The Hourglass in Exeter

From the initial phone call to book a table (online booking is also available) through to paying the bill, the service was exceptional. One of our group ordered the burger which we hadn't seen on the menu here previously and it was a very welcome addition. The menu was varied and catered for the majority of dietary needs and suited all tastes within our group of eight. Both the food and the drinks were of a very high standard and the whole experience was memorable for all the right reasons, even the regulars of the pub were helpful, polite and courteous. The whole feel of the venue was one of traditional pub (with many local ales) alongside a commitment to providing great quality food and drink as a whole.

One of the best pubs in the South West. Great bar / great food / great setting 🍺

Inconspicuous pub... but what a,surprise inside. Traditional. Friendly. Efficient. Excellent food...best Hake for years!

Stunning. One of the tastiest roasts I've had. The Yorkshire pudding in particular was insane. There was a slight mix up with our order (forgotten starter), but the staff were so apologetic, even offering a round of drinks to make up for it. It is the quirkiest old traditional pub with a lovely cosy vibe. Highly recommend.

Lovely location slightly off the beaten track - looks like a traditional pub where you’d expect to eat something fairly beige but you’d be wrong- the food is exceptional. Menus change regularly reflecting what’s in season and show an eclectic mix of dishes all sharing high quality ingredients, expert cookery and real depth of flavour. As a party of 7 we shared small plates and starters- from incredibly homely Welsh rarebit to a warming and authentic mezze plate. The hake, fennel and roasted new potato main was faultless, as were the steaks, and crab chilli pasta. Definitely our go to place for food when we’re next down in Exeter.

Very welcoming landlord , quite on our visit but a good selection of Exeter beers which were well received.

Lovely little pub that serves good Exeter Brewery beer and serves great food.

I had not visited this very friendly local pub for a long time and wasn’t disappointed when I finally did. Giles, the landlord runs a very good establishment. Next time I’ll check out the vegan food options. See you soon!

Perfect spot for Sunday lunch after river strolling, roasts were spot on

Didn't eat but smelt amazing. Great beers and decor. Will definitely be back

Absolutely awful. We were visiting Exeter from North Devon, googled pubs in the area and this one came up with really high reviews. What a disappointment. We ordered a ribeye and a rump arrived. A portion of buttered potatoes didn't arrive to accompany the duck. Steak was poorly cooked and rather tasteless and the chips were the size of potato wedges - odd. The ribeye finally arrived with hot chips placed on top of the original chips served and now cold and 10 minutes after the other diners had started their meals. The draft Guinness was flat. To top it off the toilets were not clean with toilet paper all over the floor, tap fittings not affixed properly and wallpaper coming off the walls. The only positive point was the lady that served us had a lovely friendly demeanour. Unfortunately it is obvious the other reviews were not written by genuine customers. This really isn't a good place for food, definitely not at the price point charged. We certainly won't be back.

Great little pub, full of character and a great selection of drinks. Staff are all helpful and knowledgeable. Highly recommend

I had this pub recommended by friends and what a terrific pub I found. The interior is a gem and is like stepping into the past,I doesn't appear to have ever been rebuilt. The beers are from the Exeter Brewery who also own the pub and are very well kept. Food is available for those who want it. The atmosphere is very relaxed and the staff are polite and helpful. If you are in Exeter it's a pub to add to your itinerary. 5 stars plus many more.

An absolute gem , outstanding local beer brilliant tequila selection, very welcoming and friendly. The beef Sunday lunch was fantastic, too . It's a hybrid of all that's great in a city pub combined with a neighbourhood feel . The current ownership is keeping the wonderful legacy of the hourglass alive and well .

Lovely intimate warm pub, good choice of ales.

Visited on a busy Saturday night but has an amazing atmosphere. A warm and traditional pub but with posters for lots of events such as bring your own vinyl and quiet book reading nights. Would love to come back and try the food!

Been several times to the Hourglass and it consistently delivers excellent food and service. A particular shout out to the manager who effortlessly makes you feel at home and welcome.

We haven’t been here for a while and what a delightful evening we had. Food was delicious, Hake was lovely, I had Bouillabaisse which was wonderful. The Mandarin sorbet, shortbread, and Quince Dressing was lovely. We enjoyed the cheese board but felt one biscuit wasn’t quite enough to go with them.

Just had the best Sunday Roast absolutely delicious. 😋😋

Great community pub. Nice atmosphere, great drinks. Still going strong years later. Great vibe.

