The Pier is located in the heart of Harwich old town in an enviable position overlooking the picturesque harbour and Ha'penny Pier.The Pier has long been established in Harwich, having celebrated its 35th anniversary in 2013.The hotel has four AA stars with two rosettes for cooking.
The Pier has two great restaurants – the Harbourside on the first floor of The Pier and is open from Wednesday through to Sunday, lunch and dinner. As you would expect Head Chef John Goff takes much of his influence from the sea so Harwich lobster (from their own saltwater tanks) always on the menu served either grilled or thermidor. Much of the seafood on offer is locally caught and is landed in the harbour opposite, so don't be surprised to see the local fishermen beating a trail to the back door! Don't worry, if you're a land lover, John also serves the best steaks in town so there's something for everyone. Enhancing the food is the simple, stylish interior that looks out over the confluence of the Stour and Orwell estuaries. At night, the lights of Felixstowe docks take on a magical quality – strange but true.
On the ground floor, the Ha'Penny Bistro is open all day with the full menu served from 12 noon with no need to book, very useful if you are arriving by sea! The terrace is open in the summer, perfect for a glass of wine and watching the world and the boats go by.
The Pier also offers a unique and fun venue for weddings. Get married in the Angel sitting room followed by a wedding breakfast in the Harbourside, brides and their families love the photo opportunities by the sea either on the Ha'penny Pier or the lightship that is permanently moored in the harbour opposite.
And you can also stay at The Pier; the hotel has 14 bedrooms which come complete with complimentary soft drinks bar, free Wi-Fi, REN products and personal Sky HD box, offering the full range of Sky channels. Many of the rooms look out to sea and the harbour – a stay in The Mayflower suite, complete with telescope is a must!
Getting to The Pier is easy, either by boat, by train taking the evocatively named Mayflower Line from Manningtree, by car or by helicopter as the light ship in the harbour has a landing pad!
There's a lot to see and do in Harwich without venturing any further with a wealth of museums celebrating the town's maritime history. Also the Electric Palace Cinema is amongst the oldest in the UK and has delivers an interesting programme of films throughout the year.