Lympstone Manor in East Devon

Food to shout about, served in elegant surroundings - and what an incredible place - we enjoyed superb service and fantastic views.

We came here for a Mother's Day lunch; food did not disappoint. We had a lovely time and staff were great. Unfortunately, service appeared to take some time but mostly managed to occupy ourselves whilst waiting. The table we were sat at had be brought in from outside and was leaking water throughout, causing an uncomfortable feeling during our meal. Staff did apologise for this but unfortunately no alternative was offered/provided. The staff organised golf buggies to take us back up to the car park due to the rain, which was very much welcomed.

The dining experience that started with pre-dinner drinks in the lounge space was very comfortable. We dined from the a la carte menu accompanied by wine from the exceptional wine list. The food was excellent with an elegant and beautiful presentation. The service was friendly and professional. The evening finished with coffee and petit fours, with a digestif in the lounge area. Overall it was dining at its best.

Being disabled with use of only my left side Michael is one of my hero’s in the celebrity Chef world We have been to every London 3 Star restaurants and Michael and his staff at Lympstone Manor where not overshadowed and well worth the 216 mile journey. Great meal and experience…. Many thanks 👏🏻

We suspect that most visitors to Lympstone are attracted by the reputation of Michael Caines and to enjoy the food. No sign of MC during our two day stay, but no problem - his kitchen team did him more than proud, the cooking absolutely on point. We had the Lyme Bay scallops on both nights as they were so good. We also had duck - probably the best duck dish we have ever had anywhere (!), and the beef fillet on the other night not far behind. Portions are generous. Interesting wine recommendations by the glass from sommelier Patricia to our taste and went very very well with all the dishes (Albariño from Uruguay - who knew?) Breakfast less successful - fruit bowl selection very under ripe, and the poached eggs rather over done on both days. Service also seemed rushed at breakfast with main dishes arriving before we had time to finish our starters. However excellent yoghurts, croissants and pain au chocolat! It may seem churlish to complain about our room when it was a two category upgrade on the one booked. However we found it pretty small overall and there was a narrow passageway access from the hall in which the hanging cupboards were situated - somewhat difficult to access. The main “selling point” of the room was a balcony with great views over the Estuary when you were out on it - wonderful on a sunny summer day perhaps, somewhat superfluous in early March! The bed was very comfortable, and housekeeping standards immaculate. Quality biscuits in the room and cake in the pantry in the afternoon nice touches and breached the gap between breakfast and dinner! We had booked (and prepaid) a winter dinner, bed and breakfast package. On checking out we were somewhat surprised to find that “dinner” had been separated out on the bill and a service charge applied. We had of course expected to pay service charge on any extras (such as wines and bar costs) but we have never previously been asked at any hotel to pay a service charge on part of a pre booked “package” and felt this was cheeky to put it mildly. It was removed by the assistant manager on challenge, but it I am afraid it always leaves a slightly sour taste whenever one feels it necessary to query a bill.

We went to the New Zealand Wine Event at Michael Caines Lympstone Manor last night and enjoyed delicious food courses perfectly paired with 5 different types of wines. The event set in the Pool House there was amazing and the evening flowed seamlessly along with the wines....the attention to detail is faultless and Michael together with his knowledgeable team hosted a relaxing and enjoyable experience.

The property is in a lovely setting and we were made to feel welcome and relaxed straight away. Our room was lovely and we really enjoyed the outdoor bath! We had excellent food and really enjoyed the breakfast in particular. The lounge and bar always had space and we felt we were somewhere special. The staff were all really nice. In particular I thought the junior staff were exceptional.

It was impossible for me to consider any score other than 5. The food was sublime, the service was superbly subtle and the ambiance was perfect. We had the set lunch menu. Yes it appears expensive but it’s more than a meal it’s an experience- welcome cocktail and canapés in the bar, followed by appetiser, starter, main and desert in a small, fairly intimate room (only 6 tables), staff who are so attentive but also only there when needed. The lunch was topped off by Michael Caines coming to speak to us and pose for photos. Loved it all and can’t wait to be back

Our second stay in 6 months was as amazing as the first, staff and accommodation was so relaxing and we even used the outside pool in February❣️ I could not fault our stay and after a turbulent 23 it made life so much nicer. We have been looking after my son's retriever and she was as very much welcomed as we were with bowls, bedding and treats, so thankyou for this too. We also enjoyed the amazing Valentine's taster menu and Lympstone manors pinot noir, Tres bien 💞

Exceptional service, quality and attention to detail but also a high price, particularly the meal at £225 each plus 12.5%

"Valentines Day Saturday Lunch for two! Just a fabulous, uplifting, and life affirming experience! For that very special occasion! Glorious views over the Exe Estuary! Lovely location! Great Ambience! Lovely caring, empathic, and understanding staff, who made the whole experience very special from the moment of opening the door and greeting you! Try the Krug 2013! As we return to reality the memories keep us warm and inspired!"

