Blue Ball Inn in East Devon

Disappointing meal out, the food was average. However, the meal was spoilt by a rowdy table nearby, making heaving noises, as they were daring each other to put the condiments into the drinks and then drink them. The staff could see what was going on but chose not to do anything about it. Overall, poor service from inexperienced staff. Wouldn't recommend this place.

A pub in the moment. Neverchad a bad meal here, or bad service. Highly recommend.

Absolutely lovely lunch with family here. We were a large-ish group and food all came out in good time and all together. Staff were attentive but not intrusive and seemed well priced for the quality of food. Nice big car park and space outside. Would recommend and will definitely return

My boyfriend and I came in for lunch before the Chiefs Rugby game on Saturday and we were really impressed considering how busy they were. We waited about half an hour for our food to come out but that was to be expected and when it did come out we both had the Roast beef which was absolutely delicious. One of the best roasts we’ve ever had. We then shared a Sticky Date pudding which was also delightful. Staff were all friendly, we’ll definitely be coming back before the rugby again!

Great food, amazing staff and service. Packed out with people, great atmosphere. Highly recommend.

Adjacent to the M5. Plenty of indoor and outdoor space, including a bright atrium/conservatory. Very helpful staff and decent beer to boot. Excellent food, very well presented.

Great pub, fab staff and delicious food. Dinner & Breakfast were supurb

Visited for the first time and we were blown away by the delicious and top quality food. So much attention to detail and great flavors. We will definitely be returning as soon as possible!

Came for a Wake. All staff so welcoming and helpful. Lovely pub and the orangery was just right for the function. Nothing was too much trouble and the food was excellent. Great breakfast too. Thanks for making a difficult day easier.

Excellent, delicious food and great service. Perfect/ideal place to stop if you'd like a really good meal rather than going to the services! Highly recommend.

Food was OK,but a bit pricey and small portions. 10% service charge added to bill without notification.

Outstanding pub fantastic food a really lovely atmosphere with very friendly staff recent refurbish huge outdoor garden space with free overnight stop if you buy food for motorhomes awesome idea if your traveling down from up north and want a fantastic stop over.

I’ve been here a couple of times, food has been lovely. Was with a friend this time and she was very impressed. Food and wine were l really good. She had the burger and I had the veggie burger (I’m not veggie) the flavours were lush! We were both happy and the wine was delicious 🤗 lovely experience.

We've visited before and this place never disappoints from the moment you walk in, you are greeted with genuine smiles, we use as a stop over in the campervan which is free if you use the pub for food and drink and let's be honest why wouldn't you. The food and service is great and a special thanks to Ben who looked after us and the dogs who were fussed and spoilt by everyone, Buzz n Bo even enjoyed doggy sausages. Highly recommend this place and for a Thursday evening the place was buzzing which speaks volumes

Lovely food, lovely spot, lovely staff

First motorhome pub stop over, great food, staff and atmosphere, loved it thanks 👍

The atmosphere is great — it’s a cool spot with a nice outside area to sit and enjoy a drink. They have a good beer, which I really liked.However, I wasn’t happy with the food I ordered, and I even found a hair on the plate, which was disappointing. I’d recommend it as a place to grab drinks, but not for the food!

Another fantastic roast with friends, Josh, Babs and the team are always very attentive! Great food, great service what more could you ask for!

I had lunch here with an old friend that I had served with in the Royal Marines. The food was great, I would definitly go again.

Spent a pleasant hour in a quiet pub whilst charging the car. Can't comment on the food because we were to early for lunch.

