The Hour Glass in Exeter

Imaginative and excellent food, friendly welcome. The crab crumpet starter was brilliant, our fish main courses were very tasty and well-cooked. Although feeling quite full, we decided to try the desserts, which were amazing. Altogether the best meal I’ve had in a long time, and, to my mind, the most interesting place to eat in Exeter at the moment

I’ve been coming to this pub on and off for about 50 years. As you’d expect over that time it’s been sometimes great, sometimes bad and sometimes indifferent. Our latest visit was definitely one of the best. The bar manager is very friendly and helpful, as is the waitress/barmaid. Great atmosphere, excellent choice of beers and the food we ordered was superb. Having said that, unlike many pubs today, you do not feel any pressure to eat. It’s still a pub, not a restaurant. The only advice I’d offer them, and this is based on our previous visit, is not to put couples or small groups in the dining area along with large groups as the noise gets so loud as to make it impossible to hear yourself speak.

The first time I’ve been here with my mum. We had Sunday lunch which was delicious & the staff were super friendly, especially Cassie & Ella. (It is deceptively large inside like the Tardis) with 3 floors. Good selection of local ales too! Highly recommended.

Delicious food and great service. Cheese soufflé was light and well made. The steak was cooked to perfection with a lovely pepper corn sauce.

It's a quirky little pub tucked away off the Quay, but worth finding. A friend and I went for Sunday lunch and it was fab. The pork was soooo tasty with huge, crispy roast spuds and veg, The staff were attentive, and they kindly gave us a quieter table as I have a hearing loss. I would recommend and give it 5 *'s if I hadn't been 'surprised' at £11.50 for a white wine spritzer. But, I don't get out much (!), so perhaps that's the norm these days.

Went for dinner last night with three friends. From the get go the service was super friendly and attentive throughout the evening. We all had the cod main course and it was Michelin star worthy - every element was delicious. There was a bit of a wait between main and pudding but this is as far from a fast food chain as you can get… Hard to think the pudding would excel as much as the main but it did - it was heavenly - chocolate tart with chocolate and almond pastry, salted caramel and delicate, decorative chocolate tuile biscuits. If this place doesn’t get a Michelin star for this sort of food there’s no justice in the culinary world! The best thing is that it’s the nearest pub to where we live so we are super lucky.

We have travelled to Exeter several times over the last few months and been very disappointed with the selection of restaurants available. They are mainly chains with poor food. Then we found The Hourglass and ate there for the first time last week. It will now be our regular dining venue when in the town. The menu is not extensive but there is enough choice to cater for all tastes. The quality of the ingredients is high and the service was attentive and friendly. We are looking forward to returning soon.

It is difficult to say anything positive about this pub but 2 of our 4 meals were passable but the two steaks were the poorest we have ever tried to eat. Not sure if there was a trainee chef tonight but seriously lacking with poor cuts of meat, tasteless and cold peppercorn sauce. The monkfish was served with inedible greens with no potatoes or other dish. £110 later for these 4 courses and entirely underwhelmed. The 2 desserts were served 10 minutes apart and were also watery and tasteless. Coffees served, no teaspoons and no sugar. Asked for the latter and it never arrived. Painfully slow and indifferent service on a quiet night. An automatic service tip on the bill of 10% was also as unexpected as it was annoying and misguided. £180 in all. The only positive aspect were the Mr Controversial pieces of art. It may be just a bad night but looking at recent reviews it is at best a hit or miss experience at this place and what a shame where it was highly recommended to us. I will not be returning but will go to The Conservatory instead in future.

An evening with 7 friends started with a couple of pints in the main bar enjoying the warmth of the real fire and atmosphere, the ale selection was excellent with something for us all served by a friendly and knowledgeable barman. Moving through to our booked table we found a stylish dining room and attentive staff. We had the Christmas menu on a preorder and all enjoyed the traditional dishes with a modern twist. Great flavour and portions kept us all happy with the evening finishing with a superb cheese selection and decent ruby port. This pub is authentic and a rare find among exeters ever increasing plastic premises , looking forward to a return visit already ..

Many towns claim to have the oldest pub in England and equally many pubs claim to offer the best Sunday roast in the country. All I can say is that The Hourglass has the finest roast beef I have ever been served at any price. Other menu options are available but it’s been beef for me 3 times now and each meal has been consistently superb, none better and none worse. Sunday lunches are served ‘plated up’ with only a side dish of cauliflower cheese to be shared. The generous portion of very tender beef is cooked perfectly pink alongside excellent vegetables and a Yorkshire Pudding to die for.

Extremely disappointing Christmas party lunch - we were given sausage rolls, parmesan crisps, houmous and a few carrots/celery, Spanish omelette and chick pea chips. Everything was brown and slightly greasy. No relish or pickles, no salad, nothing sweet. No service to speak of - not enough crackers to go round - staff all complaining they were hungover! And the price we were charged for this?? £25 a head! At most it was worth £10. Still can't quite believe it. Have been to some fabulous events here previously but this was not one of them and sadly won't be going back.