Food rather bland and portions too small. Staff very attentive. Nice building, uncomfortable seats. Banquettes too upright, chairs too low for the table. Expensive, especially the coffee with petits fours, which were extremely disappointing: one fruit pastille and a nondescript piece of nougat.

Spectacular hotel and restaurant. The shepherds huts are unique and suburb quality. The staff couldn’t have done more. Lunch (set menu) was incredible and worthy of more than one star Michelin!

I’m only giving 3 stars overall as we haven’t eaten there yet. However the customer service was absolutely brilliant. My fiancé and I went in to look around for our wedding dinner and the staff went out of their way to show us around and give us ideas on what we could do. They were very proud to work there and their enthusiasm shone in their work, making us want to eat there even more. The only draw back is they stop serving lunch at 2:30pm and start dinner at 6pm. We wanted out wedding dinner at 3/4pm so we can’t taste their lovey food however we can have a champagne lunch or high tea which also looks delicious.

We had the most exquisite high tea and described one of the beautiful patisseries as eating the fluffiest cloud tasting of sunshine.

Stunning location overlooking the estuary and vineyard. Michael Caines has created a stunning Hotel . All the staff were amazing. They could not do enough for you. Room was spotless and welcoming. Obviously it is about the food. One of the best meals we have ever had. The signature tasting menu is unbelievably good. Best to go in hungry as it is filling. Highlight was the lobster bisque but everything was perfect. Highlight of the stay was Michael who was there overseeing and spoke to all the guests. Very welcoming and friendly. We will be back.

We went for afternoon tea, and despite me being unwell and dozy, it was the most wonderful and memorable experience. The staff could not have been more attentive and kind, the tea was wonderful. Due to my health problems, I ordered coffee by mistake, they changed it with no problem, but were concerned that it was their mistake. The cakes were sublime, I've eaten at top hotels over the years, but these were unforgettable. So delicate, light and perfectly balanced flavours. The sandwiches and scones were equally exceptional. Just a word of advice, ensuring your booking with a credit card doesn't mean you've paid, you have to pay on the day unless you want to look like an amateur crook, as I did!! And the views are glorious! I can't wait for my next birthday!

Every aspect of our visit was exceptional. A warm welcome from all staff at all times. A treat to meet Michael Caines again. Room quality and decor in Nuthatch was first class. A bit quirky (in a good way). Loved the TV on the easel, pantry was a nice touch. Cakes and biscuits an added treat. Didn’t have time to sample complementary G&T. Again a nice extra. A la carte dinner was faultless. Scallop starter and Apple dessert were highlights but all excellent. Breakfast was also of a high quality. Bacon and pains au chocolate were standouts. We felt at home, comfortable and relaxed from the moment we arrived and will certainly return.

How can you justify buying half a pint and a tonic water costing £14, even if you have a good view, it’s daylight robbery

Johanna and Kieran looked after us very well for afternoon tea, it was the experiance we were expecting, i am sure we will be back Thank you guys

Fabulous views, relaxed atmosphere, excellent food. We couldn’t have asked for a better lunch, the service was super friendly but not familiar. I had celeriac soup with almond, and truffle, my daughter had duck croquette which said was delicious. We both had fish of the day which was cod with crushed potatoes and saffron and it was amazing. Fabulous meal. I couldn’t recommend it more highly. Ted the pug was allowed in to the restaurant which made my daughter’s day!

Fabulous luxury stay. Very expensive treat but worth it, we did have a problem with a awful smell in our room but that was quickly rectified by staff who gave us another room and moved all our luggage etc, even hung it back in the wardrobe. We didnt eat other than breakfast but that was good. Only negative was the stairs and dinning room carpets need a good clean, but fab.

Amazing Lunch, superb service and food and fabulous location. Each dish carefully and tastefully put together

A fun evening - so glad we acted on the last minute email for a tasting session plus supper. The presentation of gins was excellent and we were fascinated by the bonus session on the vineyard. The exquisite canapés deserve a special mention as does the charming receptionist who sorted our essential taxi home!.

The most delicious afternoon tea. Everything was just perfect. Excellent service from very attentive staff. A special birthday treat for me from my lovely daughter and grandaughter. It was as a truly memorable day. Thank you so much.

Lovely hotel, fantastic staff, very clean, given as a gift, would definitely reccomend. Not anything negative to say about this Hotel

Lunch experience underwhelming as small portions similar to a tasting menu even though it was a 4 course set menu. Not making the grad for a one star. Property running down since last visit. A couple of staff members just seemed like they would rather be somewhere else. Wish we had skipped this place on our journey. Nothing special and expensive for what it offers as a lunch special . Both the mackerel starter and the main course fish were miniscule. These kitchens just don't get it. Minuscule portions are a false economy. My server with the aggressive body language was scary and we felt uncomfortable.

