Blue Ball Inn in East Devon

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!

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

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.

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!

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.

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.

Slow average service. Ordinary food.

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.

Really lovely food, great outside beer garden, lovely staff

Very welcome staff great food great location

Thanks for letting me sing at your lovely pub

I've always been a fan of the food, service, and atmosphere at Blue Ball Inn. So I was really impressed to find that they've not only kept the same standard but have actually improved. Well done to the kitchen staff and the whole team 👏 This is a wonderful country pub serving excellent food and drinks with a lovely atmosphere 😀

Great visit, we enjoyed a meal celebrating my partners birthday. The restaurant looked great, I think it must have had a recent makeover. Our meal was great and the service really good and all the staff very friendly, in particular a shout out for Josh who looked after us. We particularly enjoyed his rendition of happy birthday. Thanks for looking after us.

Delicious food. We found this pub on the way back from Crealy. There was plenty of choice including a wide selection of sides, starters and sides. They also cater for children too. It's so refreshing to get a pub/restaurant that does good quality food and also serves children! I had the steak whilst my husband had the venison sausages and mash. Both meals were well portioned and tasted amazing. The chips are so crisp but fluffy, went down well for our son. Sounded like they had recently done a refurb and the new extension looked stunning. Great place for an occasion.

Very lovely stay at the blue ball inn. Incredibly friendly staff, very attentive and polite. Room was clean and cosy, had everything we needed. Stayed for our friends party also at blue ball, so it was very convenient. Breakfast was very tasty and good value. Would definitely stay again. Definitely recommend having food at the pub, drinks were reasonable price too. Breakfast was delicious. Very close to Exeter and surrounding area so easy to get to places.

Spur of the moment drop in. Booked a table. Had some great food, lovely beer garden... Staff were super helpful

Stopped here 1 night before we flew from Exeter airport the pub was friend food was good the room clean and functional. It was well worth the money and much better than a premier inn. Thanks great work guys!!

Solid pub with good food and nice outside space. Great for getting off the M5 traffic for lunch

Unique Inn with lovely staff. Natalie the owner is 10 stars 🌟 🤩 Stones throw from Exeter Chiefs rugby stadium and very near the motorway, but in the countryside somehow? Thatched roof says who's first tho☺️ They attached 4 bedrooms to the side and a mahoosive car park. Tea and coffee facilties in the room was excellent (biccies and water as well!), and I love the fake plants 🪴 😄 Loads of pillows and towels and throws. Android telly! Tiny bit of wear and tear to the room itself but a new makeover starts very soon so... Full English ordered the night before, for a tenner, wow good stuff! Large quality/quantity. Dog lover myself and they DO love dogs here, big garden takes care of that.. and eating outside too! Serendipity led me here and the love shown means I will be back. With friends! Hallelujah ✅️ Aģape 😘

Lovely atmosphere. Food fabulous as you can see. Roast belly pork and all trimmings, sticky toffee pudding with clotted cream and ice cream

Travelling from Sheffield to Brixham with a 2 year old, we stopped at this pub at 5pm for our evening meal. When we arrived we were told they cannot put our food order in until 530... On a Saturday?! Bonkers. We waited an hour for food to finally arrive and was so disappointed. The oil was dripping off the plate onto my leg 🤮. The fish and chips was soooo incredibly greasy, I have never had anything like it.

Amazing customer service and the food is excellent, great parking too!!

Great food, nice service. I recommend

Popped in with two friends for a two course dinner. Friendly staff, nice surroundings, plenty of parking, and lovely food. I think we paid around £105 for meal and drinks.

Popped in for a roast on Sunday, and certainly wasn't disappointed. It was delicious, absolutely loved it. The service was great, really enjoyed it. Also, very dog friendly, our two loved it.

Forgot my order and couple times ask how long will need wait…… i waiting 45 min 🤦‍♂️

Friendly pub, lost a star by not having Proper Job

Perfect fish & chips! Nice range of cask ales (St Austell's) and friendly staff. Large, mainly flat car park. Ideally located pub stopover.

A very busy pub/restaurant closed to the motorway, but far away enough to be unaffected by the traffic. The food was excellent and the staff were good fun.

Excellent steak sandwich 🥪 had it 3 times now and always been so tender and tasty, highly recommended. Please can you put it on evening menu too!