We had a gorgeous Sunday lunch today. Our dog (we were the ones with the Japanese spitz) was made a fuss of and really welcomed. Extremely busy but cosy and a great atmosphere. Two of us needed gluten free and they had no problems catering for this, as we couldn’t have the cauliflower cheese we were given an extra dish of roasted veg and puree, this was a really nice extra so we didn’t feel like we were missing out. Great potatoes and gravy and proper beef, we’ll definitely be back!

We all had a roast and it was stunning lots of flavour. I liked the idea that the produce was local and it actually told you where everything came from on the menu all the different farms etc the service was very efficient the staff where lovely and friendly this was as the first time for us today and we shall definitely be back thank you.

We had our cricket club presentation dinner at the hour glass . Venue , staff and food were all fantastic ! Thanks to everyone at the hour glass for making our night so fabulous !!! Will be going there for family meals regularly now .

What a wonderful pub with out of this world amazing food , fantastic service and accommodating the dog too . Would definitely come back again .

Great little pub, wonderful Sunday lunch & good ales...all locally produced. Friendly, efficient service. Lovely laid back atmosphere, dog friendly too...a proper pub!

Great little pub , amazing food, best Sunday lunch had for a long time . The beef was so tender and tasty. Staff very accommodating and attentive .. a must ..

Went here on basis of what we had heard about the chef and the food was outstanding and the most incredible value for money for a set lunch. Sadly this was undermined , and let down by , the management of the front of house who mishandled our attempts to make a future booking so badly that we cancelled the it and left as very disgruntled customers , not that anybody cared about either of these facts . Fine dining , which this is , is more than just the food itself so we wont return and indeed have returned to our usual go eatery in Exeter who , unsurprisingly , bit our hands off for the two bookings we have now made and which the Hourglass didnt want . Clearly their success means they no longer care about trying to regain customers for the future nor having unhappy customers walk out sharing their views which is a shame given how talented the chef is and how hard he must work to produce the amazing food he does.

I think this place is one of my favourite places to come in the area; we went there as a special treat and it did not disappoint. The food was so good that we tucked straight into it and gobbled it all down without even...

We arrived at 7:15pm and were greeted well, drinks were quick and starters were on time and delicious. However, it went downhill from there, we were kept waiting to over 90mins for our mains, despite asking when our food will arrive we were repeatedly told...

Great evening at the Hourglass - without a doubt the happiest and finest eatery in Exeter. The small plates options were outstanding - folk as brilliant as usual and the ambience a top tonic after these last months of lock-down. I can't recommend this place...

We had booked for 5 of us and the dog, to have Sunday lunch on 1st March. We were greeted with an aggressive...have you booked? By a blonde employee standing by the bar. No hello. No welcome. We were then shown to our table. We...

A lovely cosy place to visit on a winters evening in January. Warm and welcoming. Lively and quirky. A beautiful roaring fire.We were two couples out celebrating a birthday. Table booked in quiet side room. Excellent menu choices. Changed regularly and not too many options (which I like), but every one mouth watering.Good beers and wine list. The food arrived pretty quickly and was delicious. We were served by Beth who was fantastic. Nothing bad to say about it. Just as good as on my previous two visits -one for lunch and one for dinner. Just don't tell anyone else about it !

What a great find. We wanted some lunch before catching the train and we picked the Hourglass. What a great place. The staff we so friendly, the open fire was very welcoming and the choice of drinks was first class.Then came the food. A small menu but that did not matter. We all had the roast beef Sunday lunch and it was fantastic. Seriously good beef cooked to perfection. The potatoes were great and everything else was faultless. Then pudding of upsidedown apple cake with brown-bread icecream. Next time I am back in Exeter, I will be visiting this pub. Thanks.

This pub in St Leonard's, Exeter. Hard to find but packed full of character. A lovely looking choice of whisky but some great ales including the milk stout from bristol factory brewing. The food is not served all the time and I was not in during food time but the menu looks great.

A delightful locals' corner pub tucked away from the centre. Cosy bars. Great food from a rightly short menu which is so much better don't you think? Busy at an early mid week lunch time.

Charming higgledy-piggledy historic inn, In one of them all well-preserved and beautiful parts of Exeter. This place is brimming with charm. Small knocks and cosy corners.An excellent array of local beers and ciders. A comprehensive wine list. And absolutely Delicious unpretentious and honest seasonal food.The place is full of "characters" both behind – and in front of – the bar. Which house delightfully to the character of the place overall.I don't want to write to many good things about it - because I won't get a table next time.

Han pasado 18 meses desde nuestra última visita a The Hourglass, por lo que en un día frío de diciembre volvimos a este lugar peculiar, con un amable comité de bienvenida canina.El menú presentaba una buena pero no extensa elección, ¡así como era lo suficientemente difícil como lo fue! Elegí el salmón curado de remolacha con remolacha y pan de centeno, mi amigo tenía mulligatawny sopa, un plato abundante con mucho sabor. Parece que, mirando una revisión anterior, somos criaturas de hábito ya que mi amigo tenía pierna de pato confitada y yo tenía el filete de costilla, ¡mmm! Ambos muy bien cocinados y acompañados por algunas de las coles de Bruselas más sabrosas (sí, coles) que he probado durante mucho tiempo. Con nuestra comida tuvimos un encantador tempranillo de la Ribiera del Duero, de una interesante carta de vinos.Había suficiente espacio para el postre, así que mi amigo tenía brownie de chocolate y yo una pera escalfada en vino caliente. Encantador.El servicio fue bueno, bien ritmo y amable.