We decided to try Lympstone Manor as they had a special lunch offer £69 for 3 courses or £79 for 4. On arrival, we realised that embarrassingly our booking had not been confirmed, but the head waiter took it all in his stride and sorted everything out without any fuss. Everything was perfect, service 1st class and food delicious. The bill for 4 having 4 courses was just under £450, including drinks and a bottle of wine, which I think is great value for Michael Caines restaurant. I would not normally pay that for lunch, but for a special occasion, it was perfect.

We visited for an afternoon tea with our young children. The location is absolutely stunning and the gardens are beautifully decorated with art and statues. This would be a lovely place to stay for the weekend. However, our afternoon tea was a little bit of a let down. We were seated on low couches with coffee tables for our afternoon tea and when we asked if there was an alternative table were told that the usual spot in the restaurant was very busy today and that’s why we were where we had been seated. Not a five star approach to service at all. We were eventually moved and served our afternoon tea 45 minutes after our booking time. Charging full price for children (£50 each) is also unusual and we left feeling a little short changed. Not a great experience all round for 90 minutes and £200.

You know when you arrive and valet parking is offered you are in the right place. The entire visit was faultless. Beautiful grade 2 listed manor with views of the estuary, calming interior with interesting artworks and wonderful staff, knowledgeable, friendly and so well mannered...

Enjoyed a hum-dinger of a mid-week lunch, which was cooked and presented to perfection. An absolute treat for the eyes and the tastebuds. Our French server made the occasion yet more joyous. Go on - spoil yourselves. You won't regret it!

I have been lucky to experience many Michelin Star restaurants, including Gordon Ramsey, Marcus Wearing, Heston Blumenthal, Tom Kerridge, Mugaritz in Spain. This was in a par with Gordon Ramsey 3 star restaurant. Firstly you are greeted and taken to a lovely lounge where you...

We dined here for my husbands birthday, what an amazing experience. We both went for versions of the tasting menu and each dish was presented beautifully and was faultless and taste amazing. They catered well to my dietary requirements and nothing was too much trouble,...

Booked to have lunch in The Pool House and it was a wonderful experience. Adam the manager was very attentive and friendly. The food cooked by James was fabulous. Two hours of impeccable service and attention. Thank you for a memorable experience.

Stunning location, excellent service. This was a long awaited birthday/ anniversary treat, postponed several times due to Covid. The canapés were absolutely amazing, looked beautiful and tasted even better, setting us up with high hopes for the main event, we went with the tasting menu....

Could not fault the food or service. Venison was the highlight, but all three courses and the Amuse Bouche were worthy of the Michelin Star. Only pity was menus could not be ‘mix and matched’ - understood why, but not stated before we made our...

Don't bother. Go somewhwere else. Service great but food awful. Burnt, tasteless and risotto delish but far too al dente - hard and crunchy! No!!!

The food was amazing, as you'd expect from a Michelin-starred restaurant. The pre-dinner experience, with drinks at the bar while perusing the menu, was very pleasant as was the dining experience even if the room lacked a little atmosphere. Service wasn’t quite as sharp as...

Had an Anniversary meal on Saturday, courtesy of family. The experience was fantastic and every member of staff were considerate, kind and courteous. We chose from the Lunch menu at £95 per head. The food was exquisite and artistic at the same time, attention to...

My wife and I recently celebrated a birthday with lunch here and it was an enormous treat. The welcome and service were warm and impeccable, the views from the terrace over the Ex estuary were lovely and the food was perfect. It's obviously expensive but...

Absolutely flawless from the minute we arrived,amazing room with luxurious extras that we don’t have at home. Food and wine pairing was astonishingly good. The pool restaurant and bar areas were a great addition. Grounds we’re lovely to walk around. Immaculate relaxing stay, well done...

Maria, my wife, and I went yesterday to celebrate our 31st wedding anniversary at Lymestone Manor for lunch. We have dined in this magnificent restaurant many occasions in the past at this wonderful gem in the middle of Devon's beautiful countryside beside the Ex estuary....

My husband and I were treated by our daughter to afternoon tea at Lymstone Manor Exmouth. The experience was great. Greeted by friendly staff and shown to our table. The afternoon tea was a lovely treat and the service was exceptional. Would we go again...

What a fabulous experience, everything was first class and each course tasted amazing. It was our second visit and it lived up to our expectations.

Excellent menu made all the more special by excellent service. We had the signature tasting menu, all dietary requirements were perfectly met. In total a 4 hour meal which we loved... Not hurried at all but a perfect pace. Thank you for such a great...

Wonderful food with glorious views over the Exe Estuary whilst having aperitifs and ‘nibbles’. Half our party had the Signature Menu, the other half the Estuary Menu, with the Beauvale blue cheese as an added course to equalise the courses. All the courses were absolutely...

