The Five Bells Inn in East Devon - Phone Number, Reservations, Reviews

I know that cancellation policies are in place for a reason, for the 'no shows' and for people who do not respect the 24 hour cancellation policy. I can only assume that this is the reason that this establishment has this in place. Sadly, on the morning of the booking, I had to rush my father to A and E. My husband rang to let the restaurant know as soon as we knew that we would not make it. This was because we cared and wanted them to be informed as soon as possible and provide them with the opportunity of securing another booking. My husband rang at his earliest opportunity which was about 9.30 am. We were aware that the restaurant does not open until 12 but we wanted to reach them as quickly as possible. The answering machine came on so my husband kept trying until he eventually got hold of someone. Once my father’s condition stabilised, I also emailed the restaurant to extend our sincere apology and to explain the situation. During the telephone conversation I am speechless ( not about the non-refundable deposit) but about how the restaurant responded. Even if the manager was not prepared to change our booking to another day, could she not have been more kind with her response? At least 'a sorry to hear about your father, but unfortunately...' The whole telephone manner was rude, abrupt, and uncaring. I understand that business is business but please have a heart as well. This is why I am writing this review. We were not being rude or abrupt. This was about a family emergency and we were letting you know whilst in the midst of it all. This was a booking for two people, not a party of 10. Does the restaurant not operate a waiting list? Did they make every effort to find customers to replace our booking? Times are tough for many of us right now and a little bit of human kindness goes a long way whilst citing your well publicised terms and conditions.

Sunday lunch was excellent, service was friendly, efficient and polite. Food was very good and appreciated by all the family. Would recommend to anyone visiting the area, warm and friendly pub.

First time visit to the Five Bells, upon arrival we were greeted by very friendly staff who couldn’t have done more for us throughout the evening. The background music was good and the right volume but that’s kind of where the atmosphere stopped, the lack of personal touch in the decor was a bit sad. Our starter was fantastic, although it took a while to arrive. Then another long wait ensued for the mains, admittedly a lot of tables came in at the same time so I guess the kitchen was over-run but not sure that should be happening in a smaller establishment. When the mains did arrive they were nice but didn’t blow us away. All in all seemed to be missing a star flavour, having said this the food was all cooked very well and presentation was good. All in all a bit of a shame, we might return but only if we have a couple of hours to kill.

We have eaten here a number of times and never been let down by the food or the welcome. This is the first time I’ve ever had Sunday lunch. Although we are all having difficult times and as we know pubs and restaurants are having it just as bad so the fact that they are still providing quality and quantity with a cost that is in no way extreme in fact I’d say it was good value plus it’s always a clean and pleasant environment. We look forward to the next time

A lovely dining experience as usual . Very accommodating for all our dietary requirements . Tasty starters , mains and puds . All home cooked .

Had lunch here on a Friday. Easy parking, friendly welcome and excellent service. The food was amazing. We ate in the garden which has lovely views and is very pleasant. We will definitely eat here again. Thank you

Saturday 24th September 2022. We had a nice welcome to the five bells inn at clyst hydon. A lovely village setting, Ample parking, the restaurant is well set out with A large central bar, the same excellent service Was given to everyone. The food is well worth the visit. Using tasty local meats & produce. A good variety of choice on the menu, we chose the steak which was very tasty. Followed by one of the best puddings I’ve ever had lemon tart, A nice relaxed Unrushed evening, Very good prices for the quality of food & service. Thank you We will visit again. Del & Shirley HAGGERTY

The venue is absolutely lovely. Thatched roof and just very picturesque. Decor inside cosy and relaxed atmosphere and beautiful open fire. The food was supberb. The main course was a tad small for my husbands healthy appetite. I rounded my meal off with the cheese n biscuits and Port which was a perfect choice. Also the staff were very welcoming and attentive without being over the top. Only wished The Five Bells was nearer to our home on West Sussex.

Very impressed with the food - original use of produce, all freshly cooked and beautifully presented and full of flavour. An attractive picturesque pub with lovely staff. James and his team have a real gem!

Came here for our wedding anniversary and couldn’t fault it. A great atmosphere, amazing staff and the food is out of this world! They cater for all dietary requirements and also make adjustments if needed. Can highly recommend the lamb on the specials!