He visitado aquí un par de veces en el pasado cuando me quedo en Exeter por trabajo. Regresé esta vez debido a lo impresionado que estaba por la experiencia y el personal la última vez. La comida es muy buena, tienen una buena selección de cervezas y el ambiente del lugar es bueno. Sin embargo, lamentablemente esta visita se vio ensombrecida. Pedí unas bebidas en el bar y pregunté si podía abrir una pestaña ya que estábamos comiendo y probablemente me quedaría por otra pinta. La señora detrás de la barra dijo que necesitamos una tarjeta para guardar en la caja. No es algo de lo que sea fanático, pero sé que en algunos bares lo hacen, así que no hay problema aquí. Le entregué la tarjeta y la señora la puso en la caja. Lo que realmente me ayudó fue cuando regresé al bar para pedir otra pinta. Había una pareja en el bar que había pedido una pinta y estaría comiendo. Este cliente dijo ‘¿podemos abrir una pestaña por favor, necesita una tarjeta? "La misma señora que me había servido dijo" no, no necesitamos una tarjeta, está bien ". Si mantener una tarjeta es la práctica por la que han optado, entonces debería ser una política para todos, no una elección entre un cliente a otro. Esto no me dejó con ganas de volver la próxima vez.

Siempre nos ha encantado The Hourglass y apreciamos el personal / servicio. Sin embargo, cuando llamé para reservar una mesa para el día siguiente, la chica que levantó el teléfono fue muy brusca. Recibí "no, completamente reservado" y ella colgó. No puedo imaginar que estuvieran muy ocupados a las 12. 05 e incluso si lo fueran, no hay excusa para ser grosero. Un "LO SIENTO que estamos completamente reservados" podría haber sido una mejor respuesta. Por lo tanto, en esta ocasión, solo una estrella porque se debe abordar la manera telefónica de este empleado.

Ha pasado un tiempo desde que lo visitamos, pero todavía tiene esa sensación maravillosa. El personal era excelente, gran variedad de bebidas, incluido el vino. Menú no extenso pero una buena opción para satisfacer el gusto de todos.El servicio fue brillante y atentoGracias por hacernos tan bienvenidos.

Staff and food excellent. Great atmosphere and friendliness. Had delicious roast duck, beautifully cooked. Good selection wines too. Will return.

Shut for lunch for the duration of structural repairs. No notice of this on website. Turned up for luncheon after a 40-mile trip to be turned away to the accompaniment of a torrent of sarcasm because we had no knowledge of their temporary hours. At least a wine bar in the city extended a cordial welcome. Lesson: How to lose a good customer after more than twelve years frequent patronage. As Tony Hancock said, “Civility costs nothing my good man”.

A wonderful establishment.Pub and Gastro pub still delicately balanced on the pub side...Wood floors wooden tables multiple rooms.(I am a connoiseur) the beer (hand pulled) superbly kept.The service is as efficient as could be given the delecate balance between pub and arrogant Witches demanding samples and disregarding the concept of man requiring Pint...Very good plus First Ckass Staff

Dinner in the main bar area. The food was excellent and cooked perfectly, a great menu. The wine list was excellent. Service was first rate. A lovely atmosphere, made to feel very welcome. We look forward to returning.

I have to say, this place is absolutely charming. What a treat to spend an evening where you can have fantastic food brought to your table, perfectly proportioned and cooked to perfection!The only thing that topped the culinary delight was the staff and drinks! If you want fantastic staff who have great knowledge about what they serve, whether it’s their great whiskey selection, their fantastic wine list (and do ask the staff... they really know their wine!) or their amazing local ales! Always different ones on but a recommendation from such a well informed and delightful lady was the avocet! A lovely local organic beer which you literally can’t complain about! If you know beer, you know this pub has it all to perfection, a young team but wise way beyond their years!

Had a wonderful meal here recently. Had booked for the restaurant but it was empty when we arrived and it was far more cosy to sit in the main bar where the vibe was better. Excellent food. The mushroom falafels were great and everything tasty and well presented. The Sicilian pasta with chickpeas came with a large amount of fennel which my partner doesn’t like. He would have selected another starter if it had listed fennel as one of the main ingredients. He loved his steak though. It was all ok until the bill arrived. I’d had some wine by the glass and was shocked to discover that a large glass of sav blanc was £9.95! That is Heathrow airport type prices. That’ll teach me not to check the price as I order but I shall think twice about returning if their alcohol is so stupidly priced. Shame. Great pub and great food.