On a beautiful summers day it was great to arrive and have drinks on the lawn overlooking the estuary. We took the opportunity to have a glass of Michaels Champagne, which whilst expensive, was delicious. We had the Taster Menu, the bread was really flavourful...

We stayed three nights and dined twice. The first meal couldn't be faulted, the second could. Personally I can't bear the penchant for the dim reverential lighting experience. And our accommodation in a Shepard's Hut was a triumph of style over function.

Over the Christmas break a good friend of ours who is also friends with the Michelin Chef Michael Caines was able to get us a table booked for lunch at Lympstone Manor. My husband and I like to treat ourselves each year by going out...

Lovely building on the inside, with lots of nice features. The furnishing and the ambiance is nice, not too formal but warm and welcoming. Welcomed on arrival and shown to a bar / lounge for pre lunch drinks and to review the menu. Appetisers served...

We had high expectations of what would be £200+ lunch for two and overall the experience was okay. Not bad enough to complain about, or to recommend. A building of sufficient grandeur to be really impressively decorated, but pretty much every picture and ornament is...

To be clear, we found the food exceptional, exquisite, and extraordinarily well presented. Definitely well worth an "excellent" rating. Unfortunately (or fortunately) fine dining is a whole experience: not just what is on the plate and in the glasses; it is also about the (human/social)...

Firstly - the food was exceptional and very enjoyable. We had the Estuary tasting menu and could not fault the food. . Well worth the price and the wine suggested by the Sommelier complimented it all perfectly. So what went wrong. Firstly - we felt...

Based on Michael Caines’ reputation this was a lunch we were looking forward to. Sadly, the experience didn’t hit these expectations. There was nothing very wrong or poor with any particular aspect, but it didn’t hit the heights. We had the lunch menu, which gave...

Being a Michelin starred restaurant, you expect top quality and yes, it was top quality, it’s just that there wasn’t much of it. A family occasion consisted of a fair few people. The starter was tasteless, the fish was mackerel, yes nice but the cheapest...

Lympstone manor on a sunny day is as good as it gets, the views are absolutely second to none. There are loads of reviews of the food already, it's a Michelin restaurant so yes the food is incredible. Portions are small but packed full of...

We stayed here for our 35th wedding anniversary and had the tasting dinner with wine flight. The hotel is lovely in a wonderful position and the views are spectacular. The staff are very attentive and the hotel and rooms are beautifully furnished. The dinner was...

Once, Michael Caines' food was world-beating. Now it's tired, complacent, and tedious. Lympstone Manor occupies a lovely site. If the weather permits drinks on the lawn, overlooking the estuary, then make sure you take the opportunity. That for us was the highpoint. We both had...

On March 1st my wife booked a Sunday lunch (August 22nd) for my family to celebrate my 70th birthday as Michael Caines was one of my favourite chefs. Having secured a booking she then booked a house in nearby Exmouth. On August 10th the restaurant...

We celebrated our 40th wedding anniversary here a couple of weeks ago. It was amazing from the moment we arrived. He food, service and location are first class. Yes quite expensive, but you get what you pay for! We will be back and I thinking...

This was on my list of must visit restaurants and it did not disappoint. Walking from the car park you are greeted by a glorious building and as you near it, the walkway opens into the most stunning view over the estuary. The fact that...

My girlfriend & I came her for lunch recently. Lympstone Manor is set in wonderful location looking over the river Exe. We opted for the four-course lunch option & the food was fantastic from start to finish. The canapes, bread & each of the four...

Taken for lunch by my son. We both know Michael Caine's cuisine from Gidleigh Park and his Exeter restaurant, Lympstone Manor far outshines both. Wonderful location, beautifully renovated building, lovely staff and incredible food. Okay so it's expensive especially when you add a few drinks...

Michelin star - we went for the signature menu, which they had taken care to manage for my wife’s food intolerances. The food we would rate as an 8, whilst expecting to be delighted with the quality of food we walked away feeling a little...

Went to Lympstone Manor for a 3 course lunch, with champagne, using the voucher my husband bought me to celebrate my 50th birthday, we went over a year late because of Covid but it was well worth the wait! The service was attentive and personal,...

We had a two night stay and enjoyed the fantastic Signature Tasting Menu on first night and after a wonderful walk along the Estuary..pushed the boat our and had the Estuary Tasting Menu the second night and wow it did not disappoint.The food and explanation...

We stopped off for one night at this hotel and dined on the Estuary tasting menu. The three dining rooms meant that no restaurant was even half full when we dined. This lead to virtually no atmosphere. The staff serving us were exemplary. The all...

Had read some previous reviews saying food was tasteless , however I can agree with the majority of others the food was fantastic, well presented and flavours sublime , unfortunately the dining room was very strangely laid out the booths really need to be replaced...

