Gloucester: Visiting Crow’s Nest, The location of “The Perfect Storm”
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The Crow’s Nest is the bar featured in the movie, The Perfect Storm. Just an hour or so north of Boston, you can visit the bar actually frequented by the fishermen who lost their lives on the Andrea Gail over 30 years ago (in 1991).
During our visit, the bartenders told us that the actual bar was not used in the movie because the ceilings were too low for the cameramen. However, Hollywood made a replica set. We learned from the staff that cast members such as George Clooney and Mark Wahlberg hung out at this bar while filming in town.
The bar is an easy 1 hour daytrip from Boston, so if you are at all interested in the story, you may want to plan a trip up. We actually drove 2 hours up from Fall River as my dad (who is a big fan) was in town visiting for a wedding. It was a very interesting experience for us to hear some of the true life stories from locals who knew the men.
Based on a true story
I would advise reading the book or seeing the movie beforehand to familiarize yourself with the story. For those of you who haven’t read the book or seen the movie, The Perfect Storm is based on the true story of 5 Gloucester fishermen and their captain who never return from a late season fishing expedition due to a disastrous storm now known as the “Storm of the Century.” The book captures the last few days of the 6 fisherman’s lives aboard sword-fishing boat, Andrea Gail.
It is an incredible movie, and a really incredible experience to be able to visit the bar in person and learn more about the real life story. The bartender actually knew some of the men who lost their lives and shared a lot of interesting information regarding the disaster.
The (real) Perfect Storm Crew
Along the walls, you will get to see pictures of the actual men who lost their lives at sea, along with pictures of the Hollywood celebrities who appeared in the movie and visited the bar while filming scenes in the area.
Memorabilia
I loved looking at the pictures of the filming crew hanging out at the bar during filming. It shows you that all the celebs are real people just like you and me!
Commemoration plaque acknowledging the crewmen of the Andrea Gail
And here is a picture of us sitting at the bar just to show a little more of the interior. We lucked out and were pretty much the only one around besides the bar staff on a slow afternoon. My family was in town attending a wedding, so we figured we would check out all the popular tourist attractions in the region on the weekdays to avoid the tourist traffic.
This gave us the opportunity to hear a lot of stories and ask a lot of questions which was pretty cool. It was a great experience, especially for my dad who is a big fan. I became a bigger fan after my visit and actually watched the movie again and reread the book. Let’s just say, we kicked back for a little bit after all that driving!
A must visit for fans of the book/movie
I would say this is an interesting spot to stop for a few drinks if you are a fan of the book or movie. My dad (a major fan of the movie) really enjoyed his experience. Many visitors and locals return again and again. Note that the bar no longer serves food, however, there are plenty of restaurants within walking distance.
The Crow’s Nest Inn offers great views of the harbor if you need somewhere to stay while in town. Souvenir items such as hats and T shirts can be purchased at the bar. This is a great time to pick up stocking stuffers for fans.
Fun fact: The National Weather Service created the term “The Perfect Storm” in October 1991 to describe this monstrous storm off the New England coast.
Address: 334 Main Street
Visit the website for more info
Gloucester Marine Railways
From the bar, you can walk over to the shipyard, which is the oldest working one in the US. On a nice day, it’s a beautiful place to take a walk and enjoy the scenery.
There are also a few beaches in the area (which I heard are great for collecting seaglass). As an avid collector, I would definitely like to plan a trip back one of these days. You can read more about the different area beaches if you are interested.
You can also walk or drive about a mile or so to the Fisherman’s Memorial Statue. This statue was built in 1925 and it commemorates all those Gloucester fisherman who have lost their lives at sea, since the seventeenth century. This is a cool extra detour for any fishermen and history buffs.
Address: Stacy Boulevard
Where to dine
There are dozens of restaurants within walking distance. We decided to go with a restaurant called Espresso Italian Grille & Pub, which was recommended by one of the locals at the bar. Update: This grill is now closed. Other recommended restaurants include: Delaney’s Pizza, Destino’s, and Seaport Grille.
