Pier House Hotel, Charlestown — Restaurant in England

Restaurant review: I really hate leaving any kind of negative review but feel that I should be honest as it may help the restaurant improve.

4 of us visited on 23rd July for dinner and drinks. My husband and I were excited to have one special meal out whilst here on holiday and have always had good food at the Pier house in the past. We had booked the table for 7 or 7.15pm (I think -our friends who live in Charlestown booked it) but had to phone and ask to move it back to 8pm. They said it was absolutely fine to move it as there wasn't anyone having the table after us.

Unfortunately that night there was a big party happening which meant that service was very slow. The menu was pretty small with about 10 things to choose from. Prices are on the higher end but similar to other restaurants in Charlestown. I struggled to find something I wanted really but chose the lemon sole, something I don't cook myself at home. It took about 1hr 20mins for our food to come. I know they were busy but this is too long. The staff did apologize for the long wait. Two of us also had a bottle of wine to share.

We were all disappointed with the size of the meal. A small piece of fish (husband's was a bit bigger thankfully) and a small side salad which included 2 or 3 of the tiniest potatoes. It was nice enough but nothing special sadly. Very expensive for what it was with our bill coming to almost 150quid for 4 pints of beer, 1 bottle of wine and 4 meals. No starters and no desserts.

Some positives were: the staff were friendly, toilets are super clean and they've done a good job with the refurbishment.

Unfortunately, the high prices, small portions and slow service left us feeling pretty dissatisfied...

In these unusual Covid times, there are additional factors to take into account. So let me start by saying that even before entering the Pier House Hotel, it was obvious that thought had been put into public health with a one way system, with notices on the doors and hand gel right at the entrance. Our experience throughtout the stay was of staff taking good care of guests and of eachother. Clearly the team at Pier House and/or St Austell Brewery had really thought this through. The location is right on the edge of this ancient harbour, dating back to the late 18th century. Although there is no longer coal arriving, nor copper departing, there is plenty of activity on the fine sailing ships on the quayside, which we could look down onto from our room (our other window looked out to sea). The room (Room 1) was spacious, well appointed with a good en suite bathroom. Meals could be taken in the bar or restaurant, places needed to be booked, as not all tables were in use, to maintain social distancing. The food, both breakfast and main meal was of good quality. The main strength of Pier House is its staff, who not only worked hard keeping things safe and clean, but had a real commitment to hospitality and still found time to chat (we received good advice for a day out, taking in Fowey, Readymoney Cove and Golant). If Pier House has one drawback it is that parking is limited, although there is ample parking at their sister inn, the Rashleigh Arms, about 320 metres up the road) and it is possible to park outside to unload. Definitely a...

Pier House Hotel, Charlestown Review

Pier House Hotel, Charlestown: This hotel certainly deserves a five-star rating. The location is absolutely beautiful, offering stunning views and a charming atmosphere. However, note that you'll need to park (for free currently) in a nearby location and walk a few minutes to reach the hotel. The car park's surface is quite rough, resembling an off-road experience with huge rocks, so keep that in mind.

The hotel itself is superb, seemingly housed in an old listed building, which adds to its charm. We were given a traditional key instead of a keycard, which was a nice touch. The room was lovely and spacious, and we appreciated the complimentary cans of lager. Additionally, the room was equipped with useful items such as a loaner shopping bag, giant sea coats, and binoculars, which guests could use during their stay.

There were coffee-making facilities in the room, although there was no milk provided, which was a bit odd but not a major issue. The bed was big and comfortable, and the view of the harbour was fantastic.

Breakfast included a cooked option, and the chef prepared a delicious full English breakfast. One evening, I tried the restaurant, but unfortunately, they had run out of almost everything. This might have been my fault for booking after 7 pm.

Overall, despite a few minor inconveniences, the Pier House Hotel's stunning location, charming atmosphere, and excellent service make it well worth the stay. The friendliness of the staff and the high level of cleanliness were...