We celebrated with friends on their wedding anniversary. We had lunch and it was absolutely exquisite. Unbelievable flavours. We were the table making all the noises of delight! Such a treat. The cocktails, food, wine, in fact everything was perfect. I would recommend the restaurant...

We stayed at the hotel (see my separate review) for 3 nights and ate dinner in the restaurant on two. The main dining room was bright and airy – with well-spaced tables. A reassuringly short menu with two tasting options and a short ala carte....

It is very hard to review our experience to be honest. Good things The location and setting The number of staff and professional service The food Bad Things They have simply crammed in too many tables and it spoilt the whole experience. You are seated...

My partner booked an overnight stay at Lympstone Manor as a birthday present as I had always wanted to stay and eat here. Having also had to cancel our usual holiday abroad we decided to treat ourselves and we were not at all disappointed. The...

service did not do them justice. 30+ minutes before being served two aperitives, long delay between starter and main - we'd almost finished our bottle of wine by the time that course was served, and at £69 for a £15 bottle we were not about...

It was hard to imagine how lunch at Lympstone Manor could be just as special with a whole new way to eat and socialise How do you keep keep giving a warm welcome and great service when that welcome now includes a QR code and...

Booked the four course lunch and was impressed by the venue on arrival, even though it was a wet and windy day. Turns out the food was excellent. All four courses were beautifully presented and tasted delightful. They coped very well with the gluten free needs of one of our party catered for very well with only minor amendments to the menu.However, the rest of the experience did not match the food. We were seated in a restaurant room which was very small, consisting of six booths. We ended up in one which faced a wall. Not sure if this is the usual restaurant, but nobody suggested otherwise, so I only imagine it is. On top of that the service was unenthusiastic, with the only communication being a brief description of each meal. Nobody seemed to bother to ask if we enjoyed each course and there was no effort to make us feel at ease or welcome.Still give it a good review for the food alone.

We had been staying in Devon with our family and we all (5 of us) went here for lunch. Having been eating very well for three days, we chose the lunch 4 course menu. The visit was helped by it being a beautiful hot sunny day and sitting outside with aperitifs and later coffee was a real pleasure with a lovely view. Service was efficient and helpful, but of course masks on the staff make interaction difficult. Now for the important bit, the food. The two amuse bouche were delicious, but then my heart sank with the first proper course which was baby leeks with a sauce and little goodies. It looked fabulous, but had very little flavour, and all of us thought the same, and could probably have done with more sauce. The remaining three courses redeemed the position. My wife and I both had venison which was excellent with superb sauce and accompaniments; it was really delicious. We both then finished with a perfect orange and Grand Marnier souffle which was as good a souffle as I have ever had; simply perfect.Overall, very good and very well worth its star, but with some way to go if they want a second one given the lapse with the starter. We came away happy and thought the price very fair for what we had experienced. A very pleasant lunch for our 40th wedding anniversary which made us forget that we should have been in Ecuador.

My husband and I were originally due to visit in May this year for a one night stay. This was for his 30th birthday, however, due to Covid-19, we rescheduled for September. The visit was well worth the wait. Our stay was amazing from start to finish. On arrival, staff were very friendly and helpful and put us at ease straight away, after a very long journey. They were very accommodating and helped with luggage. A staff member recommended a walk around the grounds, along the estuary. It was a beautiful day for it and the grounds are just so beautiful. We also went into the local village and this was really nice as well. The bedroom we had was quite small, however, decorated immaculately. The complementary gin tray was a nice touch. The food was a real experience. Staff were friendly and chatty with us, despite the challenges of wearing a mask etc. The food was incredible and we both really enjoyed the Signature tasting menu. The edible candle dessert, was the highlight for me. Staff also gave my husband a 'happy birthday' chocolate with his petit fours, which was a lovely gesture to acknowledge the celebrations. The whole experience was seamless - we started from sitting outside watching the sunset and having cocktails and appetisers and were then shown to our table by staff. We also met with the Sommelier, who was very knowledgeable and also respected our price range for the wine. The wine we had really complimented the food and we.really enjoyed it. Will definitely be back! We loved the setting and that is excellent service and quality, without being pretentious. Thanks for a great break.

Had 4 course lunch today for three of us. Looked forward to it due to its reputation. And Chef Patron. The food was very good. We felt the service was slow and lacklustre. Staff seemed a bit bored by it all to be honest. No personality coming through the masks and a bit robotic. But in fairness wearing masks doesn’t make it easy to create a bond with guests. Wouldn’t rush back. Especially as we paid handsomely for the privilege of eating here and felt a bit underwhelmed on departure.

5* hotel in beautiful grounds. We had the 4 course lunch. Service was sadly lacking in the restaurant, waiting a considerable time for our main course to arrive. We complained & when the bill came voiced our dis satisfaction again and was advised it would be looked into but the waitress still took the service charge!! The food was pretty but was at times lacking in taste. I would describe the food as ordinary but not wow or stand out.