Amazing food very attentive friendly team … dog friendly an amazing place to eat and meet family

The Blue Ball is an absolute gem, perfectly placed just a rugby ball’s throw from Sandy Park Stadium (though my throwing skills are questionable). We parked up for the day on Saturday and after an epic match, we returned to the warmest of welcomes. Despite our group being large enough to form our own scrum, the staff were nothing short of fantastic - friendly, accommodating, and seemingly unfazed by our post-match enthusiasm. Nothing was too much trouble, and the food? Delicious and plentiful! There's no chance of anyone going hungry here. Honestly, I couldn’t fault a thing. If only we lived closer! We’ll definitely be back and next time, we’re booking a room so we can make a proper weekend of it. Huge thanks to the Blue Ball team - it was the perfect way to round off a day of rugby. 😃

Had lunch which was brilliant , staff were very friendly and helpful our waiter was very good , and Josh was so helpful as my SILaw was sorting out last minute details for a wake this week, and very understanding in sad circumstances he was a credit to the Blue Ball

From the second we walked in, we were greeted with warmth & genuine smiles. We ate a range of starters as a grazing platter. Every dish was beautiful. Ben & Babs stood out for phenomenal customer care. Added bonus, very dog friendly. Our girl was treated like a princess. Thanks team, you're all awesome xx

Booked table for 5, and welcomed on arrival and shown to table. Menu of food and drink was good, wide selection available. Well cooked steak, and other food chosen. Well prepared and served. Nice friendly atmosphere, good area outside for use in summer weather. Fair sized car park but needs to be used carefully for entry and exit.

I attended a wedding there recently and it was amazing, staff are very friendly, we will definitely be returning for meal

1st time in donkeys. Beautiful sunny day. The place was packed. The bar staff were lovely. There was one in particular I think she may be the land lady, Right character 🙌. I went for the cod and it was superb. Will definitely be coming back

Great little pub, lovely staff, decent prices.x

Great restaurant, the waiter Lisa was amazing as always 👏

We visited on a Saturday lunch although we live in Exeter we have not visited here for many years. It pub was very busy for a Non rugby Saturday The staff were all very busy but all very friendly. Babs showed us to our table and delivered our drinks and took our orders Our friends are both vegetarian so we all opted to have Non meat dishes, I ordered the veggie Burger we thought we may a long wait as they were so busy. In fact our food was within 20 minutes of the order going in. When the food arrived it was beautifully presented and the portion size was massive. The burger was delightful and moist and the triple cooked chips were nice and fluffy on the inside. We all agreed the we must visit again soon Just one extra thing On Rugby match days the pub can get extremely busy as its reputation for good food and beer has spread far and wide. Also I recommend booking by telephone so you can ask if the Rugby team are playing at home.

Great birthday meal!! Always delivers!

We had my dad’s surprise 60th in the orangery and it was absolutely perfect. Josh and Babs were so so helpful with taking away the stress of organising and helping me with a menu that was budget friendly but still delicious. All the guests commented on the food being lovely. And plenty of it too! A beautiful venue with a great atmosphere on a lovely day, and incredible service from the whole team, despite them being busy. Thank you all so much for making dad’s day special! I would 100% recommend this venue.

We visited the Blue Ball Inn with a group of friends for an Exeter Chiefs rugby match at Sandy Park, and we had an absolutely fantastic experience! From the moment we arrived, we were warmly welcomed. The pub has that classic British charm—cozy, inviting, and with a rustic touch that makes it the perfect spot to unwind before or after a match. Despite being quite busy, the staff was friendly, efficient, and always ready to help. One of the biggest advantages of the Blue Ball Inn is its ideal location near Sandy Park. Just a short walk from the stadium, it’s the perfect spot for a pre-match meal or post-match drinks without the hassle of long commutes.

Had dinner tonight and it was delicious as usual. We were very well looked after by our favourite part of the pub, Josh. We will be going back soon ☺️

The most delicious Sunday roast ever. Spur of moment drop in and we're not disappointed. Excellent service, staff and food.

Very disappointing visit to the Blue Ball. They've recently had a very nice refurbishment. However the food portions appear to have halved in size. I have eaten the fish and chips here many times and have raved to friends about it. Mushy peas were luke warm, chips hard and rhe fish not much bigger than a large fish finger. It was a tasty bit of fish but for the price way too small.