Have visited many times before- hadn't realised there was a new chef. We were a party of 6 - all ordered the plaice cooked on the bone. Thoroughly enjoyed it - fins and small bones trimmed off so very easy to eat. We all ordered the chocolate brownie dessert - delightful, great flavours - dark chocolate, cherrys soaked in alcohol, and some burnt butter icecream - just the right amount of everything. Unfortunately cannot comment on the other dishes... ('cos we boringly all ordered the same stuff!) - but will definitely return again!

Great service and staff, food amazing , can take your dog so nice ! Relax and eat !!! Worth a trip !!!

Have been to The Five Bells previously but some time ago. Decided to do a road trip here for Sunday Lunch and didn’t regret it as the whole experience was fantastic. Would highly recommend and will defo be coming from Bristol again

Always our first choice restaurant locally and we were interested to see how the new chef is doing. Two visits over a couple of weeks proved to us that Dan is an excellent chef (dare I say even better?) Food and service are both first class and good value for the quality and quantity. Photo of the famous Scotch Duck Egg starter - superb!

We recently visited the Five Bells Inn for dinner with our friends. The food was delicious, beautifully presented and very reasonably priced (cheaper than our previous visit). We loved that the food is all locally sourced and the blackboard listing all of your suppliers. You really can taste the freshness and quality in the food. Thank you for a wonderful dining experience - we can’t wait to return with friends.

There is always a friendly warm welcome when you go to the five bells, the landlord really knows his stuff and goes out of his way to make you feel special. Although his last his amazing chef this year her replacement is proving that he...

This should have been a very pleasant evening but there's no atmosphere . On the plus side the staff were friendly. The menu looks promising and food should have been good, however it was lukewarm with very small portions. I don't expect an enormous plateful...

Amazing, creative, delicious and beautifully presented food! The Five Bells is really the most beautiful thatched pub to visit out in the Devon countryside and every time we are in Devon we try to go there. Lovely helpful staff and seriously great food!

We had an excellent meal and experience. We phoned to book because we wanted to check we could take our aged dog and the process was seamless. We received a friendly welcome, the dog was given water and we were made to feel at home....

Pleasant food but somewhat over priced for the meagre portions. Drinks - well over priced and the pub lacked any sort of atmosphere. The pub is very tucked away and the roads are very narrow - not for the feint hearted! Would I return? -...

We’ve not visited for several years and we’re keen to see how it has changed. We were not disappointed. A really good meal with first rate friendly staff. Really enjoyed it and will be returning again soon.

What a waste of such a beautiful building Absolutely no atmosphere Slow and extremely poor service Food is extremely overpriced for what was provided although tasted lovely. Nowhere near enough of it. Didn’t even bother staying for dessert. Plenty of other places in the surrounding...

Really like this Inn. It’s tucked out in the countryside, nice and quiet. The food is great - not a huge choice but what they do have is well cooked and presented. The portion size is just right for us. Small selection of quality well...

I’ve been to the pub for many years and loved the roast lunches on a Sunday. Recently I have chosen to become plant based for personal reasons and also allergies. The little bread with olive oil dip. Nice balsamic at the bottom but the bread...

The Five Bells, an enduring part of our eating repertoire for nigh on 20 years, means we've seen various owners and chefs come and go. Our wish is always that it remains of good quality as it is relatively local to us. So with the...

I visited here for Sunday lunch with my friend and really enjoyed the food. We both had crab to start, plaice for mains and I had coconut ice for dessert. Everything was so well presented, the portions were perfect and the service was swift and...

Tuesday 16th July 2022. Despite saying open on TripAdvisor it was closed (after negotiating miles of narrow roads). I may be wrong bit it looks permanently closed.

Really was surprised how ordinary the meals were .....nothing wrong, except they were ordinary ......... the drinks prices were however extraordinary .

This was our second visit here and we were not disappointed. The staff are so friendly and accommodating and nothing was too much trouble. We went for lunch to celebrate our daughter's graduation. The food was fantastic and beautifully presented. Yes, the menu is a...

Poor customer service and manager is rude and abrupt . Tables empty and he was rushing around stressed . I would recommend another occupation . A smile and a welcome cost nothing. We wanted to book a table and he point blankly said no ....

I am always disappointed to write less than fantastic reviews, especially when previous customers seem to have had excellent meals. Ours I'm afraid were not memorable. There was nothing particularly bad about the food, it was just ordinary and at £90 for lunch, not encouraging...

