| The Pier House
Hotel and Restaurant in St Austell Cornwall
is situated on the picturesque harbour of
Charlestown with stunning views of the port
and coastline of St Austell bay. It has been
a hotel since 1920 and now incorporates the
Harbourside Inn Public House since 2004.
The Pier House Hotel and Restaurant in St
Austell Cornwall, (originally called
Charlestown Hotel) was built in 1794 and was
originally two farm cottages. It became a
farmhouse after the Rashleigh Arms was built
in 1851. Then the occupants at the farm
started taking in paying guests as farming
prosperity declined before 1914-1918 war
until the farm once again became a hotel.
 Being
in a prominent position the Hotel takes an
active part in the activities as well as the
day to day life in Charlestown for locals
and visitors alike who come from all over
the world as well as locally from within
Cornwall.
Charlestown is a Georgian port remaining
relatively unspoilt and undeveloped
reflecting how many West Country ports and
fishing coves looked prior to development
being one of the finest late 18th and early
19th century industrial harbour sites in the
country. Built for Charles Rashleigh, the
port represents a rare example of a mineral
port with it's own defences and is one of
the best preserved china clay and copper ore
ports of it's period anywhere in the world
which is why it is now being protected by
WORLD HERITAGE STATUS.
By 1867 Charlestown had a respectable
population. Sailors were also catered for at
houses of ill repute known to this day as
"eleven doors". Smuggling was at it's peak
between 1700 and 1850. Men known as "free
traders" supplied every item. They would
drop brandy kegs over the side to be
recovered later (this was known as "saving
the crop").
At the beginning of the 18th century
china clay was found in Cornwall. The roads
were inadequate and the railways
non-existent until the latter half of the
19th century. So with the construction of
the Charlestown harbour by Charles Rashleigh
it became the only shipping outlet for the
St Austell area.
In the year of 1876 Charlestown shipped
over 34,000 tons of clay and china stone for
foreign and domestic parts. The last China
clay shipment from Charlestown was on the
M.V Ellen on 13th December 1999.
In 1993 the harbour was purchased by
Square Sail Shipyard and became the home of
the tall ships which are used for many
films, including:
|
Moll Flanders
|
Return to Treasure
Island
|
|
The Eagle Has Landed
|
Shackleton's Endurance
|
|
Frenchman's Creek
|
Odyssey
|
|
The Onedin Line
|
The Three Musketeers
|
|
Mansfield Park
|
Longitude
|
|
A Respectable Trade
|
Rebecca
|
To name but a few. The ships are also
used as training ships and can be chartered
for sailing trips.
The history of the port together with the
new heritage status can only enhance the
attraction of visiting the port and staying
in our historical hotel right on the harbour
front.
Situated on the South West coastal path
you can take a stroll over the cliff tops to
Porthpean Beach and village or to Carlyon
Bay in the opposite direction. Charlestown
beaches are a pebbles throw from the hotel
where swimming is safe and at low tide
children can enjoy exploring the many rock
pools.
The Pier House Hotel and Restaurant in
St Austell Cornwall itself has 26 bedrooms,
a bar/bistro and an a la carte restaurant
which seats up to 115 people. The patio area
which seats up to 90 people has wonderful
views across the harbour and St Austell Bay.
You can eat or just enjoy a drink whilst
taking in the atmosphere surrounding the
harbour. The hotel offers many different
delights from cream teas to lobster caught
locally here in Charlestown. Our hotel bar
is a freehouse and serves a wide selection
of locally brewed ales.
The Harbourside Inn which was
opened in June 2004 also has eight real
ales: many locally brewed and serves
excellent food all day. All Sky Sport
channels available on large screens.
Sunday lunch is served in all areas
including the Harbourside Inn.
Our bedrooms are all en suite with colour
televisions, direct dial telephones and
tea/coffee making facilities. Many rooms
have superb sea and/or harbour views and
wireless internet access.
We are 3 1/2 miles away from the Eden
Project and 6 miles away from the Lost
Gardens of Heligan. There are many moors,
gardens and places of interest, all within
an easy drive.
>> PLEASE CLICK HERE FOR OUR ACCESS
STATEMENT |