Dinner was wonderful, staff very friendly and welcoming ,especially Josh and Lily.Service excellent. Full English breakfast was huge and perfectly cooked. All ingredients were of the highest quality. Would definitely recommend.

Please visit The Blue Ball . Just had the best roast dinner out I thought my Yorkshire puds were good but theirs were outstanding . Can't wait to go back Thankyou all

An excellent Pre Rugby roast - always receive a great welcome each time from Babs, Duncan and the team

Lovely meal. Food was really good. Michael

Feb 2025 update Came here for a few beers and a meal, but sadly on my own (a hospital stay necessitated it). What lovely people behind the bar! Friendly, engaging and kind: Ben was wonderful with my slightly nervous dog, giving him strokes and treats, and also for serving my amazing pie meal! He advised upon a pre dinner snack (pork scratchings and also olives) and then presented my food. Asked all the right questions (sauces, anything else etc.) and then presented my dog with more treats! The staff were lovely, and Lilly brought water out for the dog, and I was beginning to think he was running the show, but we settled to eat. Echo (the dog) enjoyed his scratchings, and I adored the amazing food. Beer selection was great, as are the spirits, and there are copious bar snacks. Wonderful atmosphere in a C17th pub with all the right things to make it cosy. Plenty of parking, but be aware that when Exeter Chiefs are at home it gets very busy. However, the atmosphere is even better. I know where I'll be!

Unfortunately I was here for a wake, but the food was absolutely amazing and the staff were so attentive. It's somewhere that I would definitely be revisiting

Really nice to be made so welcome in a pub that you are not a regular in. Can not fault the hospitality or food. I will be returning soon and recommending to others.

Really nice pub, I was looking for a place that had parking and fell across this gem - highly recommend - atmosphere was great, food was great! Looks like it'll be a nice stop during summer too, will definitely be back!

We had a Wake for our dear mum on 5 February. I cannot speak highly enough of the service we received. We were in the orangery, which is a bright room with a welcoming atmosphere. There was a TV, so we could have a slideshow of photos. The buffet food was delicious and of a very high quality. The staff were very friendly and attentive .....nothing was too much trouble. Without exception, everyone in our party agreed it was the perfect venue. Many thanks to Babs, Natalie and the team.

Always a pleasure. Great food and excellent service.

Delicious Sunday roast - between us we had the pork and the vegetarian nut roast. Friendly service and lovely setting in the light-filled "orangerie" area - almost forgot the rain outside!

Very nice place 👌 food was great and the staff are amazing 👏

Very nice meal. Great tasting food

Babs looked after us very well, for a family group celebration. Thank you for a lovely a lovely lunch.

Myself and a group had absolutely an wonderful meal here yesterday, the pub itself is so nicely decorated and laid out! The staff are lovely and were so helpful arranging parking for our friends vehicle also. The meal itself was top notch, the roast beef was absolutely beautiful and cooked to perfection! It is probably the best roast beef I have ever had! Lovely puddings too! All of the food was so nicely presented aswell.Great service all round! We have all said we will be back! Thank you!

We were staying at the Marriott close by but the food at the hotel was poor. We had the Blue Ball recommended to us and it didn’t disappoint. Great hosts, great menus, great food and great atmosphere! It was really busy, many people from the hotel were there! Highly recommend

For a pre-match the place is perfect, 5 minutes walk from the stadium...

Great place to eat food was amazing and staff are extremely friendly. Shout out to the car park lady who went above and beyond to get my van off the road as it broke down half way across the road 🙄. The lovely lady even figured out what was wrong with it to get it going 🥳. Already booked to go to this place again 5⭐️.

Homely feeling nice atmosphere, good to take kids in the summer good food drinks

Thank you for a lovely evening while have our post Xmas party with the fire band and looking after my wife needs throughout the evening and when I was getting our car finish the night superbly.

Took the family for lunch. Lovely atmosphere, great food and brilliant service. What more can you ask for?!

Lovely atmosphere in this pub and the food is spot on. I have visited a few times for food and drinks when in the area in our motorhome - as they permit overnight stays. The Sunday lunch is particularly good!