First visit with new chef in the kitchen. What a delightful young man! Our pork tenderloin starter was tender and tasty, sea bream main was beautifully cooked and accompanied by veg which enhanced the delicate flavour, the lamb was just like lamb used to be...

From the moment we first started arranging our booking to the payment on the day, the customer service was excellent. Polite, efficient and friendly. Our greeting and welcome on the day was a super start to a really great Sunday lunch experience. The food was...

Really pretty pub. Dog friendly. Staff lovely. No alcohol gin delicious. Great scotch egg so good that I took one home. The rest of food good, but not good exceptional except the veggie wellington which I think was ordinary. It was a great meeting place....

Lovely country pub . Nice atmosphere & layout..Exceptional food & service . Quite a limited menu but will definitely return .

The Five Bells lost their catering team at the end of May 2022, and for obvious reasons are offering a very limited menu, whilst still charging a premium price. Service was good but lacked atmosphere.

Visited the 5 Bells for Sunday lunch a few days ago and came away extremely satisfied. The pub is spacious and has a lovely feel to it. The staff were all very pleasant and helpful and the beef and fish courses we had were excellent....

The service was extremely good - as was the food. My only major criticism is that we ordered four side salads with our main meal.....what a con. Four of the tiniest most miserable salads arrived. There must have been three or four tiny salad leaves...

We booked more than a week in advance but still had to take a late time of 1.30pm for Sunday lunch. Considering there are only 5 options for the main course (only one option if you are a vegetarian!) we had not expected to have...

A wonderful experience today. Gorgeous food for both adults and children. Waitress was amazing, very helpful, polite and accommodating. Highly recommend :)

Great website and impressive looking menu led us to believe we were in for a special lunch. Sadly the food did not come anywhere near to expectations nor the top level prices. Also the food took ages to arrive for both of the courses that...

Having booked this table a few months ago to coincide with a half term break in East Devon. We were really looking forward to the lunch having been impressed by the website details and food quality. However after an hours drive to the restaurant and...

We booked for a Friday lunch to celebrate a friends 60th birthday. We booked the Five Bells having seen Head Chef Charlotte Vincent represent the South West in The Great British Menu on TV. Unfortunately we learnt on arrival that Charlotte has now left the...

Visited this restaurant for the first time. Pluses: Pleasure to visit Friendly staff As boasted by the management, probably the best roast lunch we’ve eaten Egg starter a triumph Minuses: Bit noisy sitting with the kitchen doors banging away

This is, in our opinion, the best place for Sunday roast in Devon. Our son, who came with my wife and myself, is from London. He said he had not found anywhere else that was as good. The food was top quality and so well...

Another excellent lunch at the Five Bells for my husband and I. The Sunday roast was delicious, as always and my husband thoroughly enjoyed his fish and chips, (the chips are to die for!). Staff are always friendly and I can highly recommend the Five...

Another lovely evening with friends at the Five Bells on Friday. Exceptional food as always and attentive staff. A glass of wine in the stunning garden after a long walk on the Saturday evening was very welcome too.

......to return to The Five Bells and to take guests, knowing that we shall all enjoy the experience. This time it was Sunday lunch, and there were six of us - two from California, two from Nottingham and two locals. Some had beef and some...

Visited The Five Bells for Sunday lunch, Two roast Pork, One roast Beef and a Onion Wellington were our main course choices, absolutely fantastic, very generous portions, just about managed to clear our plates. The service was very good, reasonably priced drinks, excellent Ale. Bonoffee...

The food is great, excellent chef and kitchen. The service is understated and great. So much more than a gastropub!

Visited in Saturday evening for my birthday. Had a fantastic time ‐ the food was amazing ‐ I had steak which was cooked to perfection, always difficult to find 😀! The staff were fab, made my evening very special, topped off by Charlotte bringing me...

The Five Bells Inn is the perfect location for Chef Vincent to showcase her talents. My cousin and I thoroughly enjoyed our dinner on Saturday - the presentation, the careful melding of flavours and textures and the great service. An outstanding wine list added to...

We visited for lunch and was not disappointed. Having gone for the full 3 courses went away very happy. My husband had the chicken fat toast and cockles and I had the malt loaf starter. Wow. Very nice indeed. Mains followed as Chicken with butter...

