The Exeter Inn

The food was fine, tasty if average, but the atmosphere was odd, like a bad comedy sketch. The landlord needs some customer service lessons. I’m shocked by how he spoke to me about the service charge and a member of staff. We met visiting family for a roast lunch after a difficult few months financially with our business, and had pushed the boat out so as not to let them down. When I paid, the landlord asked if I wanted to add a service charge. I politely said no thank you. He asked again, and I said no thanks. Then he said, “you not even paying for the girl?!” I assumed he meant the waitress who had helped carry over a couple of plates, and found it an odd way to speak about her. I had to repeat no thank you. He replied loudly and sarcastically, “INCREDIBLE!!” I was gobsmacked and left the pub immediately. After those difficult months, this was meant to be a nice trip out, and I couldn’t believe he was trying to humiliate a customer like that. We live in town and have a large local network, so we’ll be avoiding this pub from now on. It’s disappointing that a local establishment let us down so badly.