The Hourglass Inn is a gem of an eating and drinking establishment, tucked away half a mile from Exeter's centre, near the historic quayside. The approximately circular mid-Victorian building forms the end of a handsome row of houses of the same age. Inside, the drinking area wraps around the tiny bar for some two-thirds of a circle, while an area reserved for eating forms the back of the building, with small skylights for its only windows. The decor is eclectic without seeming contrived - look out for the giant papier-maché woman's head and the stuffed badger - while the menu, which changes regularly, is original without being pretentious. Beware of filling up with the freshly baked bread that's brought before whatever you've ordered! Always a couple of decent, usually local beers on hand pump and a good selection of wines which are not outrageously priced. Loads of whiskies and other spirits and at weekends you'll see a big pitcher of bloody mary on the bar to help the regulars deal with their hangovers. The staff are friendly and it attracts a friendly crowd. There are two resident cats, both quite elderly (so pay them a visit while you can).

A very expensive pub, whilst the pub was great, the beer was very expensive. I also asked for the beer to be topped up as it was under measure. This was done reluctantly and with a sarcastic comment and was still under measure. Very poor

Busy on a Friday night, pre bank holiday which is good. Though was not welcomed well as the male/ bar manager supervisor was a little stressed. Though he did impact on his customers as he was un friendly. A real old fashioned pub and acoustics not great. But you would not want to modernise it as it would loose its charm.

Paramos en este pequeño gran pub, ya que habíamos leído acerca de lo fantástico que era y no me decepcionó! Es un pub pequeño tan maravillosamente peculiar (peculiar no de una manera inconformista adolescente sino un relajado y cómodo) el bar es pequeño y dulce y nos recordó algo de un boticario. Nos sentamos y disfrutamos de un maravilloso vino y Ale y pedimos comida que estaba deliciosa y suficiente! La señora que nos sirvió fue muy cálida y amable. Por el dinero, la comida era maravillosa, muy fresca y completamente agradable. Se lo recomendaría a cualquiera. Ah, y también, los gatos son hermosos y creo que un pub que es lo suficientemente relajado para tener gatos disfrutando del ambiente con los humanos es un verdadero placer. ¡Me encantó!

A real pub in a sea of blandness. Quirky, special. Great ambience. Great beer and wine. Great food. We love it.

Wonderful pub with delicious, imaginative food and a menu that changes frequently. The team are super friendly and efficient. A must visit!

Después de un buen paseo por el canal, esta fue una parada agradable para tomar un refrigerio. Fuimos en la remota posibilidad de que pudiéramos conseguir una mesa. El personal era muy servicial y amable y nos encontró una mesa en lo que parecía que iba a ser una noche muy concurrida. La comida era muy buena y bien preparada y bien presentada. El servicio fue rápido y siempre con una sonrisa. Sin duda volveremos si estamos en la zona. Recomiendo encarecidamente este encantador pub al lado del canal.

We had the roast pork (porchetta) with fennel gratin was delicious. The kids portions were large and the selection of wine, beer and fresh soft drinks were great. The service was excellent. Little touches like the “cigar box” in the ladies room were brilliant!

Había reservado una mesa para el restaurante la noche anterior, desafortunadamente cuando llegamos, encontramos que estábamos sentados en el bar muy lleno. Las personas que intentaban rodearnos (3) por dos lados, un trío muy ruidoso (¡obviamente había estado allí algún tiempo!) Hizo imposible que tuviéramos algún tipo de conversación. Si bien el pub no es responsable de la gente "grita", nuestra mesa hubiera sido más adecuada para las personas que solo toman una bebida. Me pidieron que me cambiaran a la zona de comedor, a pesar de que lo había solicitado en primer lugar, pero estaba lleno. No es un escenario muy relajante para comenzar una comida, así que desafortunadamente le explicamos a una camarera y nos fuimos. Se encuentra en algún lugar de la ciudad para comer tranquilamente y hablar entre ellos sin gritar ni esforzarse para escuchar lo que se dice.Esto fue una pena porque nuestra comida anterior en The Hourglass estaba en el comedor y fue muy agradable.¡Debo añadir que mi audiencia es buena!

Just off the beaten track but what a great place! Delicious food and really kind service. Thank you so much to the lady that helped us today (9th April) and let us catch up with some old friends over a leisurely lunch- we really appreciated it!

Love this place. Difficult to classify, but great beer, food and wine. Unpretentious, comforting and nice mix of locals, students and foodies. Staff lovely. Had risotto and a lamb stew thing with tagliatelle. Washed down with a carafe of a really decent NZ Pinot Noir. Smashing evening with a mate.

Food, good glorious food. Duck leg confit super scrummy, rissoto equally scrummy.Not a huge choice but perhaps that's the real secret of quality. Server was lovley/bar woman. I will be back. Try it, love the oldness, it seems clean if a bit tired. Hidden GEM.

We went Sunday for Lunch. Started off with a great Virgin Mary/ Bloody Shame ( Driving). We were a party of 6. 5 adults and one child of 12. We all ordered the Rib of beef. Evenly seared on the outside. soft and pink on the inside. Selection of Lovely veg. Handsome Yorkshire topped with a delicate Jus and punchy homemade horseradish. Oh and the homemade bread to start was so good my lad wasnt able to finiish his beef. His loss my gain. A pub not afraid to serve the meat medium rare. We salute you and shall be back.

