Exmoor Forest Inn in West Somerset

Possibly the best hotel on Exmoor

The roast beef !!!!! The mushroom soup !!! The punkin lasagne !!!! The food is amazing Very friendly, attentive staff 100% recommend

What an amazing lunch we had here. The food was delicious and the environment was just lovely. I can highly recommend the fish and chips! I especially want to mention the friendliness and attentativeness of the coupe running the bar and restaurant. They were super friendly and delivered a master class in customer service. Thank you so much!

An impromptu lunchtime visit found us greeted at the door with a smile. We kicked off our muddy boots at the door and dried off our two dogs with the provided towel, and were shown to a table with plenty of space to accommodate the dogs. They both received a water bowl and biscuits! The service, food and ale were exceptional. A friendly atmosphere and a warm fire too. As regular visitors to Exmoor for family holidays, we'll be back for more!

Quality local food, fantastic dining experience. Service was attentive yet not claustrophobic. Prices are around £8-£10 for starters and £15-£35 for mains. Higher prices for steaks. Dog friendly, beautifully located on Exmoor and feels special

Friendly staff, beautiful venue. The food was amazing I had cheese and h croquettes to start and then steak and ale pie which was absolutely full of big chunks of steak. Would definitely recommend and hope to go again.

Great in all way. Definitely we'll come again.

We had the most amazing night at the Exmoor Forest Inn. We were warmly welcomed on arrival and had our bags carried to our room. Significant because they were heavy rucksacks we had just walked 11 miles with and we were flagging. Dinner was next level. My beef and ale pie was easily the best I’ve ever had. The beef comes from their own organic farm and was beyond tender. The chef came out to meet us and I think it won’t be long before tables for dinner are impossible to get. I live locally and haven’t been to the Exmoor Forest Inn for over 5 years because the last time I went there it was so disappointing. What a transformation. I will definitely be going again.

Stayed for a family birthday weekend and everything about the place was perfect. Location is brilliant for walks on the moors, and the lit log burners on return were very welcome. Food at breakfast and dinner was very good with a great selection. Bedrooms were comfortable and good sized. The service was exceptional. A special thanks to Cri and Flo who were very welcoming and repeatedly went the extra mile to make our weekend special. Look forward to coming again (hopefully soon!)

Stayed here for NYE 2024. Looked lovely on website. Cosy Inn on the moors sort of place. Staff were amazing. Stunning breakfast. Dinner was disappointing menu for NYE and inn owners were having a private party in main restaurant which was very loud and intrusive. About 30 people. Blocked out the residents lounge. Would have been better to advise guests this was happening. Bedrooms looked recently refurbished but mattress was old and awfully uncomfortable. Collapsed on sides when you sat on it. Made me feel that time had been spent on making it look good by cutting a few corners. It’s very dog friendly. One of the big party guests just let their dog pester all the restaurant guests. We love dogs but not everyone does! Ok stay but won’t stay again based on this experience which was a shame. As we visit this area a lot and love it.

A Fabulous dining experience. The fresh locally sourced ingredients are expertly prepared into well-balanced, flavorful dishes. Portions are perfectly sized, leaving you satisfied but never overwhelmed. The staff are friendly, attentive, and knowledgeable, enhancing the overall experience. Best of all, the value for money is outstanding—top-quality dining at a fair price. Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Just popped in for a drink, good selection of drinks and really good service. We didn't have any food but it did look good

A really large group were well looked after on a Sunday lunchtime. Sausage and mash is a treat.

Met my parents for lunch didn't think about booking a table was all a bit last minute. They were very busy and fully booked however made us feel very welcome found a small table and sorted some soup hot the spot beautifully. Really nice pub well lit warm and cosy. Dog friendly too. Will book next time

Lovely lunch after a long walk to pickled stones.

We popped in for dinner - delightful flavoursome shepherds pie, the pumpkin soup lacked flavor and was watery. The service was nice, staff lovely and polite and nice surroundings

Had a lovely 2 night stay. Bedroom was very well equipped and comfortable. Ate both nights in restaurant and food was delicious. Very nice to have the residents lounge. Staff very friendly.

