The origin of this pier reportedly dates back to 1812 although, in 1840, a piled structure had been built on the harbour's north side as an extension of Weymouth Esplanade. It was rebuilt/extended during 1859/60, with a cargo stage added in 1877 to facilitate the landing of Channel Island potatoes. A new passenger landing stage/baggage hall was built for the Great Western Railway in 1888/9. A Pavilion Theatre was constructed in 1908.

Harbour work in the early 1930s resulted in a new 1300 foot concrete pier replacing the earlier 600 foot structure. This pier was opened on July 13th 1933 by the Prince of Wales, later King Edward VIII.

The aforementioned Pavilion Theatre was burnt down in 1954 and replaced by a second Pavilion Theatre which opened in 1961. Land adjacent to the pier was reclaimed to provide car parking and facilities for the theatre and, from 1973, the roll-on/roll-off cross-Channel car ferries. A large area of land was reclaimed in 1978 to further extend the ferry terminal. This work was completed in 1980.

Ferries to the Channel Islands and France recommenced in 1998 after a short break. The Alexandra Garden Theatre, rebuilt after being damaged by fire in 1993, now provides an amusement outlet on the pier forecourt. There is also angling from the pier.

Discussions had been underway for some time about redeveloping the Weymouth Pavilion, Weymouth Pier and ferry terminal in time for the Olympic Games in 2012 but in September 2009, these plans were scrapped.

However, plans for a 53 metre high observation tower were agreed and in November 2011, the first pictures of the tower's observation pod, with its floor-to-ceiling polycarbonate windows, were published. Contractors also began the ground preparation works for the tower which will carry 70 passengers at a time.
 

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