Really atmospheric pub just a few minutes away from the centre of Exeter.Always busy enough to be lively but not too crowded and the atmosphere both in the day and evening is lovely. Fire on in the winter and a good selection of beers, with a lovely bar. Booking a table is best as it small so fills up quickly. There is a separate restaurant area at the rear but this is not always open. We were there at lunch time on a Sunday and it was busy. You order food at the bar and it is delivered to the table. 3 out of 4 went for the beef which is served quite rare and was perfectly cooked, with just enough veg and a Yorkshire. the other meal was a white fish stew which was rich, creamy and very filling. I think we all went for Sticky Toffee Puddings which were rather wonderful. Great place warm welcoming atmosphere and good food, reasonably priced.

It's fantastic. Lovely people. Delicious (proper) cider. Cute nooks. Just go. Get a massive pint of Burrow Hill for only £3 at 7% alcohol. Sip it. ;)

My partner and I visited here on a Saturday night. We received the best service ever and we couldn't have asked for more. The lady with black curly hair was so lovely and made us feel so welcome. What an amazing find! Can't wait to come back.

Llevé a mis padres a conocer a mi novio y quería encontrar un buen restaurante para que nos reuniéramos. Se ve y huele un poco como un viejo pub de mans, pero la zona del restaurante es mejor. Tienen unas cuantas cervezas locales de barril. El menú cambia de forma regular y utiliza ingredientes locales. Parecía que había mucha variedad en el menú. Pedimos lados pero las raciones eran lo suficientemente grandes como para no necesitarlas! La mayoría de los entrantes tenían menos de 10 y la mayoría de los platos principales tenían menos de 15. 00. Creo que volveríamos de nuevo!

Spent a lovely evening celebrating my daughter's birthday. Imaginative and delicious menu, well delivered by friendly, attentive staff in a warm and welcoming atmosphere. Look forward to revisiting soon.

El interior podría compensarse con un poco de entusiasmo. Creo que hay un punto en el que ser peculiar y tradicional puede convertirse en algo desaliñado. Pero la comida que comimos estaba deliciosa. Un entrante y un plato principal para cada uno de nosotros, y nada en absoluto podría mejorarse. El servicio también era excelente, muy trabajador, amable y atento sin ser demasiado, y no se ralentizó incluso cuando apareció una mesa de una docena de personas.Millas por delante en todos los sentidos de la cadena de restaurantes que comimos el día anterior.

Didn't actualy get to eat as the unprofessional staff made a mess of my booking so it didn't happen.

This is just my favourite pub in Exeter. The menu changes on the regular basis and never disappoints. The place has remained a real pub, which I love. Staff are professional and very friendly. Highly recommended.

When we first walked into the Hourglass we were a bit put off by the tight quarters in the pub, but I guess that is typical of most successful pubs I guess. However, it turned out there is a delightful and spacious dining area just off the pub where you didn't have to shout to be heard. The service was excellent, and the menu varied with the food very well prepared. It was pretty much flawless, a five star experience to be sure.

My husband and I were visiting the quayside area of Exeter this sunny Friday evening (7th sept) and called in at this pub as we had heard good things about it. We were having a pleasant and relaxed time over a drink amongst many other people doing the same thing. We might have been going to stay to have another drink and to order a meal but had not made any decision as we were enjoying the moment. Our glass of wine and a pint of beer had cost £12.30 which seemed quite a high price but we thought the atmosphere was nice and we wanted to enjoy ourselves. We had not finished our drinks when a young woman ( who later told us she was the manager) came to our table asking if we were going to order more drinks and/or a meal. We said we hadn’t quite decided. Her enquiry caused us to suddenly feel pressured and uncomfortable. We still hadn’t finished our drinks when she came up to us again and suggested that if we were not going to eat then we should move to another table. This made us feel even more uncomfortable so we said that we would not be staying because of how unwelcome we had been made to feel. This experience really spoiled and cut short what could have been a nice evening for us in an attractive pub in a lovely location

Wij aten hier lekker en heel gezellig. Er is een restaurantgedeelte maar eten in het café kan ook. Je kunt het best reserveren. het eten is smakelijk en met diverse invloeden (bv Italiaans en Grieks) en vega mogelijkheden. Je krijgt het op een bord uitgeserveerd. De entourage is top met veel leuke hoekjes en antiek.