Delicious food, comfy rooms , beautifully decorated and very pleasant welcoming staff. Couldn't recommend more.

Warm welcome, beautiful decoration, lovely food. Try the Sunday lunch 👍

Great dinner, very attentive staff. Every course was delicious. Really nothing to complain about

Lovely staff and amazing roasts! 👏

Fantastic location. Great staff. Lovely food. Tasty food. All-in-all, well worth 5 stars.

Went here with 2 friends, the food was amazing and the steak was cooked to perfection.

We stayed here for a long weekend to get some much needed downtime from the world. Although the Inn is located along a B road, it's not one of those high-hedged SW roads and getting here is nice and easy. We were in the family room with our dog which was very, very spacious including a very comfortable super king size bed. The bar/restaurant area is large. The food is really good with most, if not all of it, locally sourced. There are also a number of walks on the doorstep which great because it means you don't have to travel if don't want to. Lastly the staff were fantastic and friendly. Our dog, Lilly, is blind and the staff made a lot of fuss of her which is always a winner.

We had a lovely stay with our dog Rolo! The food was excellent and we had such a pleasant stay. The servicers were excellent, special shout-out to our key servicer (red hair, unfortunately didn't get her name) she was so attentive and running the breakfast service seaminglessly by herself. Would definitely recommend ☺️!

Rarely does a visit exceed expectation. This one did Fabulous food well cooked and presented. Prices that are as palatable as the food. Friendly very efficient staff. Dog friendly We had lunch to celebrate my wife’s birthday. Having done my research on trip advisor every thing was crossed that this would be as good as the reviews. It was better Thank you so much we plan to return as soon as we are back in the area. We are very familiar with the area and while this is a little drive from our regular coastal retreat it was so worth it! Surrounded by beautiful countryside bring suitable shoes for a lovely walk while you are here. Or sit atop Dunkerly beacon and sleep off your lunch as I might have done! Thanks again John &Roz

Our first visit and they did not disappoint. The experience made our wedding anniversary even more memorable. Without asking, my wife was treated to non-alcoholic bubbly (pregnant) and we were presented with a complimentary chocolate brownie and piped-chocolate congratulations message! Beautiful setting, calm, homely and clean dining space. Would recommend to all ages and stages!

We went for an unplanned family lunch. We walked in and hadn't booked. We had a very warm welcome, great service and delicious food. We enjoyed it so much we've booked an overnight stay in a few weeks time.

We did a large group run nearby and were lucky enough to be provided with breakfast and tea/coffee afterwards and I’ve got nothing but praise the food was awesome you could taste the quality with as much tea and coffee as we wanted. The service and attention to detail we received was second to none so much so that we are arranging another run out there in the near future as well as looking at dinner bookings too. To put it in a few words … we loved it. Thank you to the most attentive and accommodating staff for looking after us. We will be back.

Exceptional food across 3 course, delicious wine, lovely service, great atmosphere. Highly recommended. Can’t wait to visit again!

We only ate at the pub, but it was an amazing experience with really nice food and friendly staff, it was also nicely decorated, a must visit

Fantastic inn,staff were lovely and location was very quiet.Not too far from some nice places to visit.Food was very nice,breakfast and dinner. Drinks were reasonable priced,cider was local and tasty.

Had a meal here and food was delicious. Fast Wi-Fi. Lovely interior.

We had a family birthday weekend here and had a lovely time. The rooms are well decorated- comfortable beds and nice showers. The menu featured local produce and all food was well prepared and presented. All staff were friendly and their care and attention helped make the weekend very special. Many thanks

We had a family birthday weekend here and had a lovely time. The rooms are well decorated- comfortable beds and nice showers. The menu featured local produce and all food was well prepared and presented. All staff were friendly and their care and attention helped make the weekend very special. Many thanks

We stopped here on the way through exmoor and would highly recommend. The rooms are extremely comfortable and the food is excellent. Lovely quiet village with some great walks nearby.

