The Pier Hotel | A seaside bolthole in Harwich, Essex

A part of the Milsom Hotels & Restaurants group, The Pier Hotel in Harwich is a charming seaside hotel. The small hotel (it has just 14 bedrooms) is informal but has tasteful decor with impressive attention to detail.

The Pier Hotel in Harwich

We arrived at The Pier on a Friday afternoon having faced some delays on the motorway and we were ready for some downtime in our room. The check-in was quick. We received a warm welcome and were shown to our room. The room was compact but lovely and with a wonderful view of the estuary. With a cup of tea in hand (I liked the selection of Novus tea that was provided) we spent some relaxing time looking at ships go by.

The Pier Hotel in Harwich

The Pier Hotel in Harwich

The Pier Hotel in Harwich

The Pier Hotel in Harwich

The Pier Hotel in Harwich

Our room had a king-sized bed, tea and coffee maker, minibar (with complimentary soft drinks), and other amenities like HD television with Sky In-Room, hairdryer, Wi-Fi and a clock radio. The bathroom was clean, spacious and had an integrated bath and shower. Fluffy towels and Aromatherapy Associates products were provided.

The Pier Hotel in Harwich

The restaurant located on the first floor had a great vibe. There was a good selection of interesting vegetarian dishes both for starter and main. Yay! Our starters of Whipped Goat's Cheese with Beetroot Salad & Crushed pistachios and Butternut Squash Gnocchi were fresh and tasty. A special mention for the gnocchi as it was fabulous. The main consisted of Tempura vegetables with Lentil dhal, coriander & coconut sambal. It was flavoursome but the portion size was too generous, I felt. Bhavin enjoyed a Plum crumble tart with clotted cream for dessert while I picked the Strawberry ice cream with added pieces of juicy senga sengana strawberries. It was delicious.

The Pier Hotel in Harwich

The Pier Hotel in Harwich

The Pier Hotel in Harwich

The Pier Hotel in Harwich

The Pier Hotel in Harwich

Breakfast was lovely too – a small buffet with cereals, fresh fruit and some pastries, plus the Full English, Avocado and poached egg toast, cheese omelette among the many cooked options.

The Pier Hotel in Harwich

The Pier Hotel in Harwich

We enjoyed dining at The Pier - the food was flavoursome, beautifully presented and the portion sizes very generous. The whole dining experience was enhanced by the friendly and attentive staff - both during dinner and breakfast.

On the ground-floor is a Scandinavian-inspired bar and terrace called the NAVYÄRD.

The Pier Hotel in Harwich

The Pier Hotel in Harwich

Overall, we enjoyed our stay at The Pier Hotel.

The hotel's greatest asset is its staff (just like the staff at Kesgrave Hall, another of Milsom's hotels). We had a lovely experience right from check in to check out. All staff members were professional, friendly and very helpful. The location of the hotel is its other highlight. The rooms in the front offer lovely views. I could have easily spent hours looking at the water in motion and the ships go by.

View from the room
The Pier Hotel in Harwich

The Pier Hotel in Harwich

The Pier Hotel in Harwich

The Pier Hotel in Harwich

The Pier Hotel in Harwich

The Pier Hotel in Harwich

The weather was lovely when we visited Harwich. It is a small town but one with a rich maritime history. Harwich has some fascinating places to visit like the Redoubt Fort, the Mayflower Project and the Maritime Museum. We followed the Harwich Maritime Heritage Trail and learnt some interesting facts about the town.

Harwich Maritime Museum

If you are looking for an unusual short break you have never considered, try Harwich. It is a wonderful destination for history-lovers. A weekend is enough time to enjoy a lovely break in this coastal town.

The Pier Hotel in Harwich

Book your holiday


Room rates at The Pier Hotel start at £135. You can check the hotel's website for rates and special offers. The hotel has a great offer that’s running at the moment - The 'Ginspired' break. The overnight break offers three-course dinner in the restaurant (free choice from the full menu), overnight accommodation and full breakfast and 'Captain' Gin flight – your choice of four gins across the shelves. The price is £115.00 per person. This break is available from September through to December, subject to availability and based on double occupancy.

For more details contact The Pier Hotel.

The Pier Hotel | The Quay, Harwich, Essex, CO12 3HH
Phone | 01255 241212

The Pier Hotel in Harwich


Our stay at the Pier Hotel was organised by Milsom Hotels in exchange for an honest review. All words and opinions are, as always, our own.

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