Rang ahead to ask if I could bring my dog to the restaurant. Answer was yes, got to the inn and the landlord had a fit and ushered us into another room as dogs not allowed ! The food was awful, two pcs smoked salmon and two tiny slices of a roll, then super salty frozen calamari. £56 for four starters and two soft drinks. Total rip off

Josh and Babs, thank you for the hospitality. Amazing service 🙂

Great pub! Very dog friendly. Families food and service is top. Will definetly visit again and again

Lovely food, we would stop by again, when in the area

We had fun. The landlady's a good laugh. Will go there again!

Warm welcome, and great service. Friendly staff. Arrived just before kitchen closed at 3pm , but we were accommodated and received fantastic food. Will definitely visit again. Thank you so much.

Were made very welcome when we visited for Sunday lunch with our dog. Good service and food. It was very busy when we arrived at 3pm but by 4:30 most people had left. Closes early (6pm?) on a Sun.

Thanks to the Blue Ball team who hosted our annual staff BBQ, fantastic food and great venue, we will be back next year!

Attended a work bbq here. Great food. Fantastic location and setting. Highly recommended.

This place is in middle of the country side just past Cardiff airport . But it's a 100% must for food if you are in the area . I took a coach party there and they absolutely loved it . All the food is proper home cooked . Staff owners etc are amazing

Great pint of Proper Job and a 50Kw car charger on site

Delicious mains and desserts - loved the choice of ciders as well! Very friendly service and a great outside area!

Organised a leaving event with buffet Really good - thank you

Group of 7 of us visited for Father’s Day, the place was very busy. Service was excellent and food was incredible. There was live music, a bouncy castle and face painting for children, atmosphere was great. Looking forward to going back, planning on using here more often for before/after going to the rugby.

Parked our camper overnight in the car park (with their consent) and have had the most amazing (& huge) breakfast this morning. Very friendly and welcoming. Thank you so much!

We had a fantastic evening at The Blue Ball. The service was brilliant and we were looked after really well. Will definitely be going again and a perfect place for a work do on a sunny evening.

Amazing beer garden. Perfect on a hot day.

Another great afternoon out at the Blue Ball. Catered for a fussy 5yr old without any trouble. The staff are incredibly friendly as always, can't wait to eat there again 😋

A spacious dog friendly inn serving good pub grub at fairly reasonable prices, with a good atmosphere too. A good pub to stop off at when travelling through. After a full day of adventuring the south coast of Dorset and southeast Devon, we left it quite late to arrange something for dinner (very last minute). Whilst heading back to Cornwall, we phoned ahead and we spoke to Lisa who was very friendly and accommodating. We actually wanted to go the Sidmouth Blue Ball Inn that we passed earlier in the day, little did we know that there are actually three Blue Ball Inns in the southwest 🤦‍♂️ So, be careful when searching and phoning to book a table 😁 Needless to say, we had already passed the Sidmouth one without realising and we were now getting closer to the Exeter one instead. Hunger was setting in! We ordered the burger with cheese and smoked bacon and the falafel burger with onions, humus, and sweet chilli. Both dishes came with chips and salad but as we were feeling quite hungry, we also had a side order of cheesy chips as well - because we’re greedy little piggies. Very tasty local produce though, good pub grub that is fairly good value for money. We had a couple pints of local ale and medium house red. I am not a huge fan of St Austell brewery as I feel they are one of the most expensive around, and there are many other better quality breweries in my personal opinion. Especially in Cornwall where there are some great free houses. Equally I have found pubs or inns taken over by St Austell brewery have usually lost their soul and traditional old ‘inn’ style in order to cater for extra dining space. But to be fair, this Inn hadn’t lost its soul, which was refreshing to see. Overall, the service was good and timely. Attentive but not intrusive. We didn’t wait long to be seated or for our food. The Inn itself is a mix of traditional and modern, but both with a good atmosphere. The older more traditional part of the Inn has a warm dark cozy feel to it. The bar, tables, and toilets are clean, and there is ample space for parking…even for larger vehicles like campervans. Although we managed to get a (good) table on a Saturday evening (very last minute), it is likely that as the season progresses, more advanced bookings would be prudent - to ensure you get a table. We would highly recommend this Inn to anyone looking warm hearty pub meal in a cozy atmosphere. Many thanks - B & A 👍 27-04-2024.