Fancy lunch no booking they said please ok we got people coming 13:00eat quickly as possible they had more people coming so get eat food was very nice but in 2second worst place I every been do not suggest this public no booking just wanted order food 1 star terrible staff are rude and manger does not listen to me worst pace ever

Excellent stay very comfortable room with a great view, outstanding food and service right at the heart of Exmoor

First time visiting and would heartily recommend this lovely place to stay and eat. My room was lovely, clean and comfy. The place has a lot of character and is run by friendly and helpful people. The food was spot on.

Catered for 10 of us here on a trip recently. Sunday roast and all the rest of the food was excellent. Service was equally as good!

Lovely, clean rooms and guest areas. Fab breakfast. Really helpful and pleasant staff.

Had a really great meal with family. Well cooked food and a great menu with lots of home made food off the farm .

We booked here for a family meal an we were not disappointed, Great selection of food and drinks, the food was excellent, the ambiance was very nice, the staff were very good and helpful, See you soon.

Stayed at the Inn when walking in Exmoor, and had an evening meal. The food was excellent, potion sizes, quality of the food, locally sourced and amazing service. Very comfortable, high standard and recently refurbished. Locally sourced full English high end. Thank you to the team from the 3 walkers that were running late, but the hotel and restaurant still accommodated us being late with no issues.

Spent a night here and the dinner and service was excellent, beer garden great on a sunny day.

I used their camping field, there is no level part to it whilst the toilet and shower is good, because they are in the same room the toilet is not accessible when someone is showering and vice versa. Whilst I was able to negotiate a reduction because I am charity walker I feel £25 per pitch is way too expensive

We had dinner here on evening. Really good quality and excellent cooking. All food locally sourced or grown/bred on site. Menu changes regularly but if you see squid with chilli jam and clotted cream I high recommend it. Very nice indeed.

A lovely experience was spoilt by a large party that was also staying at the Inn, they were extremely loud throughout their stay and when you get woken by people acting in a drunken manner and speaking extremely loudly in the hours of the morning, I passed my thoughts to the hotel reception team the next morning, I had an apology from the reception but no other feedback was given If this had not occurred then I would have given nothing but positive feedback, as my wife and I enjoyed everything else about our stay

We enjoyed a delicious meal here last night, a fantastic seasonal menu full of truly local produce, prepared by a talented chef, and set in a stunning location on Exmoor with excellent walking on the doorstep. Thoroughly recommend

Een prachtige plek om te verblijven, met heerlijk sustainable eten, diner, lunch en ontbijt met vier sterren! Eén geweldig uitgangspunt voor fijne wandelingen over de mooie Moors!

Sunday roasts for four people at the end of their service period on a busy spring Sunday - the food was superb and the service exemplary. Simply the best meal out we’ve had in a long time and a tribute to all that is good about Exmoor. Good value, great portions and the local beef was sublime. Peter Robinson Molton Monthly magazine

We enjoyed the food but the portions were small. The chowder had shards of broken shell in it. The service was good and the waitresses friendly and helpful.

Had an excellent meal at the Exmoor Forest recently. On a damp and chilly April evening the Inn was very welcoming. Had a super meal which my wife and I both felt was good value for the quality of the food and service provided. In particular my steak and ale pie was a home made thing of beauty (fortunately I was hungry having completed a long walk) and my wife really enjoyed the hake. The staff were very polite and helpful, the ambience was "country luxurious" without being ostentatious which all combined to make a very enjoyable evening. We will be returning, which is probably the best vote of confidence you can give.

We stayed here towards the end of walking the Two Moors Way, and appreciated the level of comfort and the wonderful food. Our muddy boots were taken and dried off in the boiler room. The Inn has a long history and is decorated in an interestingly eclectic way. Our room was very comfortable, with a great wet room / shower room. There was a lovely sitting room downstairs with an open fire, but it was full when we went down. The staff were very helpful, friendly and chatty. A very enjoyable stay.

