Firstly, Harwich as a location surpassed my expectations. My preconception was of a large international port, and as such, I was wary, but as we had been to Milsoms in Dedham previously, i knew that the hotel would be lovely. But old Harwich is quaint and we had a lovely time on the pier and wandering along the seafront. The Electric Palace cinema is a must visit and I would also recommend the Redoubt Fort.
As for the hotel itself, it certainly follows the Milsom style and quality. The room was very comfortable, the shower was excellent and the staff were very polite and helpful. We enjoyed a few drinks in the ha'penny bistro and bar, which had a lovely atmosphere and great decor. Dinner here was very good. On Sunday we had an early dinner at the Harbourside restaurant which was lovely, but the room didn't have the wow factor that I was expecting. Generally, the hotel and restaurant were slightly tired looking and could do with a lick of paint, but this is being picky. Comparison with Milsoms Dedham was inevitable, and The Pier didn't quite match up, but we would still happily return to The Pier.