Our second tie here and we were lucky enough to visit again on a Sunday lunch time when the weather was fabulous. Perfect to sit outside before lunch with a glass of bubbly and soak up the beautiful gardens and stunning views across the Exe. Despite strange times, the service was faultless and we were made to feel extremely welcome and were left to enjoy everything without being reminded every minute about masks and sanitisers! The food was exquisite and served with the professionalism and perfection that makes Lympstone Manor a cut above even the best French Manors in Oxford:) I would certainly place this amongst one of the very best restaurants in the UK. The menu is excellent with a wide choice for all without being pretentious. Fabulous.

A fabulous luxury experience. We arrived early and had lunch on the veranda, which gave us a glimpse of things to come. The best seafood bisque, steak and lovely fish and chips.Dinner started with drinks outside and the Estuary tasting menu was superb. Matching flight of wines had some interesting choices and gave us a chance to talk to the sommelier between courses, as we love our wines. That also lead to an offer to be shown the cellars, which we gratefully accepted.Food and service wise, it matched my high expectations and the only let down was no aircon and little ventilation on a very warm and humid evening, leading to us popping outside in between a couple of courses.Masks were worn by staff at all times, with excellent COVID precautions in place!

Over the last week we stayed at Lympstone Manor and were fortunate to try their 3 beautifully crafted menus in their 3 beautifully situated restaurants.I cannot state the excellence of the food, service, ambiance and atmosphere that Michael and the team have created.The freshness and combination of ingredients were so complimentary it was like a dream to savour the menus. The Brixham Lobster and the langoustine cannelloni are 2 of the best dishes I have ever tasted.Also a point of note is the bread served with every meal, absolutely scrummy, to the point that extra was brought to our table because of the purrings of delight.Whilst we were their Michael was away yet the whole place was in the safe hands of Anca Paraschiv, Michael what ever you do hold onto Anca as she made our stay a delight and helped us throughout our stay and no question, query was too big for her to sort out with such professionalism and caring.We cannot wait to come back and be absorbed into Lympstone life.

The food here is absolutely outstanding. Beautifully presented and packed with delicate deliciousness - definitely worth a trip. The dining room was a bit odd - half the tables are facing a wall (so glad we weren't on one) and half had a view. There wasn't enough room for the staff to serve food without constantly squeezing past one or two diners (so glad that wasn't us!). The pre-meal service was very slow - we nearly left. We were told to arrive half an hour early for canapés and an aperitif and were then kept waiting 20 minutes before being offered a drinks menu. This part of the experience was the only thing we really didn't like - would have much preferred to have gone straight to our table.

Lunch at Lympstone Manor was a holiday treat and what a treat it was. As it was a sunny day we were shown into the garden for pre lunch drinks and the view over the River Ex was breathtaking! Covid-19 precautions all in place but very discretely managed! Contact details and menus all managed with QR codes and it worked very well. We had the four course lunch and every course was beautifully presented, tasted wonderful and the service was outstanding - there’s not much else I can say expect do go it you have the change - not cheap but hey you only live once!

Celebrated my friends 60th with the estuary tasting menu & accompanying wine flight as a special treat & it was superb!I did request a small extra sample of one of the wines at the end which I’d enjoyed so much but the request was not received well or the wine forthcoming & whilst I understand the wine flight is a small quantity of several wines to compliment each dish with an overall bill of nearly £900 for the 3 of us it would have been a nice gesture to end on rather than leaving me feel uncomfortable & ignored ...* One request please could you add some paving slabs amongst the gravel to walk to the terrace & grounds for the aperitif etc as all the ladies in high heels were struggling on tip toe rather embarrassingly to not ruin their lovely shoes!

On a summers day the terrace and gardens are wonderful for a pre lunch drink and after lunch coffee. The views over the river Exe are amazing.The luncheon menu is particularly good value.Service is as you would expect from a top class restaurant although the staff were not particularly friendly.Extensive wine list starting at circa £20 per glass.

This restaurant cannot be faulted. Each dish was a beauty to behold and each one tasted superb. this uniquely exquisite dining experience is not to be missed. Also, the service was impeccable.

We were very lucky with the weather and were able to have drinks before and coffee after lunch on the terrace. The meal was excellent and was spoiled only by all staff wearing masks. This detracted from the ambience and made it impossible to hear what they were saying. Would have given 5 stars otherwise but it was a totally unnecessary spoiler - there are very few coronavirus cases in Devon and no evidence masks have a positive effect.