We have been visiting this place off and on for around 4 years and its one of my favourite pubs in the country. On this visit we had an excellent meal - Greek fish stew and a Risotto and a few drinks.Food was excellent as was the service. Also good if you like real ale.Top independent establishment.

a wonderfully atmospheric old pub near the quay- with the added bonus of a dining room serving mostly local modern cuisine

My group were ordering drinks at the Hour Glass, and I ordered a vodka and coke. The barman poured the vodka and most of the coke bottle into the glass, leaving the bottle with around a fifth of the coke next to the glass.I started pouring the rest of the coke into the glass, when the barman snapped at me saying I had not paid for it! I had ordered a vodka and coke and it was paid for. He kept saying I had ordered a mixer, effectively accusing me of stealing the remaining few millilitres of coke! All this in front of my friends. He deliberately tried to humiliate me in front of my friends, and spoiled what had been a really nice day out. However, it is he should feel embarrassed, and it is his business that will lose out financially in the future. This is the sort of customer service that give British hospitality a bad name.I have ordered vodka and coke in many establishments over many years, and if the coke comes in a bottle, you get the whole bottle, every time. To confirm this fact, we went to two other establishments (not named in this review as I do not want them associated with this disgraceful customer service) after the Hour Glass, and got the whole bottle with no questions asked and with great customer service from the bar staff.Now, if the policy at the Hour Glass is different, that’s fair enough. However, there can never be any excuse for the sort of rude, insulting response from this barman.This is the worst customer service I have suffered in any bar, anywhere round the world. However, there are plenty of great bars in Exeter that will benefit from this incident.

9 of out for a works doo with at least 4 of us considered as foodies.We all loved our choice of food with regular remarks from all of us how nice and tasty the it was.Relaxed atmosphere with friendly and helpfull staff.I definitely recommend and will return and bring others with me

Atmosphere - tick. Good drinking - tick. Tasty food - tick.Need more info in order to decide whether to make a visit?We’ve previously had a drink in The Hourglass but this is the first time that we’ve had lunch there - see the photo of the current menu. This might not appeal to everyone but it certainly made us wonder what it would be like.We shared the grilled vegetables with hazelnuts and romesco our sauce as a starter, which, with the tasty bread that everyone gets, proved a good choice for us non-meat eaters. Lightly grilled, well dressed with a tasty sauce, this got our tastebuds going.For mains I had the penne with artichoke, boiled egg and oregano sauce. This was my idea of an excellent pasta dish with just enough of the oregano sauce to bring all the flavours nicely together. 10/10 for me.My wife really, really enjoyed her Greek fish stew flavoured with dill and accompanied by a tapenade. She regarded it as the best fish stew she has had in years, bearing in mind that I’ve watched her eat countless fish stews as it is usually her choice anywhere in the UK or elsewhere.We had a carafe of The Hourglass house white wine which worked for us but the pub has a good selection of wines at various price levels up to expensive.Service was good - very pleasant, knowledgable about the ingredients in each dish, and thus very helpful. The Hourglass was empty when we arrived shortly after opening time but steadily got busier with a mixture of locals and out of towers like ourselves.It’s on our list of places to eat at for the future whenever we’re in Exeter and reasonably close to Melbourne Street.Recommended!

Visited the Hourglass with some friends and had a bit of a mixed meal. Some of the mains were excellent (slow cooked lamb and brownie) but others did not particularly work. I was very disappointed with my squid dish- the squid was slightly tough and it did not go with the fennel gratin accompaniment. One thing that I would say is that the staff were very friendly and the atmosphere was great. I think we would definitely make a return visit to have a few drinks.

We stopped here for a drink on the way to the quay. It was in a residential area and blended in perfectly with the surrounding street. It was an unusual shaped building which made it a bit different from all the other pubs and bars in Exeter.The emphasis seemed to be on dining but we were made perfectly welcome, even though we were only having a pint. The menu did look good. It had some great sounding options and if time had of allowed, we would have been happy to eat here.It felt nice and relaxed and I'm really pleased to have chanced upon this pub.

My friend and I decided to try The Hourglass for lunch, a quirky pub tucked down a residential street in Exeter. Their menu is interesting, the wine list is extensive and their range of other drinks is unusual, just don't expect a large range of lager ;-)We both had a starter I had burrata on a bed of kale dotted with hazelnuts and occasionally there was a little kick of chilli and coriander seed, my friend had a little gem lettuce salad - both were quite large. To follow I had the rib-eye steak and my friend had the duck. Both generous portions again, tasty and well seasoned. This was washed down with a decent glass of Primitive (I think) - well whatever it was it was nice.Overall a good experience.

We had a lovely Monday evening dinner at The Hourglass. Great service in a charming back dining room - delicious freshly cooked food with lots of vegetables. A good wine list made it a very fun evening.

Just moved onto the quay & discovered this little gem! We had the most lovely evening sat in the bar. It was a cool evening so open fire was very welcome!. Started off with some super real ales prior to eating....the food was divine! I had the duck and my partner had the squid, both executed to perfection, followed by the cheeseboard to share! If you're foodies you'll love it here. Atmospheric traditional bar with much charm & what we felt was great service from the landlord & staff; nothing was too much trouble. Would rrecommend the great house red which comes in whole or half carafes.... we managed two! A special first evening & the first of many.... we are delighted to be locals! Thank you!

Quite possibly the most expensive place in Exeter for a drink. Price inconsistencies matched with a rude member of staff has ruined my experience of this otherwise nice establishment thus I won’t be returning. Try The Old Firehouse if you want quality, value and service.

