Becketts Rooftop Bar in Exeter

A big THANK YOU to Fran and the team for looking after us yesterday. Really friendly helpful service. Nothing was too much trouble. Lovely atmosphere to catch up with girlfriends over a few cocktails!

I came here a few months ago and really enjoyed it - booked a table and when we arrived there was someone sat at a desk outside the door checking for your booking before you went in. We were shown to our table and menus were brought to us and the waitress took our orders for drinks. So I was very impressed last time - lovely chilled out ambience, nice drinks with attentive staff. But oh how things have changed!! For the worse! It still states ‘Reservations only’ on the website. So I booked a table and told my partner and some friends how nice a place it was, and that it would be perfect for pre-dinner drinks. We arrived at our set booking time. There was no-one sat outside the door to check for our booking, like there was last time, so I thought oh well someone inside will show us to our table. Upon entering, I noticed how much busier it was in there than the last time, with people milling around at the bar, queuing for drinks. I could see a couple of free tables, so we sat at one, but no-one came to greet us, and I couldn’t see any waiting staff around so I asked a young girl behind the bar about our booking and which table we should sit at… she looked pretty clueless, shrugged her shoulders, and said sit wherever you like! Great! So it’s clear that anyone can now just wander in and grab a table - so what is the point in making a reservation?! It became clear that no-one was going to bring us menus or serve us so I went to the bar and joined the throng of people waiting to order drinks. I had to hunt around the bar for some menus to take back to my table and wait for my friends to choose some drinks. I felt like I was the waitress!! There was one barman, and every customer was ordering multiple cocktails. I did feel a bit sorry for him as they should have had at least one more barman. I had to wait over 20 minutes to place my order, and then had to stand and wait for the cocktails to be made. There was no oh go and sit down and we will bring them to you. So I spent half of my time there standing at the bar, unable to sit and chat with my friends at the table. The drinks were ok… my negroni was good, vodka tonic pretty standard, glass of champagne fine - but the Aperol spritz was tiny! We had dinner reservations at another venue so after it took half an hour to get the first round of drinks, we ran out of time to get another round. If the service had been slicker, with waitresses and more bar staff then we would have stayed for a second round, so they lost out there. Another couple came over to our table to ask if they could take our menus as they couldn’t find one, so again it just shows how badly organised it was. So to sum up - this place needs to decide what it wants to be…..just a bog-standard bar, where you queue up for drinks, or a more exclusive reservation-only venue (which is what they advertise and they charge premium prices!) It just felt like a big let down after I’d had such a nice experience last time. If the management respond to this review and acknowledge the issues, then I might go back again. However, if they don’t respond then I’ll know they simply don’t care about their customers anymore which would be a shame as it has such potential to be a lovely venue.

Amazing views from this bar on the roof of Hotel Indigo. Sadly, really terrible service from the barman, which was surprising as there was a staff meeting happening in the bar at the same time. We were having cocktails to celebrate a friend's birthday, after enjoying a spa day in the Retreat in the basement of the hotel (which was amazing). So we thought we'd finish the day up in the bar. The barman was so awful that we nearly went elsewhere, but the wonderful views were too good to miss. No tables were cleared whilst we were there and seagulls were attacking the peanuts left by previous guests. NB no offer of peanuts to our party of 5...

Beautiful setting, nice drinks. Shame about the unwelcoming staff and wait time for drinks on a quiet mid-week visit. Wouldn’t recommend.

What a spot! We were staying in the hotel Indigo and went to Becketts for pre-dinner cocktails both nights we stayed and even for a night cap on the second night. If the weather is good it gets busy so book! There were 8 of us so we made sure we did! The staff are brilliant - Both at organising your booking and making and serving your cocktails - the to lads behind the bar are artists! We really enjoyed our visits and would say its a great addition to the hotel. A great place to visit if you are in Exeter views of the cathedral and the countryside beyond the city are impressive.

Curtis was lovely bless him he was on his own trying his best with no glasses, no stock, but still was professional and lovely to customers under the circumstances

I’ve visited this establishment on an few occasions and every time the service is so slow! There’s only ever one bar tender on. Today, they ran out of orange juice and pinot, they had no change in the till so card only, it’s typical for a lovely venue in a nice location ! Curtis was lovely, he did his best despite getting grief from customers.

We went here to celebrate my husband's birthday with our adult children. On first view, it looks impressive with a beautiful view of the cathedral and Exeter. The outside area was by no means full, perhaps 5 tables, but there was one very SLOW bartender who had to make 4 drinks ahead of ours, then make 4 of ours. For a bill of £45 for 4 drinks, you would expect table service, but instead my son and I waited 20 minutes standing at the bar painstakingly waiting to order and then waiting for our drinks. The barman was charmless to say the least, no pleasantries, smiles or anything like that. There was rubbish all over the ground outside as well as a big bag of cement or something sitting by our table. Glasses etc left on the tables, so no one to clear them. What is it about hospitality now where the management clearly don't prioritise either staff training or hiring enough staff to offer a good service? They clearly don't care about loyal repeat custom, but just rely on visitors staying at the hotel who will go up to the bar to have a drink as it's convenient. You can't just ride on the view being great, you need to make an effort with your offering. Not good enough! Will not be returning untill management work out that if they gave a good service and treated customers with respect then they would return and be happy to pay!