I can't praise the Exmoor Forest Inn enough. We had a 4 night stay (our first visit to Devon and Exmoor). The Inn is perfect, food lovely and the staff were amazing, so friendly and couldn't do enough for us. We will definitely be back. Amazing 5*+

Wonderful food which is locally sourced and reasonably priced too. Great service and very friendly. You'll love the décor of the place, a lot of thought and money spent on it. Our favourites restaurant on Exmoor.

We stayed here for a couple of wet April days and loved it. Best described as warm, cosy, welcoming - that covers both our room and the service. Recently refurbed decor, great shower and bath, comfortable kingsize bed. It felt like good value for dinner, bed and breakfast, especially having just been awarded a Michelin Green Star for their focus on provenance and sustainability. The food is good, no fireworks, just great ingredients cooked extremely well. The steak goes down as possibly our best ever - in fact it may have spoiled us for any other steak in the future - and having travelled just 12 food miles in its life and lived an organic and blameless life, you can feel pretty good about being a carnivore. The team are friendly and efficient (providing ice in a cloth when my husband clocked his head on beam and drying our wet waterproofs and boots in the boiler room); Christina who was managing the place whilst we were there is a really excellent human being. Exmoor always feels like one of Britain's hidden secrets and The Exmoor Forest Inn is a perfect spot to start your exploration. We will definitely return.

Booked a room and dinner. It was great. The room was spotless with lovely cotton sheets. Dinner was great with nicely attentive staff, ditto breakfast aided by the really friendly and enthusiastic Christina attending to us. The room price is the absolute top price we would pay for a pub. This though with its Michelin Green Star makes it worth the price. Just.

Had an amazing Easter Sunday roast here. Food was delicious. Staff couldn't have been more friendly and lovely. Couldn't recommend this place enough. Very child and dog friendly! Thank you.

We booked this because a) it was in the Michelin guide and b) it had a kids’ menu and I’m glad we did. The food was definitely several steps up from even those country pubs that claim to value the food they provide - more original and definitely more flavoursome. It was also reasonable value (£130ish for two adults 3 courses and 1 child including wine and other drinks). I would recommend this to others when most places I wouldn’t bother.

Stopped in twice for a drink, pub was very quiet (late march) but great, barman very friendly & excellent service. Decor brilliant, a fantastic looking pub and not expensive either.

The most delicious Sunday Roast.i highly recommend visiting if you are in the area. The service was also excellent.

We have just been for a meal here for our anniversary, it was so lovely, food amazing, staff so friendly and attentive. And even better that our little dog was allowed to come and made to feel very welcome. We look forward to coming back again soon

Probably the best fish and chips I've had since being a kid in Yorkshire. The curry sauce with fish is a no go for me but the rest was phenomenal

I recently stayed for two nights to celebrate my birthday with my sister and friends. I can't praise this place highly enough. The rooms are brilliant the food is amazing and the staff are excellent. The location is perfect. I will definitely be going back.

We dropped in here for a pint and a coffee. Both were first class, as too was the service!! We have booked a table for a meal tomorrow evening as we were impressed by everything we saw.

Amazing renovation - the sitting room at the end is gorgeous. Good food, friendly and helpful team, fantastic location.

Just returned from a very enjoyable stay at the Exmoor Forest Inn. There is a lovely relaxed feeling as soon as you arrive. The staff are super friendly and made us feel immediately welcome. It was a sunny afternoon so we took the recommend 2 hour walk along the Barle river and back along the top. Fabulous scenery and interesting notes in the thoughtfully laminated folding map. Our room was quite small (we opted for the lowest price 'standard room') but very comfortable with everything we needed included tea and coffee. We ate in the restaurant and the food was excellent and pretty reasonably priced. Breakfast was also excellent with a choice of full English, smoked salmon etc. We would heartily recommend eating and staying at this super Exmoor establishment. Many many thanks.

We had a gathering of 30 work colleagues for an evening meal. The selection of courses was just right and so delicious. The helpings were a good size. The staff were very attentive and the actual dinning room was wonderful. I will definitely be returning and recommending this inn.