After a great work Christmas lunch at the Blue Ball Inn, I asked if there was any chance of booking for Christmas Day. It was a long shot being such short notice but Natalie was extremely accommodating and welcoming. I’m very glad I did because we had the best time. The food was absolutely excellent and the service too. Our second Christmas Day lunch at the Blue Ball Inn did not disappoint - everything was perfect again. Big thank you to Natalie and the team for the warm welcome, great food and friendly service. Cannot fault it and highly recommend.

Whoever heard of a pub that you cannot go inside if you just want a drink. I don't mean you cannot *sit* inside, you actually cannot go in if you want a drink. Step inside and unless you have a table reservation number you are literally shown the door, no exceptions. If you want a drink you have to stand outside in a tent in the cold and rain. We ended up going to the restaurant in the hotel next door which wouldn't have been our choice but it they were very accommodating and it wasn't as expensive as we expected it to be. The view is worth the trip alone. So we'll give the Blue Ball a miss in the future.

Had a wonderful meal at the Blue Ball before the Exeter game - fish and chips and roast beef were both fantastic and reasonably priced. Would highly recommend. Particular thanks to Adam and Val for going above and beyond!

Really good food and a lovely place.

Fabulous pub, great staff, special shout out to Belle, Nat and Josh, they couldn’t have looked after us better 😎👌

Had a great time, was here for a business meal before an event and was treated to a very homely and hospitable vibe. Food was excellent. I cleared all three courses. Definitely going back when I get the chance.

My clients and I had a wonderful evening last Friday for our Christmas get together. The festive menu was great. I can be hard to please having worked in hospitality myself but we couldn’t fault a thing. Staff were great and the atmosphere was lovely. Everyone commented on how lovely it was. Thank you to all the staff. See you again soon.

We had our work Christmas lunch at the Blue Ball this year and would like to thank Natalie for helping me organise this. It was all made as easy as possible and l wouldn't hesitate to go there again. The food and service was fantastic. Thank you everyone at the Blue Ball. Haidee

Absolutely amazing meal, service and atmosphere for match day yesterday! Natalie and her team are outstanding x thank you guys and on such a busy day, everything was faultless x

First visit today. Very, very good all round for food, atmosphere, service. Plenty of parking, easy to find. As our visit was a family gathering, I felt our varied menu choices didn't cause any awkward problems. Although busy, food was hot and delivered promptly. Overall, excellent and worth a return visit.

Nice atmosphere, but the food is overpriced for what it is and the staff member whom I think is the manager came across as cold. I was also disappointed to see that our bill had a "Service Charge" automatically added. Very cheeky. This isn't America. You can pay your staff enough as is.

Restaurant was busy, which is always a good sign. Food and service was excellent

Had a fabulous lunch time meal. The pork belly was the best I've ever had! My fellow attendees had sea trout and said it was delicious too.

I've just had their 3 course Christmas lunch plus a coffee. The food was tasty but tepid. I suppose there was a large group of us. I had already paid a £10 deposit so should have paid £25.95 plus the coffee. I was charged £33.89 making the cost of the coffee £7.94! I supposed they could have added a non disclosed service charge. I tried telephoning after I realised the cost but they're too busy to answer. Happy Christmas!

We were a group of 9 who booked for an early evening meal on Sat 7th Dec. The food was fantastic and all of us enjoyed our meals. We weren't booked in for a Christmas party but the staff fetched us some crackers for the table. Unfortunately, due to the storms, the farmhouse we were holidaying in was affected by a power cut for over 24hrs. The staff couldn't have been friendlier or more helpful and offered us leads to charge our phones and asked if they could do anything else to help us. They are a credit to this establishment which has a lovely, warm atmosphere. Thank you, you made our evening really enjoyable. We'll be back!