Having waited over five decades for my thirteenth birthday, I knew that lunch had to be pretty special and therefore, living in Exmouth, there was only really one choice! Lympstone Manor...The service and accompanying attention to detail were simply World Class! We were treated like Royalty and wanted for nothing.The food was absolutely to die for. Every dish blew me away and by the end of the sitting, I floated out of the restaurant. I cannot thank the Team enough for everything they did, but I can assure them that the memory of that special meal will live with us forever! Thank you and keep up the amazing work x

This was our 3rd visit to the Manor and the best meal we have eaten there so far.For those who are unfamiliar with the manor it is a beautifully restored country house with land and vineyards tumbling down to the fabulous Exe Estuary. Sympathetically converted the reception rooms are elegant, spacious, light and airy. Everything is luxurious but understated.We were there for a promotional lunch £53 for 4 courses, canapes and including a free cocktail or mocktail.As ever the canapes were exquisite, one a mini steak tartare and the other a cigar roll of a creamy fishy mix decorated with a viola flower. The cocktail was refreshing with just a slight kick, the calvados had something to do with that.The amuse bouche was a ravioli infused with squid ink and stuffed with slightly curried creamy carrot puree. A perfect treat to wet the appetite.My wife started with the quail egg tartine and I had the chicken and mushroom boudin with confit chicken leg. Both were ambitious but perfectly scrumptious and as ever presentation was top notch.For mains I had one of the best risottos I have ever eaten with charred sweet corn and poached quail eggs and my wife the rump steak with numerous root vegetable decorations a sheer work of art.Who could resist the prune and armagnac souffles for dessert, certainly not us. Perfectly cooked and a really earthy accompaniment to set off the delicate texture of the souffle.Wine choice is huge, we had an excellent Pascal Jolivet Pouilly Fume.Having celebrated my wife's birthday at Le Gavroche only 3 days before, which we enjoyed, we were surprised that it had the 2 stars and Lympstone only the one. It cannot be long in coming.Service was excellent, slick, smart, friendly but not familiar.....just right.I have only one ccriticism of the establishment and that is the high entry threshold you have to pay for wine. The lowest price I saw was £55 and I know that such places always say we are comparable to other restaurants of similar quality. Well we had a superb Reuilly La Raie 2016 at le Gavroche for £40. Particularly at lunchtime for your less affluent customers surely there could be 2-3 whites and 2-3 reds in the £40 bracket.Other than that minor niggle it is a wonderful experience and I would recommend the restaurant to anyone who appreciates the best in food. I understand from a friend that tea in summer outside on the terrace enjoying the with the view is wonderful.

We had wanted to visit ever since we had heard that Michael Caines had moved here. We had meals on two nights and I must say that the food is truly excellent. The tasting menu, at £160 per head is filled with great food and the portion size is good too - think twice about having a second basket of bread or you may not have room for the cheese selection!The a la carte is £140 each and the portions are of course larger.The wine list is, like the food, London prices and they add the now almost common 12.5% service charge onto the restaurant bill.Would we return? Not for a while I suspect. If Gidleigh Park re-gains its star we would go there in preference - the hotel is nicer, the location more secluded and there is just something special about it.

The four of us had lunch here in February, food was fantastic with a great menu, service was below par too many staff involved and wine service was practically non existent for our table - I had to keep asking for our glasses to be topped up from our wine bottle which was located at the far side of the room. We were in the far restaurant. Wine starts at over £50 a bottle which is £10 too much and a 3 course lunch should not cost much more than £45.I also don’t like the 12.5% service being added automatically to your bill.I’ve met Michael Caine a few times but the one thing my party did not feel comfortable with was that nearly all the items being displayed in the lounge were for sale - is this really necessary for this establishment to operate??

Today’s visit was the high spot of our mini break to Devon and we had been looking forward to visiting Lympstone Manor for many months. We arrived and I was immediately impressed by the imposing and stunning building and grounds. The front of house staff were all a perfect mix of warmth and friendliness combined with professional knowledgable efficiency. We sat in front of the roaring fire to have our cocktails and mocktails along with a beautifully presented little tray of canapés. The flavours and presentation of the canapés made us even more excited about the food which was to follow. Once seated at our table we were served with three delicious varieties of warm bread and homemade butter. The appetiser was a delicate filo pastry tube filled with exquisite chicken liver parfait and garnished with flavoursome jewels of pickled plum and damson purée. For my starter I chose charred sea bream and my husband had ravioli of quail. Both were very attractively presented and had wonderfully complementary flavours woven into the dishes. For my main course I had the Darts farm beef rump, which was pink and melted in the mouth. My husband had the lightly salted cod dish and was delighted with the clever balancing of flavours , particularly the cumin veloute which elevated the dish to new heights. For dessert, my husband had a rhubarb soufflé with rhubarb sorbet which was as light and airy as could be. I think I struck gold though with my dessert which was without doubt the best dessert I have ever had the pleasure of eating ( and I’ve eaten a lot of desserts!) It consisted of passion fruit mousse with coconut foam, mango and lime sorbet and spiced pineapple. It was a thing of great beauty and even greater flavour. We rounded off our meal with a coffee and petit fours. What an incredible dining experience. I only wish we didn’t live over 200 miles away or this would be somewhere I would return to time and time again. Top notch food in beautiful surroundings with delightful attentive service , what’s not to love?

estuary. Beautiful grounds - take time to wander around if you can. We have a fabulous table and loved the decor which is enhanced by the original artwork - for sale if you are looking for something different! The food was sublime and surpassed even our best michelin star experience. Could not fault the service or the food which caters for all tastes and is not too "far out" as some michelin star restaurants can be. Definitely one to visit if you are in Devon and particularly if the weather is good.