Wee had dinner at The Hourglass last night and thoroughly enjoyed it. We were advised to have a table in the bar as they had a table of eleven in the restaurant which was great as the bar is a very homely space and not overly busy. We were very well looked after by a member of staff who was new, but came across very friendly and professional. As for the food, we were given some homemade bread to start which was very nice, then shared a starter from the new menu. We had a crab bruschetta with beetroot which was very tasty. That was followed by duck confit with celeriac slaw and cherry jus which was very good and a spiced saffron risotto with mackerel which was also very nice. We thoroughly enjoyed the food, the ambience and were well looked after by the friendly staff. We will be back!

Pub that does restaurant style food, and good wine. Strangely it is Dog and cat friendly. Wish I lived closer. Can’t wait to return.

If you want a traditional pub with friendly staff, amazing food and a good pint - look no further. Wish I could transport this venue to cornwall

Phenomenal new menu with a very interesting, perfectly executed dishes. I had some lovely fried cockles and then the most incredible confit duck dish which I would go back to the hourglass just to have again! Lovely evening with friendly, attentive waiters and great beer.

We met friends for lunch whilst Christmas shopping. Had reserved a table which was right by the window. Food was lovely and quite reasonable. I had the soup and confit duck which was very enjoyable. Carafe of house wine was reasonable and easy drinking.

Been in this pub heaps of times and its really nice chilled out local.However I've noticed the staff to be continually stand offish.However today was a bit of a breaking point we went down for Christmas day for a couple of drinks as they told us they were open 12-2pm every person we made some sarcastic rude comment about it being Christmas day and they are other really there for their 'neighbours'Finally part being at 1pm after we had been there 20 minutes they said they were closed, when we asked why so early as it should be 2pm they rudely responded that they wanted to hang out with their family.1. No one forced you to open, if you don't want to work Christmas day don't open2. If you would rather just neighbours and friends put a sign up at the door3. Don't project your negative attitude on to other people - we where having our 1st family Christmas together in 9 years and it was a shame your poor attitude put a damper on our afternoon due to you being bitter at workingOverall definitely makes me want to rethink supporting and praising our local pub

Visited for a work meal. Unless you know this pub locally I think you might walk past. Fabulous food all round, what a hidden gem. Steak gorgeous. Homemade horseradish - yum.

Lots of nooks and crannies, good beer, intelligent staff, dogs welcome and an open fire. What an absolute delight.

Went there for Sunday lunch with a group of friends. Very small menu but the food was fantastic, really tasty and high quality. The pub is made up of a number of connected areas and rooms, huge range of unique rums, whiskys and gins. Efficient, pleasant and smiley staff. Strongly recommended.

In the last two and half years we must have walked passed The Hourglass many, many times without thinking about going in. Today we broke our pattern and just as well we did.It is quite small, reminding me of another similar pub, the Lewes Arms in Lewes, rather cosy with a real fire which I enjoyed sitting close to. The pub offers a good selection of drinks, a very enjoyable Avocet, one of Exeter's own, and a reasonably broad selection of wines. Like the pub, the current menu is small but interesting and for us non-meat eaters there was a good choice within the small menu. We chose the falafel, flatbread salad with tahini dressing, and the broccoli risotto with Stilton and walnuts, accompanied with Vinho Verdi from the list of about 20 white wines.We both thought that the risotto was the best vegetarian dish we’ve had for a long time, but the falafel was even better, tasty alongside the very fresh salad. And we mustn’t forget the good bread that comes with every meal along with a peppery olive oil as a dip. the food is nicely presented, the hot dish at the right temperature, and the portions were for us at lunchtime just fine.All in all we were well satisfied and The Hourglass is on our short list of places to go to when in Exeter. It deserves to be busy.

A group of us went into this place, after a nice walk along the River Exe. The staff were really friendly, and knowledgable about the beers on offer, and all the beers we had were really well kept and served.On a Saturday afternoon, there was a really friendly atmosphere in the pub, with a good amount of people. Unfortunately we weren't able to eat as it was fully booked (our own fault for not getting sorted earlier), but would definitely return to try and the food, as the menu available looked very good.

The quality of food was completely unexpected. It's a small friendly crowded pub and then along come these delicious dishes. Octopus stew with red wine was beautiful and tender, a friend had confit duck for the first time and loved it, we all had to taste the shrimp risotto which was just perfect. Good chunky portions of everything and we shared a couple of starters to begin with that got the taste buds tingling. Don't go if you like serious quiet restaurants, there is hardly room to swing a cat and the lads on the next table were downing pints and eating a bowl of chips each and enjoying having a noisy Friday night out. Loved the buzz, loved the food.

Went to the Hourglass for a second time this evening with my partner and in laws, and it was just as good as the first. Exemplary food, great wine list, good service. Small menu but brilliantly executed. The duck was so good last time that I had to have it again tonight, which was my father-in-laws sentiments about the steak also. I have a nut allergy, and although there are a lot of nuts on the menu, the staff were very clear on this and were very helpful.Have lived in Exeter for a year and think it’s possibly the best place for food in the city.

The pub is lovely, warm and busy with a good atmosphere. As long as you don't ask for a drink or food that the bar staff don't approve of. Recently my friend wanted a Baileys or something similar and the look on the barman's face made me feel like a bit of crap on his shoe. In the past I've inquired about ketchup to go with the chips and been batted away with a sneer and a 'we don't do ketchup'. Why make people feel bad? I'm a local and have overlooked the bizarre rudeness and arrogance on a few occasions but I'm not coming again.