The pub was nicely decorated for xmas but what a let down ! The steak in the ciabatta was so tough it couldn't be eaten and was so rare. It felt like the staff didn't want to be there, seemed as though it was such an inconvenience that I pointed out that the steak wasn't edible. At £16 you would expect more .After asking for a discount as it wasn't offered I was told I could have one of our beers for nothing, really poor offering and really bad service.

Natalie, Babbs and the team were very attentive and nothing was too much trouble. Booked a table for 17 and all said their meal was lovely and would go back again. Thank you Blue Ball x

My husband & I and my mother in law had a lovely night away in Exeter. We enjoyed it all - especially the ambience, decor and all that the Blue Ball Inn had on offer. Very special thank you for the help on the day of our departure and accommodating our slightly delayed breakfast! So good to chat to Natalie as she tried to complete putting up the tasteful and beautiful Christmas decorations. We really enjoyed the personal service and hope to be back!

Good food, good service, lovely beer garden/play area. Had a very enjoyable weekend stay here recently so I thought I'd update my review. The welcome was warm and friendly, the food was excellent and the service was outstanding. Thank you for making our weekend with family extra special.

Although it was exceptionally busy, the service was excellent as was the food.

Excellent pub amazing food def eat here again

Great staff, lovely atmosphere! Regularly come here for a drink and have never been disappointed. Highly recommend

Had Sunday lunch and it was very good, Waitress was so nice and polite and helpful Would recommend

We recently held a staff event and the food and service was outstanding. Brilliant staff.

Had a lovely meal and drinks stay for two hours

Fantastic British boozer excellent staff really friendly and knowledgeable. Lovely and clean with toilets on the ground floor. We had food I chose the burger and I would thoroughly recommend it. One of us had the steak and it looked superb I would absolutely recommend the Blue Ball we were staying in the Marriott it’s well worth the short walk for a decent pint and a superb meal and for a reasonable price. Excellent overall we enjoyed the time there.

First time visiting for roast. Absolutely gorgeous, amazing food, Josh was super at service and what a great guy! 100% will be back again. Wonderful atmosphere, clean and very attentive pub! Loved it.

Had a lovely meal. Really impressed with the service, food and prices. Will definitely be visiting again soon.

Very nice pub with a great atmosphere and very welcome staff . Delicious food and good selection of beer. Great location for walkers and visitors in Lynmouth.

Visited for some food and a pint before an event, staff super friendly and attentive, pints were lovely and the food was excellent! Prices were spot on! Highly recommend!

Slow average service. Ordinary food.

Had an excellent recent visit - the food was excellent, but the real selling point was the service as the staff are very friendly - would definitely recommend.

Lovely new orangery, the food was fantastic (Red Thai Curry).

A great place to stay with your Motorhome in exchange for food & drinks. A warm and friendly environment with a good choice on the menu & range of beers. Would highly recommend.

A rather disappointing Sunday lunch, the gravy was like brown water. The cauliflower cheese also had zero taste and the stuffing ball was rock hard. We have had a roast there before and it was good, so I'm not sure what happened on our recent visit. The staff however were lovely and the decor is very nice.

To expensive and lacking atmosphere.

Such a nice pub, amazing food great vibes

Lovely food and friendly service

From the moment I walked in, seated quickly and greeted in the most pleasant manner. The food was absolutely scrumptious. Had the Thai chicken curry, venison sausage with mash and the beef burger all three didn’t disappoint. Hats off to our star server Daniel (customer service excellence).

It was such a warm atmosphere, our server Daniel was so nice and warm! The rest of the staff were also A++++, and shout out to the chef who was also very kind. The food was amazing as well 10/10 would definitely go back!!

A fantastic country pub offering a warm welcome and good food. The staff on when I called were chatty and looked like they enjoyed their jobs. The decor is classy - looks fairly recent, or otherwise well maintained. Clean, warm, low level background music added to a great atmosphere. The haddock and chips was superb. (Very) crispy batter, flaky haddock and hand cut chips. Absolutely delicious.

Fantastic food and very good service. Definitely go again. The Salmon was beautiful. The roasts also looked delicious. Table service.