Haven't eaten but I hear good things about the kitchen. Great little cozy pub/bar but probably avoid going with a big group at a busy time.

Popped in for a pint, stayed for a few - cracking team and service; food looked and smelt amazing - definitely coming back.

Really lovely food and drink. Great service with a relaxed atmosphere.

A pleasant and warm invitation to what is a remarkable pub, a stones throw from the cathedral grounds. We came in, bedraggled, windswept from the tempest that enraged outside. The welcoming barman offered us refuge and a heartwarmingly generous hospitality. The warmth and laughter from the punters within, made for a friendly and congenial atmosphere. We sat down, with drink in hand and were offered a tempting menu. The ribeye was cooked to perfection and a bountiful amount of chips offered with it. We only stayed for a drink and some food, time constraints pressing, yet we would gladly have stayed the course at this fine establishment, which I can’t recommend highly enough.

I was impressed with the friendly greeting by the bar staff and the atmosphere was lovely and inviting however when i came to pay for three drinks and some nuts £33 i was aghast not that i showed it perhaps i'm behind current prices but obviously the everyday patrons of this pub must be terribly well heeled as i believe this prices are above London standards poss exeter uni students who rely on their rich parents drink here i won't be returning....

tip top atmosphere and chips. pint was completely dead tho :(

Lovely pub. The staff was very friendly and the place was wonderful. Had bangers and squeak with onion gravy. Was told by my colleagues it was some proper English pub food. Was very nice, but nothing extraordinary. Would recommend

Tasty food and good atmosphere and attentive service

Order a lot of food, was all nice, 2 of the party ordered steak, when it came out was only 2 slices, which we both thought wasn't really enough for the price, our total bill was over 200 pounds.

Very impressed with our meal last night. Birthday treat for our daughter. Never been before but love the slightly quirky decor and setting. Staff very welcoming, attentive and well informed. Menu ideal size and very pleased to see a focus on local ingredients , especially as a local farmer. Wine list is excellent and they offered us small tasters to help us decide on our choices. One of the best meals I’ve had in Exeter for some time. Many thanks.

Only popped in for a couple of beers, not realising what a fabulous, dog-friendly place it is. We didn't eat as we were here early, but the menu looks so tempting. Lovely atmosphere but did start to feel a wee bit cramped by 6 pm. If we'd not got two grumpy dogs with us, we'd have powered on through and stayed for food

The best Sunday roast I’ve had in a very long time and is probably one of the friendliest pubs I’ve ever been to! Lovely atmosphere, friendly staff, amazing food! (Clean toilets too which is always a bonus)

Don't ask for small pot of cream with your desert unless you'd like to be told "that's how it comes". Poor service from a waiter with poor attitude.

Lovely little pub just up the hill from the quays, and the beer selection was worth the walk. Food looked and smelled good (wasn't eating), and the staff were very friendly.

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

Absolutely lovely place - roast beef Sunday lunch was to die for.

Great local pub close to the town centre... Bit of a walk downhill. Great ales on cask. Quiz night on Mondays so sat outside as didn't get involved.

Fantastic food. A real buzz to the place. Dog friendly upstairs too. Good beer from the Exeter Brewery.

Always a pleasure, good beer, good service, lovely old pub.

Nice little pub, the drinks were a bit expensive but the atmosphere was brilliant ! We sat by the open fire and I shared some stories. It felt like the right place for weary travels to come for a drink !

We visited after a local recommendation and we were not disappointed. The team were excellent in every single way. Friendly, approachable and absolutely charming. Our servers were professional and on point all evening. We had a relatively large group and we were looked after with zero fuss. Food was outstanding and gave us plenty to discuss as we ate. Excellent portions and superb detail on every dish.

The food was amazing and the pub itself is so lovely and quirky, it gives a proper traditional feel to it. However I wouldn’t say it’s family friendly.. they only had 2 high chairs, so if it wasn’t for another family giving up theirs due to no longer needing it, my toddler would’ve had to sit on my lap. I was also disappointed/surprised to see they had no baby changing facilities. They did offer me to go upstairs for privacy which was nice but with it being a restaurant I think changing facilities are essential. I would say both loos could fit a pull down changing unit so might be worth considering.