Excellent. We visited on Christmas Eve as a family of 10. The blond waitress behind the bar was excellent, (sadly I can't remember her name). The food was excellent and Fem the waitress was so helpful, patient & knowledgeable of the menu, all delivered with a lovely attitude & smile. The food was delicious and excellent sized portions for hungry walkers & teens. Dogs welcome, lovely fire and beautiful decor. So nice to see a country pub doing such a good job. Well done & thank you. We will be back.

Lovely weekend lunch. Logburners lit, great food, incredible location.

Would have to agree mostly with the previous comment. It’s gone very much downhill the last couple months. Unfortunately I guess they’ve not managed to find someone up to standard to run the kitchen.

Waited ages for the food which was cold and not seasoned so lacked flavour. Desserts weren’t the best. Very disappointed. Nice area though

Really disappointed to find the quality of the food has dipped. The 4 of us came for Sunday lunch- [we have eaten here several times before] The menu not as good as it was, the lovely crisp roasties replaced by rather dry tasteless roasties, veg overcooked, and thick salty gravy. The rather quirky deserts that were so delicious replaced with very standard deserts, and no longer the delicious homemade icecream. We over heard the people on next table saying it has not been as good since the original chef left, for what ever reason he left, he is a big loss to this establishment. It was a perfectly acceptable meal, but nothing special, similar to lunches you can get at many other places in the area.

Selection small and what they had was not worth the price. Flavour just didn’t exist at all.

Superb little hotel. Their literature makes some grandiose claims about quality. Amazingly, every mouthful supported the truth of those claims. As good a place to stay as I know of. Oh, and the wine list seems pretty good, too.

This hotel is a wonderful place to stay, far from the maddening crowd. Very clean, comfortable and relaxing. Everyone, staff and guests alike. were very friendly. We had a lovely room with a great view of moorland hills and trees. Such a good warm place to return to after long walks on the moor - they even have room to dry your coats etc. Breakfast was very good and the meals in the evening, delicious. Thank you to Martin and the staff for making us feel so welcome. We intend to return next year.

We only stayed for drinks but was a beautiful place inside and outside. Such beautiful surroundings too. Going to stay soon can't wait. I'll update my review after.

Only stopped for a drink. Nice place but pricey for the area.

I had the burger which was probably the best burger I’ve ever had. They source all their Beef from the farm and all the vegetables and salad are organic. Really tasty and the staff were so friendly and welcoming. My husband had the sausages and mashed and that was really tasty too. Definitely worth a visit.

Visited here a few Sundays ago for lunch with my husband and a friend who was visiting from the north. I had visited with my husband and daughter last year for an evening meal and have to say both times the food has been fab. I moved to North Devon three years ago, just before Covid and I have been somewhat disappointed when eating out but this was and is probably one of the best places that I personally have eaten at over the last three years in the Devon/Cornwall area that is amazing apart from Paul Worthington's number six in Padstow which was outstanding. Looking forward to our next meal with you.

A wonderful stay at the Exmoor Forest Inn. An excellent room and the food was exceptional; almost zero food miles with their own herd and my Bavette steak (blue) simply melted in my mouth! The staff were friendly and very accommodating. Thank you.

Stayed at this excellent hotel as we were visiting to attend the Exford Show. Could not have picked a better place to stay as we have dogs. The room was most comfortable offering a great view of the Barle valley, king size bed, en suite bathroom and tea and coffee making supplies provided. We ate supper each night and had breakfast at the hotel and the food was excellent, as was the comprehensive wine list. Fellow guests were great fun, staff helpful but not intrusive which added to the relaxed ambience. Can't wait to get back.

There's one overriding downside to eating here: the food is excellent, the staff attentive but the noise level from the people at the Large Table is overwhelming. That table, at the far end of the big room, should be walled off or curtained off from the cosier tables

Delicious food, I had the ‘hogget’ which is a lamb shank, the portion was a lot bigger than expected and it was lovely. Dog friendly pub and very welcoming staff. Service was also very fast!