We have just paid our second visit to Lympstone Manor this week. An all round outstanding experience.The level of service was exceptional from arrival to departure, with all members of the front of house team both attentive and knowledgeable.We took advantage of a voucher purchased for us as a birthday present that provided us with a 4 course menu for two with coffee and petit fours, as well as canapes and cocktail/mocktail on arrival.During our canapes, a group known to chef Michael Caines was also in the bar, and after a long chat with them he paused briefly to say hello and welcome us, a very pleasant surprise.Every aspect of the menu on offer was crafted to provide both a visual and taste delight.My highlight was the main course of Stone Bass and Puy lentils, whereas my wife is still enthusing about the rhubarb mousse and accompanying rhubarb sorbet.Any of you reading this review may well have seen my previous review of Lympstone Manor where I was extremely critical of all aspects of the experience. After this visit my thoughts have entirely changed, and we will be returning to further partake of the delights on offer. Yes, they did have a record of my previous review, yes they knew who we were at the point of booking and on arrival, and yes they ensured that this visit was memorable for all the right reasons. Other patrons received the same high level of service and food that we did, but it became obvious throughout the lunch time that all relevant staff had been briefed on the issues that had infuriated us last time, and ensured none of these reoccurred.It is a testament to the professionalism of those working at Lympstone Manor, they analysed the previous review and made adjustments where they thought appropriate to ensure our total satisfaction.

Fantastic service for midweek lunch. We had the four course lunch menu which is on winter special until March, with reduced prices and a free (and excellent) cocktail / mocktail beforehand. The food was outstanding - from the seafood jelly with fennel sorbet to the prune and Armagnac soufflé , and all points in between. The coconut pannacotta was delicious and the main courses and starters superb. The service was so well judged and friendly it was a joy to be there. Very good value winter lunch treat . Just go.

Our son bought me for my birthday a voucher for the full afternoon tea at Michael Caine’s Lympstone manor which has wonderful views of the Exe estuary.We had previously been for a superb lunch so we knew we were in for a treat and we were overwhelmed with our welcome and service from the staff.The menu for the tea is fantastic. Sandwiches 4 finger sandwiches each including smoked salmon and beautiful chicken.Then two scones each with a very generous dish of jam and another of clotted cream.Then 3 beautiful cakes each including a delicious rhubarb and coconut.The tea was superb I had Darjeeling and my wife had Green with a fresh pot delivered if more was requested.A truly wonderful experience and I would thoroughly recommend it as a special treat.

My partner and I went their on friday the 31st as a birthday treat for what we knew to be afternoon tea and cakes.Well!.. from the moment we opened the door we greeted and escorted to the lounge as if we were the only people there.. to say we felt like royalty wouldn't be over stating how we were made to feel.Once seated we were presented with a glass of champagne, followed by what can only be described as an afternoon eating experience.. The sandwiches were so light and fluffy and beautifully presented.. Cakes to absolutely to die for and finally warm home made scones, cream and jam..Well it was a special birthday year for my partner and Lymstone Park made my partner feel that little extra special. Finally a beautiful bouquet of flowers and a card personally signed by Micheal Caines made her day.BIG WELL DONE to all.

I had a fantastic birthday at this place earlier this month - our upgraded room had gorgeous views over the estuary and the food is something else!

A gift voucher was given to me for Christmas and I went today with my friend for 3 course lunch. A few days ago the hotel rang me to confirm the booking and to ensure we were still attending. At this point I told them there may be a dietary issue, dependant on what the options were on the menu on the day. I explained I was unable to eat anything that had not been thoroughly cooked as a recent operation meant I was immune-supprecent. I was advised the chef would be informed and not to worry. On arrival today it was clear all the staff were aware. Thinking ahead, the chef had prepared a separate “starter” for me, realising I may not find the options suitable. I am extremely grateful to him/her for their thoughtfulness. The whole lunch was beautifully presented and my friend and I both had the chicken option for the main course. It was delicious! We have been many times to Lympstone for lunches and afternoon teas and never had a bad experience but today was exceptional in view of the personal care I received. Michael... you should be very proud of your team. We will be back.