Clevedon Pier & Heritage Trust Reviews Summary

Historical Significance & Aesthetics

Pros:

• "A wonderful and historical pier."
• "The UKs oldest pier. Well worth a visit maintained almost entirely by volunteers."
• "An excellent heritage Pier and the only accessible Grade 1 listed pier in the country with excellent views."
• "Beautiful Victorian pier with extraordinary views over the Bristol channel and over to Wales."
• "Beautifully and lovingly restored."
• "Clevedon Pier is an unsurpassable Victorian gem and a wonderful monument today to the local people and volunteers who didn't let it die."
• "This is the only Grade One listed Pier in England and one of, or if not the longest."

Cons:

• "Recent restaurant development out of keeping with the surroundings. (Glass dome is hideous) ruins the view down the pier."
• "The only negative, was seeing the scaffolding on the pier, but it is there for a reason."
• "Lovely old Victorian pier.Shame the exhibition room area was closed and also upstairs."
• "Pier is in need of a jet wash as decking and seating is all green with moss."
• "It is very difficult with a wheelchair and at one point the tyre got stuck between the slats and it came off the wheel."

Staff & Volunteers

Pros:

• "Ran by very knowledgeable volunteers who are only more than happy to pass on their knowledge."
• "The place looks like it's managed by volunteers who really enjoy their pier and they where more than happy to answer any questions."
• "The staff (volunteers, by the way) are brilliant. Friendly, helpful and extremely knowledgeable."
• "Friendly, knowledgeable, and helpful staff, who told us some of the piers history."
• "Really helpful welcome at the entrance - they even gave me a polishing kit and the exact location of my parents' sponsored plank from the 80's!"
• "I can’t express enough how all staff are extremely kind and have such a positive attitude."
• "The staff seem to be very passionate and Knowledgeable about the pier and its history."

Cons:

• "Expensive. Rude staff. Really not much there for the money."
• "We thought we would stop for a morning coffee in the restaurant on the pier, only to be told by a rude old waitress 'we don't serve drinks only, you will have to go to the cafe at the end off the pier!'"
• "The staff member that took our entry pushed gift aid too heavily and looked taken aback when we insisted on the standard fare!"
• "Lovely and beautiful place where we chose to put my late daughters memorial plaque. However staff are extremely obstinate, arrogant and rude."

Facilities & Amenities

Pros:

• "The fresh fish and chips are some of the best I've tasted."
• "There are toilets here too."
• "Clean toilets, nicely decorated."
• "Good cafe at the end selling delicious cakes and hot chocolate."
• "Great coffee & cakes at end."
• "The Fish and Chips in the restaurant are excellent and the homemade tartar sauce is something else."
• "A lovely tea room sits here which looks like a chinese pagoda."

Cons:

• "The pier is beautiful but sadly you now have to pay to visit it."
• "They charge three times as much to access this pier, which has ABSOLUTELY NOTHING on it, than the one at Weston Super Mare."
• "It's only a small pier with nothing on it, didn't think it was worth the charge at all."
• "Refreshments at the end are a little disappointing, I had hoped for home made cake, not a packet of flapjack."
• "Very expensive as all I wanted to do was fulfill my booking at the glass box restaurant."
• "Fish restaurant at the start and small cafe-bar at the far end (too pricey - £2.20 for a can of lemonade, so dropped a star)."
• "Coffee at the pagoda at the end wasn’t great."

Accessibility & Experience

Pros:

• "There is also wheelchair and mobility scooter access."
• "Great looking pier with wonderful views across the channel to Wales and getting to the pier by the mv Balmoral was an amazing experience."
• "It is lovely to walk along and stand at the end. There is a peaceful feel to it, looking out into the sea with the wind in your hair."
• "Peaceful and unspoilt. The pier is a treat to walk down with nothing but the sound of your footsteps on the boards and the waves lapping against the shoreline."
• "The visitor centre is worth a look if you like your history."
• "One Direction filmed a video once on the pier and you can find the little brass plaque to mark this."
• "Just a wonderful place to sit, look out into the distance and clear your head."

Cons:

• "Visited here over Christmas, wanted to walk along the little pier but was put off by the £3pp charge."
• "The pier is wheel chair accessible but attention needs to paid as in places the gap between boards are just wide enough for a wheel to go through."
• "I really loved it although I found the little gaps between the board made me queasy."
• "Quick note for wheelchair users, there are gaps between the planks which, if you're not using Beach Friendly Wheelchairs (fat wheels), are wide enough for front wheels to go through planking."
• "Unfortunately there was no to access the cafe at the end of the pier, because of a flight of stairs."
• "It is very difficult with a wheelchair and at one point the tyre got stuck between the slats and it came off the wheel."
• "THE ENTRY PRICE IS OPTIONAL!!! I would say the price is far too steep and to go ahead and skip it."