I am reviewing the restaurant only, we did not stay as we live a short drive away. Excellent food and great service. We had a family lunch on Fathers day, for 10 people. Everything was perfect. So much so, that we have been back a few times for Sunday lunch, and today for a week day lunch. The staff are well presented, polite and efficient. In particular manager Martin - he recognises guests and is attentive to the right degree. He welcomes new faces perfectly too. Friendly AND professional. The menu is small and simple. All freshly made, the food is delicious. Today we had hake with chips and peas, and braised beef with mash (although I asked to swap it for potatoes), little gem and peas. Seriously tasty and the perfect size too. There is a very well stocked bar and even cocktails and mocktails. If you are looking for a cosy lunch or family celebration, we can absolutely recommend the Exmoor Forest Inn.

Solid pub food, with lots of local sourcing - even down to a big board describing which local providers were responsible for the various ingredients used in the kitchens. Good wine list, friendly interior, and a welcoming staff make this a good place for an evening meal.

We turned up hoping for a meal on a quiet Wednesday evening about 6pm. We were completely ignored by two members of staff. I went to the bar and a middle aged bar man huffed and puffed when I asked if I could look at the menu. He then looked at us as if we were something on his shoe and said “you can look at the menu but we can’t give you a table!”. We decided to leave and not come back any other night - we refuse to be treated like second class citizens. It was hardly the Ritz anyway !

Exmoor Forest Inn Simonsbath Uninspiring 901491537 Disappointed at the quality of the ploughman's which did not conform to the menu description. No apple and no apology. The ham was not of the quality expected-not hand carved. Dressing for the mixed salad too salty. Overall uninspiring especially the desserts and not what was expected from other reviews and website. Not happy with a coffee which we did not have put on the bill and limited choice of lagers. Children running around the restaurant did not help the mood.

Superb! Been meaning to visit for ages as we only live half an hour away. Really friendly service and excellent food. The homemade sourdough and salty butter was gorgeous. Really interesting and different menu from the run of the mill. Lovely decor too. Thanks all, we’ll be back and will be recommending to visitors to my holiday cottages.

Rude staff and no outside eating, wasn’t interested in our business so won’t be back.

Mid walk pitstop. Had a fabulous ploughman’s, thrice cooked potatoes and drinks for lunch. Staff really friendly and helpful and the food was fresh and top quality. The property itself is very well presented and I would imagine if you were to stay there overnight you wouldn’t be disappointed. Would definitely recommend.

We booked a table, having driven pass this inn many times and from the moment we arrived to leaving, the service, quality of food and decor of this fabulous old building was excellent. All staff were friendly, food, all locally sourced was delicious (our only complaint was and it was a nice complaint was the portions were massive, but we did our best to eat all that was put in front of us!!) Menu catered for all, either light snack or full 3 course meal, drink selection from behind the bar was vast and it was nice to see local ales. All in all a lovely lunch and next time we pass we will definitely pop in and try other treats on this menu

Excellent couple hours with great company and excellent meal

The staff were very passive aggressive when me and my friend ordered just a starter each at lunchtime and made us feel embarrassed and guilty. You should teach your staff to be grateful for any business in this financial climate. The pretentious menu also didn't separate starters from main courses, so how were we to know? The food was overpriced and mediocre. Won't be going there again.

We only had a quick bite after a walk, but what a lovely surprise. Delicious food. Staff were very happy for us just to have starters as a stop-gap mid afternoon. Absolutely delicious. All prepared on the premises, looked & tasted really good. Deep fried Brussels sprouts? Who knew? Amazing!! Lovely & warm & cosy with lots of different areas so we didn’t feel crowded & the dogs got a great. welcome too!

We called at the inn, after a long walk, planning to have a light snack before carrying on. We found it unwelcoming and completely lacking in atmosphere. The music, if it could be called that, was far too loud and intrusive. However, we ordered two...

Stunning Pub to visit I've never stayed here.

Delightful lunch, reasonably priced and really friendly helpful staff. Everything to like for a lunch stop

Warm welcome, nice country decor and great food / drinks, just what a country pub should be.