Easter Sunday lunch at the 5 Bells was as excellent as ever (eaten here many times) but...... Our starter plates were taken away & less than 2 minutes later our main course was put in front of us!! Needed about 5 to recover/prepare!! Otherwise lovely...

Another wonderful meal at the Five Bells. My treacle glazed Roast Lamb was delicious, tender and well presented. The massive Yorkshires and crispy roast potatoes a treat. The cockle starter was curious and not sure I’d order that again but I am addicted to their...

What a lovely pub, we sat in the garden the sun was shining and so was the food and service, the food was Five stars, we couldn’t stop talking about it our friends all day, we can’t wait to come back.

We booked for a table of 10 (5 adults, 5 kids) and pre-ordered mains due to size of booking. Ordering was easy and James was brilliant to deal with. Food arrived promptly and was Incredible, really top notch. Cannot recommend highly enough. Service attentive but...

I had high hopes for this restaurant based on the on-line reviews and accolades but was left disappointed because when paying a premium price you expect better. The staff were very pleasant but my main criticism throughout the evening was the lack of attentiveness. My...

If I could give this restaurant 10/5 I would. I visit The Five Bells often with my family as we're local. What looks from the outside to be an unassuming classic pub, the food wouldn't be out of place in a Michelin Star restaurant. Charlotte...

Excellent lunch for my Son-in-Laws birthday including his family members. James handled a sudden increase in numbers at the last minute. The girls had the Cow Burger (one veggie) and the boys Ox Cheek Pie (one fish & Chips) and no-one was disappointed nor did...

Saw the chef on GBM so was expecting good things and was not disappointed. Four of us had a great meal with the highlight being the sweets - on another visit would happily order three sweets and nothing else! Nice ambiance, good service, plenty of...

We really enjoyed our lunch. Friendly staff and nice homely feel - not too busy but I think that was unusual. Pub Decor updated very tastefully and in keeping. We had the veggie and cow burgers with chunky chips which were really tasty. Lots of...

Our first visit here and it won't be our last. Lovely staff, fantastic food and a great ambience. Highly recommend.

Super roast beef lunch with enjoyable yorkshire pud and vegetables. Well cooked and presented. Well recommended.

Many years since last visit , not disappointed, warm welcome and cosy pub feel still , interesting bar and specials menu , The food was great Chicken parfait on savoury bread and butter pudding was a different take on a classic and was very good...

We went here because we had seen the chef Charlotte on the Great British Menu and liked the look of her food. We were not disappointed. A lovely pub/restaurant. A bit out of the way but worth driving the distance. The owner served us and...

Once again Charlotte and her team have surpassed all expectations, a stunning 3 course date night - stunning flavours, perfect presentation, fabulous service and great wine paring…how spoilt are we to have Michelin star excellence in our midst….thank you all xxxx

We popped to this local pub for a quick bite to eat and a pint when we asked the barman if he had a table for 2 he simply said 'no' and walked away to greet a couple next to us!!!! I said can we...

We called in here on spec after an enjoyable evening seeing the Christmas lights at Killerton. My wife said this was a pub she visited when she was at Exeter Uni a number of years ago. Despite not having a reservation on what was clearly...

We've been here multiple times and every one has been faultless with excellent friendly service, fantastic food and a relaxed and calm ambience. It's the go-to place for a celebration, a birthday dinner or just a cheeky Friday lunch. The only criticism is that the...

Me and my mum visited the pub on the 9th March for an evening meal. We are not from the area but after reading the great reviews, we were really keen to give it a try! The pub looks absolutely lovely from the outside and...

We popped along for a birthday lunch yesterday and had a great, relaxing time. Nothing was rushed and all the dishes we had were cooked to perfection. Well done all and keep doing what you are doing.

Superb food, with good service and great ambiance. We couldn't ask for more nothing was too much trouble. A pity we don't live closer as would definitely visit more often

We are regular visitors to The Five Bells and the food never disappoints. The food tastes amazing and looks so beautiful on the plate ( especially the desserts). Staff are always friendly and attentive.

Visited the Five Bells for lunch after reading about them in the Estrella gastropub awards. The food was fantastic and the wine choice competitively priced. Staff helpful and friendly. We would visit again

Visited the 5 Bells for dinner, the 1st time in around 8 years and it didn't dissappoint, a lovely warm welcome, fantastic service and 1st class food.

