Kings Arms Inn

The room had a comfortable bed and was clean, with a wonderfully wonky layout and proper old-world charm. We were in Exeter for the Women's Rugby World Cup and stayed two nights. Everyone was welcoming and friendly, and the food and beer were good. I’d happily stay again.

The old, rustic room had a nice feel, though you could see its age in places. It did the job. We were warned it might be noisy, and during pub opening hours we could hear every word through the paper-thin walls. Once it closed, things became peaceful and quiet. We liked the pub and the food too. I had the vegetable wellington, which was delicious, and the young waiter made us feel welcome. A room happened to be free when we arrived, and the lady behind the bar kindly lent me her charger. There's a car park right next door.

The food was good quality, with no complaints about portions. The chips were perfect, and so were the desserts. Prices are a little above a chain pub, but someone in the kitchen clearly handles a busy service well. The West Country ales were served at the right temperature in clean glasses. There was a decent choice of dishes, and the young lad who showed us to a table, Robbie perhaps, was cheerful, funny, and far better at engaging with customers than many people in public-facing hospitality jobs. The young woman at the bar was polite and efficient, even with the extra footfall from the local fayre. We stopped just after 1pm while heading home and tried it because “The Management” was hungry. The large car park made parking easy, and there was room for me to get out despite being less able, though I didn't spot marked disabled spaces. From outside, the pub looked a bit tired but clean, with plenty of outdoor seating. Inside, there's a long bar with spirits and bottled drinks as well as the ales. A few details could use attention: some light fittings had no working bulbs, the cutlery was mismatched and still marked from the dishwasher, and the car park signs looked worn. The soft two-seat sofa beside our table sat so low I had to stack both cushions to eat comfortably. The men's toilets were clean, but smaller than expected, had no grab rails, and I didn't see an accessible toilet. It was a little tricky to use. I can't comment on the rooms since we didn't stay. Would I eat there again? Yes. Pubs matter as village hubs, and independents deserve support. For us it means a 40-minute drive, but it's worth the effort.

That £30 steak was inedible in places, with about half the meat no good. The fries tasted as if they'd been cooked in engine oil, and the £4 peppercorn sauce was full of whole peppercorns that I had to pick out. For London prices in the middle of nowhere, I'd get much better food at a Wetherspoons. Easily the worst dining experience I've had.