This was our second visit in three weeks, firstly for drinks and on the second occasion for Sunday lunch, this pub has a lovely ambience and has kept all of its Olde Worlde charm, the service was friendly and attentive, the beer was very good, with a wide selection of ales, the Sunday lunch was the best that we have had in a long time and was cooked to perfection, it is hard to find pubs that tick all the boxes and do the simple things very well so well done to the management and the staff at the Hourglass for putting the effort in and making this a very good experience

Ok. 2nd time at the Hour Glass and primarily to introduce my brother and sister in law to the experience. Friday night is another level here...absolutely buzzing atmosphere, great selection of beers, diverse clientele, attentive and kind service, incredible food, and all reasonably priced. We had the chips (divine), the homity pie (richly delicious) the broccoli and curds (lush), the bread (chewy and satisfying), the monkfish (carefully prepared, delicate and rich), the mussels (stout cream sauce that should be illegal), the Devon dumpling (just order it, you will not look back) and the Thunder & Lightning (tangy, sweet and unique) Wonderful service from folks that really care with a well curated wine list. Go. Just go and see what you think. You won't be disappointed...just thrilled you found a perfect venue. (The pics are from the last time I was there, but I ordered mostly the same stuff.)

Nice, authentic pub, delicious, locally sourced food and always a great atmosphere! Highly recommend it!

Food and service were exceptional. Table of diners to our left who seemed to think it was OK to shout at each other made it impossible to have a conversation!

Beautiful pub - very atmospheric!

£21 for a roast was very expensive, so will not be going again, shame as the place was lovely.

Best pub in Exeter. Shhhh....it's a secret.

Quite bizarre !! We have been searching Exeter for iconic unusual pubs with character and something different. This really cute little pub fits all the criteria. It is so hidden away in a back street above the river Exe and in all our years of strolling around Exeter we didn't know it existed. So quaint, steeped in history and it has a real fire. Nice real ales and friendly bar staff and......although we haven't tried it.....there is a restaurant too . But we will be back to sample the menu which looks absolutely scrumptious....and in a good way.....different and varied....

Lovely pub with roaring fire would highly recommend!

Very atmospheric backstreet pub serving Exeter Ales beers.Plenty to choose from.

This has to be the go to pub in Exeter. Lively & packed on a Saturday. If you want to eat make sure to book a table well in advance.

Very cosy, venue, traditional and quirky. Beer tasted great.

Great atmosphere, i went there with my partner. We only had some drinks but the food they served to others looked delicious 😋. Service was great, we enjoyed our time there and our doggy was allowed too 🥰

Great staff one of the best in Exeter

Excellent venue, seating was a little cramped but with such a large party, it was inevitable. The food was delicious! Very good quality meal, the meats didn't come out at the same time as the vegetables and there was quite a wait for gravy following that. I'd definitely return as I'd like to try other foods not just the Christmas meals. Staff were friendly and accommodating and the room was very quaint.

Great little pub! Great for a few quiet drinks with friends. These kind of pubs are in short supply in Exeter.

We had a great lunch here at the beginning of December. With excellent, friendly service, we particularly liked having a smaller menu (choice of meat or veggie) with the focus being on delicious well cooked, tasty food. Highly recommended ⭐️🌟⭐️🌟⭐️

Wonderful Friday night vibe. Alan's beers are great.

Possibly the best Sunday roast I have ever had. The beef was superb, and I can’t remember another establishment caring enough to offer organic chicken. Fantastic Exeter ale and friendly staff. Lola the cockapoo also had a fine time. Thank you!

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

Just a great local pub. Good beer selection and great atmosphere

Outstanding food but severely let down by by its very poor management which badly mishandled our attempt to make future bookings resulting in us cancelling them and leaving as very disgruntled customers which absolutely nobody cared about .Their critical and press success clearly means they no longer care about whether customers do or don't return which is a great shame as the chef here is outstanding but badly let let down by his front of house colleagues

We had a lovely evening here on a busy Friday night. Really warm welcome at the bar and the place was buzzing. Quite hot in the bar area though! We went downstairs to the restaurant when we were ready and it was a nice atmosphere...

A lovely atmospheric pub, with excellent beer from Exeter Brewery. Excellent food, we ate cod followed by Devon Dumplings that were great light and tasty. Helpful staff in a busy environment. We will return.

I love this place. Went on a busy Saturday night for a family birthday celebration and the atmosphere had a lively vibe. Ate downstairs for the first time which was great. Food was imaginative as always with excellent flavour combinations and the ingredient quality and...