We were a group of 5 for Sunday lunch today. Service was friendly and efficient. We had 3 courses each ( except for my 8 year old granddaughter, who had the childrens menu and was delighted). Starters were delicious, I had a nduja pate en...

I have just realised that the first time I wrote a report about this pub was in 2014. We have returned several times since under different owners. As a result of covid we have been unable to return for over a year until today. What...

Went for lunch at the Five bells yesterday. Nice cosy pub with a chilled atmosphere. There was a great selection on the menu which had the classics and specials menu all at a reasonable price. Service was excellent, food presented beautifully with a good selection...

My wife and I had a mid-day meal yesterday, a Saturday. The pub was warm and welcoming with a wood burning fire. We made our selection from the Specials Menu. The care in food presentation was exceptional and very tasty.

We booked this last minute as had been cancelled by two other venues due to power outage in Storm Eunice. Unsurprisingly it was pretty quiet as not many were as mad as us to venture out in that weather. We were warmly greeted and the...

We had dinner here a week ago and it was very disappointing. It was very quiet for a Friday night, but the staff and welcome were friendly enough. However, we experienced a succession of disappointments, including pre-meal bread that was freezing to the touch and...

We had a very enjoyable experience at the Five Bells , it is a lovely gastro pub, warm and welcoming, The food was excellent and the service friendly and attentive. The food was excellent , and there were 4 adults and one child and all...

Previously excellent meals at the Five Bells. Service was very slow. Had to wait one and a half hours in total before we got to our main course. Excuse that they had a couple of walk ins not really an excuse. Main courses very rich...

This was the best Sunday roast we've had for a long time. Food was delicious, service excellent, atmosphere friendly, ambiance pleasant, cost fine. We could not fault anything, and will certainly be back. Would highly recommend this place to everyone.

We visited whilst staying nearby for the weekend and had a lovely meal. The pub is very rustic and olde but still looked relatively newly decorated and had a lovely ambiance. We were greeted and shown to our table upon entering and despite our dog...

Very friendly and helpful team. The food was fantastic. Everything we ordered exceeded expectations. Well worth a visit. Can't wait till were next in the area.

My wife and I thoroughly enjoyed every aspect of our lunch.The service was attentive without feeling intrusive - the staff got it just right,welcoming and pleasant. Both courses were so tasty, imaginative and obviously prepared by a chef who was highly competent with choice of...

First visit today definitely not our last, it’s a little off the beaten track but more than worth seeking out this beautiful thatched gastro pub. Absolutely fabulous food, exquisitely presented with taste to match. Charlotte the Chef produces amazing plates of food, mostly from local...

At my age, I’ve had countless Sunday roast lunches and dinners, many are best forgotten, quite a few were ok, and a small number are memorable. The Five Bells Sunday Roast is the best of the best!! I’ve been quite a few times now, expecting...

I've dined here before for a regular lunch in the summer and yesterday had a Sunday lunch. Stunning.... Gravy to die for and the pork (& the rest) were amazing. Well done guys, you are clearly the best in the area. Also, so nice to...

Superb cooking! Tender venison and a delightful variety of vegetables. Staff all friendly and responsive to requests. We really enjoyed our evening. We are privileged to have the 5 Bells as our nearest 'eatery'.

This was our first visit to The Five Bells, and it was a wonderful experience. The food was superb and the surroundings were lovely in this delightful old pub.

Lunched there twice in the last month. First was a party of six with some picky eaters. All were thrilled. Later just two for a light lunch - for me the delicious Scotch duck egg/sweet and sour picalilli/black garlic aioli and the exceptional chocolate fondant...

Excellent choices. Food was well prepared and delicious. Service attentive but not intrusive. Good to be back there again.

The food was fabulous and service brilliant as ever. I really like that everything is locally sourced.

As always very good, we love going here. When lock down finished this was the first place we went back to after, and they were fabulous with the precautions and everything. The food is fabulous and the people are always nice and helpful will always...

Went to celebrate my daughter 30 yr old birthday on 29 Dec 2021 (4 of us ) Good choice of food, I had strumpet, and hogget which was excellent Others had duck ravioli and venison, then a mix of desserts which was great. baileys ice...

Everything excellent - Steak was superb and the chocolate sweet to die for. Great place highly recommended

Very professional staff, amazing food cooked to the highest standard Clean, bright and welcoming Fairly priced Overall a great experience