Banjo Pier

Banjo Pier is a small but instantly recognisable harbour structure in Looe, a fishing town on the south coast of Cornwall. It gets its name from its shape — seen from above, a short "neck" leading to a round, bulbous end, just like the body of a banjo. The pier shelters East Looe Beach, turning an otherwise exposed stretch of coast into a calm, sandy bay that's ideal for swimming and strolling even when the open sea is choppier further out.

Where does the name come from and why was it built?

The story goes back to the late 19th century. The mouth of the River Looe kept silting up, making it difficult for the fishing fleet to get in and out of the harbour and threatening to cut the town off from the sea. In 1897 local engineer Joseph Thomas proposed an unusual fix: instead of a long, narrow jetty, he designed a shorter, thicker structure with a rounded end, built to flush out sediment more effectively and keep the river mouth clear. Thomas was so confident in his design that he agreed to be paid only once it was built and had proved itself in practice. It worked, and the distinctive silhouette soon earned it the nickname "the banjo pier."

Today it's recognised as the oldest surviving structure of its kind anywhere in the world, and it became the template for similar "banjo piers" built elsewhere afterwards. Because of its historical and engineering significance, Banjo Pier is a Grade II listed structure, giving it legal protection as part of the UK's built heritage.

What will you see there?

Walking out along the pier is one of those simple pleasures that sums up Looe. From the rounded end you get a sweeping view of the whole bay — rugged cliffs on one side, the river mouth and colourful fishing boats moored along the quay on the other. On a clear day you can pick out the coastline stretching towards Polperro and Fowey. The pier is also a popular spot with anglers, especially at high tide, when bass, pollock and the occasional gurnard can be caught from its walls.

Looe itself is a classic Cornish fishing town, split by the river into East Looe and West Looe and joined by a bridge. It's worth combining a walk on the pier with a wander through the narrow lanes of the old town, the working harbour, and the small independent shops nearby.

How to get there and when to visit?

Banjo Pier sits right at East Looe Beach, an easy walk from the town centre and the main car park. Looe has its own branch-line railway connection from Liskeard — a scenic ride following the river valley — and is also reachable by car via the A387 and B3253 from Cornwall's main routes.

Spring and summer are the liveliest times to visit, when the beach and pier are busy with holidaymakers. In autumn and winter, rougher seas give the pier a more dramatic character as waves break against its rounded end. It's worth checking the tide times: at low tide a wide stretch of sand is exposed, while high tide is when the pier comes into its own as a fishing spot.

Frequently asked questions

Why is it called Banjo Pier? Because its shape — a short neck widening into a round end — resembles a banjo when viewed from above.

Who built it and when? Local engineer Joseph Thomas designed it, with construction starting in 1897 to solve the problem of silt blocking the mouth of the River Looe.

Can you fish from the pier? Yes, it's a popular angling spot, particularly at high tide, with bass, pollock and occasional gurnard caught from its walls.

Is the pier a listed structure? Yes, it's Grade II listed as the oldest surviving example of a "banjo pier" and the prototype for similar structures built elsewhere.