The Pier House

The Pier House is an award-winning coastal restaurant, bar and wedding venue in Westward Ho!, North Devon, United Kingdom. It occupies a seafront building overlooking Bideford Bay with Lundy Island on the horizon, and offers panoramic sea views, freshly prepared seasonal food, a Sunday carvery, terraces and a bar, plus event and wedding facilities in its Bay Suite. It is open daily and provides complimentary onsite parking. The building was constructed in 1885 by George M. F. Molesworth and originally known as Merley House. In 1918 a lease was acquired by Helena Zimmermann Montagu, the 9th Duchess of Manchester, who used it for afternoon tea overlooking the sea during summer visits to Northam. It remained a private house until the Second World War, when it was commandeered as a base for soldiers. In 1946 it was acquired by a local hotel operator and renamed The Merley Hotel. The Braddick family, who had operated an adjacent holiday camp since 1937, bought the hotel in 1951 and gradually extended it over the following six decades, opening restaurant and kitchen extensions in 1959 and relaunching the property as The Elizabethan Club and Restaurant, later shortened to The Elizabethan. A ballroom/function room extension was built in 1974 and modernised in 2010 as The Bay Suite. The remainder of The Elizabethan was extensively modernised and relaunched in May 2011 as The Pier House. Today The Pier House positions itself as one of North Devon's most scenic coastal dining and celebration destinations, hosting weddings, parties, Christmas events and special occasions alongside everyday dining. Its 2027 wedding diary is open, and it promotes Christmas 2026 celebrations. The business remains privately owned and operated by the Braddick family, with the current owner being a descendant of Hobart Braddick, whose picture with his surfboard hangs behind the main bar.

The Pier House occupies a seafront building in Westward Ho!, North Devon, with views over Bideford Bay towards Lundy Island. The building was constructed in 1885 by George M. F. Molesworth and was originally known as Merley House. In 1918 a lease of the property was acquired by Helena Zimmermann Montagu, the 9th Duchess of Manchester, described as a beautiful American heiress from Cincinnati. During the summer months she lived at Lakenham House in Northam and travelled to Merley House in her horse and carriage to have afternoon tea overlooking the sea. Merley House remained a private house through until the Second World War, when it was commandeered and used as a base for soldiers. In 1946 it was acquired by a local hotel operator and renamed The Merley Hotel. Meanwhile, in 1937, Hobart Braddick — great grandfather of the current owner, whose picture with his surfboard can be seen behind the main bar — had established and operated a holiday camp adjacent to the property. The Braddick family subsequently bought The Merley Hotel in 1951, and it became part of the holiday camp business. Over the following 60 years the family gradually extended the property. Restaurant and kitchen extensions were added in 1959, and the property was relaunched as The Elizabethan Club and Restaurant, later shortened to The Elizabethan. It was initially a members-only club for friends of the family and holiday camp users before extending a warm welcome to all locals and visitors alike. A ballroom/function room extension was constructed in 1974 and was completely modernised in 2010, when it became known as The Bay Suite. The remainder of The Elizabethan underwent an extensive modernisation programme in 2011 and was relaunched in May 2011 as The Pier House. As The Pier House, the business has established itself as an award-winning coastal restaurant, bar and wedding venue. It offers freshly prepared food, a drink on the terrace, Sunday carvery and memorable meals as the sun sets over the water, and is open daily with complimentary onsite parking. It hosts weddings, parties and special occasions, with its 2027 wedding diary open and Christmas 2026 celebrations promoted. The business remains privately owned and operated by the Braddick family.

• 2011

  Remainder of The Elizabethan extensively modernised and relaunched in May 2011 as The Pier House.

• 2010

  Function room completely modernised and renamed The Bay Suite.

• 1974

  Ballroom/function room extension constructed.

• 1959

  Restaurant and kitchen extensions added; property relaunched as The Elizabethan Club and Restaurant.

• 1951

  Braddick family buys The Merley Hotel, making it part of the holiday camp business.

• 1946

  Acquired by a local hotel operator and renamed The Merley Hotel.

• 1937

  Hobart Braddick establishes and operates a holiday camp adjacent to the property.

• 1918

  Lease acquired by Helena Zimmermann Montagu, the 9th Duchess of Manchester.

• 1885

  Building constructed by George M. F. Molesworth and originally known as Merley House.

One of North Devon's most scenic coastal restaurants, offering panoramic sea views, fresh seasonal food and a beautiful setting for weddings, parties and special occasions.

• Restaurant dining

• Bar and terrace drinks

• Sunday carvery

• Weddings in The Bay Suite

• Parties and special occasions

• Christmas parties and Christmas Day dining

1. 1Wedding Venue North Devon |thepier-house.co.uk
2. 2History |thepier-house.co.uk
3. 3The Pier Housewikidata.org