We visited Becket's as it was my husband's birthday and it was a special occasion and they went above and beyond to make us feel welcome the service was excellent and the decore was on point and that view over Exeter from the rooftop brilliant and even a birthday drink as it was a birthday lovely touch will return

Beautiful view made better by the ambience of the bar. Cocktails were delicious and well made. Romantic spot for a date.

Went in on a Saturday evening and was greeted at the top of the lift. The gentleman sat us down and explained that it was table service. The bartenders were very busy with a cue at the bar. Seemed like they were very understaffed. However eventually one of the bartenders came over and took our order. Our drinks were delicious and would very much recommend their Tiki cocktail.

Booked far in advance as always busy, received booking confirmation and was incorrect date. Emailed again and came back to me apologising then I received another email confirming the wrong date. I replied asking if it had now been booked correctly and had nothing g back. When myself and friends arrived we had no booking and the man on the door was angry (not at us) and made all of us feel uncomfortable stating he was full. He did finally seat us but it made us feel awkward. When we were sat it took such a long time to come over and ask what we wanted I even went to the bar to ask if I needed to come up. Once drinks arrived they were lovely but tarnished experience

Best spot for quality cocktails! Had a lovely time with friends and most beautiful views. Lovely atmosphere and friendly staff. Some food options would be great though. Will be back next summer

Met a group of 6 of my friends in the outside terrace! Had a fabulous evening drinking cocktails in the evening sun! The staff were very attentive and the atmosphere was nice and buzzy. The decor inside is very elegant. Definitely recommend for afternoon or evening cocktails.

Best rooftop in Exeter with stunning sunset views and amazing cocktails. Staff was very kind and attentive, definitely recommend when in Exeter.

What a view! Amazing drinks menu, sat on the Rooftop overlooking the ancient skyscape of Exeter dominated by the Cathedral right there. Brilliant. Go into Hotel Indigo and straight to the lifts you'll be there in 2 minutes. Well worth it.

Upon arrival, we spoke to the lovely receptionist downstairs who informed us that Beckett’s were taking walk-ins until 4:30. We went up to Beckett’s and there were only around 6 people there where we were greeted by the host who looked at his tablet to see if there was a table available, which there quite clearly was. We were told we could only have a table until 6:30…it was only 3:30. Two ladies arrived at a table next us, both smartly dressed having been sat by the host and were about to order a drink. They were then told that they had to leave as they were wearing flip flops/sandals on which didn’t comply with their dress code. At this point, the host and another member of staff started arguing in-front of the customers whether the ladies could actually stay or whether they needed to leave. This made the ladies choose to leave. My previous experience of this bar was that we had to wait 45 minutes for our drinks when the bar had maybe only 10 customers and at least 4 staff there working. We shall not be returning and would advise everyone else not to bother, plenty of better cocktail bars in Exeter. Really disappointing as this should be so good, like it’s adjoining hotel is.

Do NOT come here if you either want a drink...or a fun night! Booked a table...20mins to get our order taken, 20 mins for our drinks to arrive. Grumpiest, most unknowlegable waitress. Drinks arrive and within 30mins we (as a group of 50year olds!) were told to keep it down by the ever unsmiling front of house guy! Saturday night...in a bar...??? Didn't realise it was a library? We weren't exactly swinging from the light fittings...we were laughing...god forbid anyone enjoys themselves here. One saving grace was a very young, smiley waiter. He won't last as he was doing a great job!

Honestly AVOID AVOID AVOID. It is probably the rudest, worse and biggest waste of money and time. You HAVE to book or you’ll get turned away. Then order at the bar. Wait for your drinks - which are probably slightly over priced for what you’re getting. God help you if you are sat there when it’s closing. You’ll be told to leave. Do not expect a smile. Do not expect a drink to come to your table. Do not expect more than one member of staff. Beautiful location but between the staff here and the awful hotel customer service you’ll be better going to another city.

Lovely spot for a drink, with great views across cathedral area of Exeter. Reasonable drink list and lovely welcome - just a shame its bar service not table service.

Friends of ours were visiting and stayed here so arranged to meet for drink at Becketts roof top bar but was booked ( so obviously no priority to their guest) so had drink in lobby and be prepared as 30min wait when not busy 🤷‍♀️ and no clearing of tables. So gave this place a 2nd chance and booked Becketts for my mums 70th birthday pre drinks, oh and this time only 40mins wait!!!!! Then had to drink fast as had dinner reservations (luckily somewhere else) so not again for us and as talking to other people same with them, which is sad as I want good things for Exeter! I think maybe they need more staff or better training 😞