Very good pub and decoration. Very warm and friendly atmosphere. Great service and good selection of food

I have been in the pub twice in the last year to try and book for a Christmas party and was met by indifference from the bar staff. They were not helpful and I left wishing I hadn’t bothered.

Visited The Hourglass on a recommendation whilst visiting Exeter. The pub was lively with quick service and very pleasant staff. Food was excellent and served hot at a good price. Beer was also well served. Landlord kept a good oversight of service. Highly recommended.

A smallish pub but with an agreeable ambiance, some most interesting customers, or weird depends on your views. A good selection of drinks served by friendly staff. food was very tasty with a large range of vegetarian choices. Not the cheapest price wise, but exeter is a student filled city, so that is regrettably to be expected. A small warning to people with lemon or lime intolerance, remember to ask the staff and they will go to the kitchen and enquire, a must for myself.

I will eagerly return to this pub for a pint next time I'm in Exeter. The selection was extensive, the interior traditional and comfortable, and the prices exceedingly reasonable. An excellent place to curl up with a book or a friend for a few hours!The food was described as "quirky" by others here. It wasn't stuff you'd see anywhere, but it didn't seem entirely unexpected. I was happy with my meal, but it was rather expensive for the quality and portion size.

I went for dinner with my staff for a birthday celebration. This is a lovely friendly, independently run pub. Great vegan options, great drinks selection and above all very attentive service - we were never left to feel 'when will I get my drink?' despite being a big party on a busy night. Thank you!

My wife & I were staying in the Premier Inn in Southerhay & found The Hourglass in our 2017 Good Beer Guide. Less than a 10 minute walk away from the hotel, we phoned to book, just to save a wasted journey. It's a proper old place, simply furnished in rustic style. We ordered a glass of wine & a beer to enjoy whilst choosing our food. I chose my wife's wine & she didn't like it, so I returned to the bar to ask for an alternative. It was my fault, so I said I'd pay. The bar staff, 2 vary helpful guys, wouldn't let me, they just gave me a replacement that she enjoyed. We ate in the bar & the food was great, not a vast menu, but a good selection of well cooked dishes. We had shrimp risotto & penne pasta putanesca with mackerel, both of which were very enjoyable. We're not often n Exeter, but will definitely return to The Hourglass, it's the best pub food we've had for some time. The pub was busy when we were there, so I'd advise booking if you want a table. Oh, & the beer, wine & spirits were good too :o)

The Hourglass is located in a quiet Exeter neighbourhood. The atmosphere is relaxed. The bar and waiting staff were very friendly and efficient. The menu offers a small but imaginative range of dishes, ranging from rabbit, octopus to steak frites. Veggies and vegans would find limited choice here. Mains are accompanied by various side dishes. Portion size is reasonable, but not generous, making the dishes a bit expensive - which was the only negative point I felt. The bar is excellent - you'll feel spoiled for choice whatever you might enjoy drinking.

Atmosphere was intimate and old-fashioned. Food was excellent - fresh, flavoursome and fulsome. A great find.

A small, popular locals pub, great decor (especially liked the credit card mosaic above the bar) and very welcoming. Two dining areas with an interesting, ever changing menu. Only a 5 minute walk from the Quay.Nice bread and oil, then we shared Brawn (served with pickles and toast) as a starter, then had rabbit with mash, and octopus in red wine. Sticky toffee pudding; all delicious.The service was friendly, relaxed and excellent - no pretention here, just a genuine interest in great food and equally good service. (Freya?.... Hope one day Simon Pegg walks in for you for real....) Don't expect to eat fast (and why would you want to?) but service isn't slovenly. Is this a gastro pub? I don't know, and tbh I don't really care; but I know if I lived nearby I'd be frequenting this great little Exeter pub.

Like beer? Super selection. Like whisky? Super selection. Like quirkiness? Super quirky. This is a superb little pub. Haven't had the food, but looks super (!) and am told is ace.

Used to come here 10 years ago and still the hourglass stands alone as one there best pub/restaurants in the south west. High quality food and drink served by staff who are clearly passionate about the pub, their customers and its products.

Pub inglés peculiar, popular entre los lugareños y visitantes por igual tarda algo de encontrar ya que está en una zona residencial, pero hacen el esfuerzo. No es grande pero hace uso máximo de todo el espacio con muchas alcobas y con una gama de asientos. Además, el restaurante es pequeño y se aconseja, es un pequeño menú, pero más interesante y bien preparados y sabrosos platos. Buena variedad de bebidas y vinos. Personal excelente. Altamente recomendable.

Visitamos el miércoles en una noche caliente, el menú de las diferentes necesidades cubiertas 3 de nosotros. Teníamos una mezcla de platos pequeños y grandes. Muy interesantes opciones incluyendo los calabacines bhajis, ensalada de remolachas y orichhetti en el caldo. Toda la comida era buena, como las cervezas y sidras.