The Three Cups was a historic

public house A pub (short for public house) is in several countries a drinking establishment licensed to serve alcoholic drinks for consumption Licensing laws of the United Kingdom#On-licence, on the premises. The term first appeared in England in the ...

and hotel which played a prominent role in

Harwich Harwich is a town in Essex, England, and one of the Haven ports on the North Sea coast. It is in the Tendring district. Nearby places include Felixstowe to the north-east, Ipswich to the north-west, Colchester to the south-west and Clacton-o ...

until it was converted to a private house in 1995. The current building was built around 1500, but there are more speculative claims that a public house existed on the site before this. The building is located at 64 Church Street, next to St Nicholas' church.

Celebrations marked at the Three Cups

The Three Cups has frequently been the venue of the celebration of significant events over the years:

Launch and relaunch of ships

* Launch of HMS Sultan (1775), 23 December 1775. * Relaunch of HMS Magicienne, 18 January 1793.

History

The building is thought to date from the 16th century, with architectural evidence of timber framing typical of that period. It is located in the historic core of Harwich, a port town that played a strategic role in English maritime and naval history. Throughout the 17th and 18th centuries, The Three Cups functioned as a coaching inn serving travellers arriving by road or sea. Its proximity to the harbour made it a convenient stopover for seafarers and merchants. The inn was advertised historically as offering lodging and stabling facilities.

Architecture

The structure features exposed timber framing internally and has been partly refaced with plaster and brick on the exterior. The frontage faces Church Street and includes sash windows, rendered finishes, and a tiled roof. Much of the original plan form has been retained, with several large rooms on the ground floor formerly used for dining and functions.

Historic England Historic England (officially the Historic Buildings and Monuments Commission for England) is an executive non-departmental public body of the British Government sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. It is tasked with prot ...

describes the Three Cups as "an important and rare survival of a major coaching inn" in the region.

Later use and closure

The inn operated as a public house into the late 20th century and was used in more recent decades as a venue for private functions, including weddings, banquets, and local events. The Three Cups ceased operating as a public house in the early 2000s and has remained closed since then.

Preservation status

The building is listed as Grade II* by Historic England, providing it with protection under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990. Efforts by local heritage groups have continued to raise awareness of its historical significance.

References

{{coords, 51.9460, 1.2883, display=title Former pubs in England Grade II listed pubs in Essex Grade II listed houses Harwich