Ask any regular and they’ll tell you this spot has 36 New Brunswick craft beers on tap, the biggest selection in the province. Be warned, they rotate beer selections regularly, so you may not see the same brew twice.
Warm and inviting, the space has comfy indoor seating and a fireplace that gets lit on chilly winter evenings. If you go in summer, there’s an outdoor, covered patio that is a great perch for people-watching.
Looking for a more refined experience? Try Maxwell’s Steak & Seafood Restaurant. It serves top-notch steaks and seafood with an inventive twist thanks to executive chef Matt Mackenzie.
When ordering a steak, you can match it with one of the signature sauces, such as minted chimichurri or blue cheese butter. Sides include roasted brussels sprouts and fingerling potatoes. The menu also offers Atlantic salmon, wild mushroom gnocchi, and appetizers such as beef carpaccio and braised pork belly.
You can choose elegant seating either indoors or outdoors overlooking the river.
Activities close to the Crowne Plaza Lord Beaverbrook
Before or after a meal, you can choose from a host of activities in the area. The Crowne Plaza Lord Beaverbrook sits across from the provincial legislature building, the Fredericton Playhouse, and the Fredericton Convention Center.
Plus, art lovers will appreciate the next-door proximity of the Beaverbrook Art Gallery. Take a peek in the gallery and you’ll be treated to contemporary art installations and historical exhibitions that reflect not only the background of New Brunswick but the whole Atlantic region.
If you are hankering for a stroll, take the hotel’s Garden exit and you’ll be popped out on the banks of the Saint John River where you can access the 4-mile loop riverwalk. You can also rent kayaks and paddle across the river. Be sure to ask how strong the current is that day.
If you visit between June and September, the Thursday Garrison Night Market is a lot of fun. Located in the Historic Garrison District, just down the road from the Crowne Plaza Lord Beaverbrook, you’ll find craft vendors, food stalls, a beer garden, and live entertainment.
Year round on Saturdays you can drop into the Fredericton Boyce Farmers Market where more than 200 vendors offer baked goods, crafts, produce, and more.
Other walkable must-dos include picking up a coffee and pastry at Chess Piece Pâtisserie and Café. If something more high-octane is your preference, visit the Lunar Rogue Pub where you can order a plethora of whiskies from around the world.
Rates, parking and pet policy
Hotel rates range from around $180 for a Queen Standard to $300 for a One Bedroom King Suit with River View. Special packages are offered seasonally, including for CAA/AAA members. Outdoor, on-site self-parking is available for a fee. Pets (dogs and cats) are welcome at no extra charge. Make your reservations through the IHG website, or use a booking site such as Hotels.com, Expedia, or Bookingcom.
Hotel feature by Toronto-based travel writer Maureen Littlejohn. Photos © Maureen Littlejohn. Tourism New Brunswick arranged for her stay as she researched a larger piece. As always, her thoughts and opinions are her own.