Amazing! Beautiful greeting at the bar by lovely Natalie! (Owner who was exceptional) fabulous selection on the menu, we saw other peoples food coming out and ALL of it looked top notch! We went for the salmon and sea bass and it was 10/10!! Will definitely be back soon!

We stayed there overnight. Cozy room. Someone should take care of the exhaust air in the bathroom. Fan too loud and hose hanging in the room. Otherwise everything you need is there. We would still come back.

Exceptional Experience at the Blue Ball, Exeter! I recently visited the Blue Ball in Exeter for a double 60th birthday celebration, and I was thoroughly impressed! From the moment we arrived, the staff, especially Natalie, were incredibly accommodating. Despite a last-minute hiccup with our car parking, everything was handled seamlessly. The food was nothing short of spectacular, appealing to all tastes in our diverse group. Whether you’re planning a romantic dinner for two or a larger gathering, the Blue Ball’s menu and atmosphere cater wonderfully to any occasion. We ended the day by enjoying drinks at their outdoor bar, which was the perfect setting to unwind after watching the Exeter game. The staff continued to be attentive, ensuring our evening was as enjoyable as the day. I can’t recommend the Blue Ball enough for anyone looking for a relaxing and delightful dining experience in Exeter. It truly is a special place with special people, making our celebration memorable. If you’re in the area, don’t miss out on this gem!

Reserved a table for a pre-rugby game meal for which Natalie was instrumental in ensuring, for which wr are grateful. The atmosphere was very busy, close on chaotic on arrival and took sometime to settle down. Those staff in attendance need Commending for their endeavour shown through rounds 1, 2 & 3, though we where not in attendance for round 4!!! Must visit on a none rugby day.

Wonderful staff. Lovely spaces offering many different social gatherings. Sun actually came out so went into the garden.

We came for the food but stayed for the company

Excellent Great food perfect staff like a home from home very nice I recommend very highly

Back again, great food, really friendly and helpful staff. Excellent venue.

We met for the rugby game where before the game is a money making exercise with £10 a car to park. After the game went back there was another 100 odd people there already but they just stopped serving and closed the outside bar. Wouldn't serve anymore In the pub and it was early eve. 3 barmaids for a busy pub packed out before the game it was a long wait.

Really nice food. The roast chicken was huge. If you like a lot of food, I can recommend this! Great service. We had a large table of 24 people and the staff did a great job accommodating such a large group.

Well done Esme - great friendly service. Booked online for a stopover before early morning flight from Exeter. Room has own thermostat. Tea/coffee in room and asked at bar for replenishment of supplies - no problem. Bar was busy with locals and service was friendly and timely. Food was excellent (sea bass and fish and chips) with yummy cheesecake all washed down with a lovely Rioja. Room warm, bed comfortable and shower op. £25.50 for pre-booked apple taxi to airport. Definitely a notch up from your normal budget hotels and at £64 for the room - very competitive

A wonderful evening. My husband and I will be going again.

Great pub on a normal day. I usually visit as a chiefs match-day patron and in the past it had a wonderful atmosphere. Unfortunately now it’s a victim of its own success on a match day. The carpark can cause 30 minute queues to get down the country lane as it’s over-sold parking tickets and The bar is understaffed meaning that even 2 hours before kick off at Sandy park you can queue 20+minutes to get a beer. They also close the outside bar after the match which is a real shame as it discourages fans to stay for 1-2 beers more. I now go straight to the ground if parking there where you can get served in 5 minutes with adequately staffed bars. The Blue Ball has so much match day potential and their staff are friendly and clearly frustrated. I wish their management wanted the business hard enough to step up to the occasion as fixing these issues would not be hard at all!

Tried this place tonight after being disappointed by the limited and expensive menu in the Marriott. The service was great, the atmosphere was very nice and cosy, with loads of nice dogs in the pub (subjective I know but a definite plus point in my view) and the food was stunning, especially considering the price. My only regret is not coming here the first night of my stay, but I’ll be back again tomorrow.

Nice place, clean and well-kept rooms, high-quality restaurant, very good and fresh food, very nice, helpful and polite service. I RECOMMEND 😊😊😊

Booked a table to eat after the rugby. Very busy but service and standard of food and drink was excellent. Our waitress who is going travelling soon was brilliant. Also booked a parking space and had great banter with Natalie when we arrived! She is the star of the show! We will back! Highly recommended establishment.

