It has been speculated in the years since Hardy wrote ‘At an Inn’ that the events were inspired by a visit the poet made to an inn in Winchester. Where he was with a woman with whom he had a platonic relationship (Florence Henniker). The same friend appears in the poem, ‘A Broken Appointment.’ Hardy discusses how he and his listener were once staying at an inn. Upon entering the Inn they came into the building the employees smiled at one another, believing that the two were a couple.

Throughout their whole stay they were treated with a great warmth that encourages them to be together, however they were not in love. As the poem progresses, the speaker mourns the fact that at that moment he and his companion were unable to take advantage of the situation. Unfortunately, even though they are in love, they are unable to be together.