ABode Exeter

The two-course set menu was good, but the bill for lunch for two was one to remember. Still water was £4.65, there was a £1.00 FFC, and the service charge was 12.50%. I'm glad we declined the repeatedly offered bread. It would've helped if our server hadn't been taking cigarette breaks and then coming back to the table smelling of smoke.

We left hungry after spending over £136 on two courses and a bottle of wine, and even stopped for chips on the way home. The portions were so small we could have eaten twice as much. We complained at the time, but nothing was done to improve things. Even the soup's bread roll cost extra, and a bottle of still water was £4.50, which I found extortionate. The people at the next table seemed to feel the same way. This was meant to be a fine dining meal for my wife's birthday, and it became an experience we won't repeat. Very poor value for money. If I were Michael Caines, I'd be embarrassed to put my name to this restaurant. To me, it felt like a complete rip off.

This was a cosy, luxurious hotel with a lot of history, and a beautiful place to stay. Sadly, it burnt to the ground at the end of October 2016, leaving only a shell. The owner and local authorities promised to rebuild it sympathetically and keep as much of the original structure as possible.

The beds were so comfortable, I wish I could take one home! The hotel is stunning and sits right in the heart of Exeter City, with the cathedral green straight out front and the high street just behind. Highly recommended.