Stayed over 1 night in the car park with the motorhome and dog. Booked for a meal. The staff were lovely, treated our dog like a princess. Lots of other lovely dogs with owners so a good friendly atmosphere. Meal was lovely, we both had a fish dish. Cooked to perfection. Definitely recommend.

Absolutely lovely staff. Great food. Thankyou

Friendly and welcoming staff, easy access to and from the M5, nice selection of ale, excellent outside space very good food and dog friendly 👍🍻

Great bunch of people looking after us, with very tasty choices on the menu, superb lunch......and you must have the Blue Ball sundae 🍨 brilliant finish to the main courses!!

Very clean, Helpful staff, Car charging point. The only negative would be the rooms are quite small

Absolutely fantastic, food was brilliant, the staff could not be more welcoming, accommodation was excellent. Can't wait to go back.

Excellent buffet, lovely helpful staff, recommended...

Simply brilliant pub - great food, hospitality and ambience...staff are excellent and a great place to go, particularly on match day. Thank you Adam, Nat and team

Great place for a pint and pub grub. Staff very friendly.

Pop into Blue Ball for Sunday Lunch as a group of 5 friends on way back from Exmouth. Wow food was superb what makes a Sunday roast for me is not only the meat but the trimming of veg, pots, gravy and Yorkshire pudding and this place has that in spades served up by pleasant staff in a friendly atmosphere

Came here for Sunday lunch (8 person). We had a fantastic meal. The food was delicious. Generous vegetable portions on the side. Everything was cooked perfectly. Would have loved for the beef to be pink. But was delicious anyway because it was slow cooked. Babs was so friendly and attentive. Good Sunday vibes!

Fantastic food, awesome staff and a cracking atmosphere. Highly highly recommended.

We recently had our Dad's wake here. What was a very difficult day was made so easy with Natalie and her team. The food was outstanding and I did not have to worry about anything due to the great hospitality. Everything was taken care of and we felt very looked after on one of the hardest days of our lives.

We had our wedding breakfast here & from start to finish Natalie was absolutely amazing!!!. From the first booking of the venue & accommodation to the actual day,not once was Natalie unavailable for my many questions I had. She reassured us,explained in detail & delivered everything that was promised. As for the food....OMG!!!!. We cannot express just how amazing this was!!!!. The presentation,the taste & the very impressive delivery of it,by the most amazing staff,Josh you really was amazing,along with the girls & again Natalie's organisation skills played a huge role. All food was brought out prompt & hot & definitely didn't disappoint. The service by all the staff was spot on. We was made to feel like a king & queen!!!. The whole day was superb,both myself & my husband were very impressed on how organised everything was,how the decorations were laid out & looked superb & how all of our guests & ourselves were looked after throughout the whole breakfast. My father was also taken very good care of,which was extremely important to me & Natalie made sure all his food was pre cut up & made it very manageable for him. It dosent stop there...the accommodation was amazing!!. Everything you needed was there & the decorations of all the rooms are lovely. I know Natalie has spent a lot of thought & time to making them as amazing as they are & it's paid off. Beds exceptionally comfy,adequate heating,en suite bathrooms with lovely soft towels provided & really good facilities are just brilliant. The pre wedding & after wedding breakfasts were to die for!!!. Local produce & everything so fresh. Natalie & the staff went out of their way to accommodate myself & my bridesmaids,as we needed a very early breakfast & again,it was never an issue. Everything was laid up & ready for our arrival. Overall,our whole experience from start to finish was exceptional & more. I would recommend anyone to come along & see for themselves at what amazing,efficient,professional & exceptional service you will receive. Once again,Natalie & all the staff,from Ems & Robs,thank you so so much. You were the ones that made our day so so special & we will always be forever grateful.... Xxxxx

Great for a Sunday roast. Lovely traditional type of pub with good honest food and little pretentiousness.

Banging roast, Babs the boss providing the best service and chats! Veg was incredible, best roast I’ve had in a long time!

Blue Ball Inn is up there for the best pub on the world. Babs is a very friendly owner who pulls great pints. Staff are very fun and friendly. Could not recommend enough!!! Special shoutout to Will, best bartender around.