We popped in her to meet friends while on a day trip to Exeter. The staff and locals couldn't have been more friendly and welcoming to our little band of grockles and the beers we tried were all superb. Our only regret was listening to...

A friend excitedly told me about this place I "had to go" in Exeter. We were travelling back from a birthday celebration in Bath but my friend was so effusive in his praise we booked a table to stop in for lunch on the way...

Cosy place for our novel writing meet ups !! . Friendly staff..great atmosphere

Excellent gastro pub in the old part of Exeter sandwiched between Holloway St and the Quay. Food is excellent and atmosphere is brilliant. We went for Sunday lunch. Great vegetarian roast and traditional roasts, plus a good drinks menu as well. You won’t be disappointed....

Excellent gastro pub in the old part of Exeter sandwiched between Holloway St and the Quay. Food is excellent and atmosphere is brilliant. We went for Sunday lunch. Great vegetarian roast and traditional roasts, plus a good drinks menu as well. You won’t be disappointed. But I would book just in case

What a nice pub dinner place. Great atmosphere; good food well presented and reasonably priced wines. Four of us had a really nice evening

Top pub, beautiful old world decor. Intimate cosy atmosphere. Lovely local ale. What's not to love?! Came in for an afternoon pint and well worth the trip. One of the best pubs in Exeter that I've been to, if not the very best!

Food is wonderful; the menu is an interesting list of what's fresh and local on the day and is beautifully cooked.

What a fab recommendation. Stayed nearby this week and our host recommended this restaurant. Really friendly service. Our party had the steak, lamb and lobster orzo risotto. All absolutely lovely. Would highly recommend.

The Hourglass Inn is an exceptional place to eat and drink in Exeter. Lovely service, fantastic decor, great value wine and the food- amazing. Can’t wait to go back next year!

We used to visit this pub regularly when we lived on The Quay but haven't been for sometime. Despite this we were sad to hear that the previous owners were leaving and the pub may close so were thried to hear Exeter Brewery had taken...

Had family evening meal. Most eaters were downstairs but space roomy and had separate bar. Basically worked our way through the menu but enjoyed the sardines and beetroot starters and the John Dory, Hoggett and Steak mains and all the puds washed down with good...

Superb Sunday lunch and service!

We sadly missed our opportunity to have lunch here. We got caught up and the kitchen closes at 2pm on a Saturday but the food does look lush!

Lovely atmosphere, lovely staff, love the menu. Will be back!

I don't know of any other proper pub in Exeter any more - this place is the last and I can't recommend the Hour Glass highly enough, it is worth taking a trip specifically just to visit. I didn't get to try the food, I'll need to come back for that another time, but the drinks are great, the set up is wonderful, and the atmosphere is perfect. I really miss this kind of pub and will be back as often as I can. If you're nearby you genuinely can't do better, do yourself a favour and, if you can find somewhere to sit, get in there. Between the Hour Glass and the Topsham Brewery, Exeter Quayside is the best place to spend your time and hard earned money. And the walk between the 2 is mind blowing too so take in both while you're here.

Lovely meal at The Hour Glass. Can recommend both the Risotto and the Turbot. Very friendly pub with lots of character and multiple areas to drink and eat. Will certainly be going back in the not too distant future.

An absolute delight. Superb food and service thank you. We will be back very soon!

Finding really good food in Exeter and the surrounding area is hard. Places call themselves gastro pubs and then you get a choice of fish and chips or a burger. The Hourglass, however, has been reborn and is the real thing. The food last night...

5 of us went here for Sunday lunch. 2 of our number had the belly pork, 1 the vegetarian option, 1 the beef and 1 the chicken. These were all of the 4 options available. The beef & chicken were absolutely fine, beef spot on. Unfortunately the pork belly was really salty and we should have sent it back, but the waiting staff did not return to ask how our dinner was. The vegetarian option was grilled cabbage with same vegetables and separate gravy. This was overpriced for replacing meat with cabbage. Beer was good at £4.80 a pint but bitter shandy was £5.20, £3 for the lemonade element. There is automatic 10% service charge added. Reported problem with pork when paying bill and was just told they would let chef know. Not really a helpful response, get the chef to try it and then decide whether we should have been charged for it. Would definitely like to go back as lovely ambience and staff were friendly, but £128 and people leaving disappointed will make us think carefully.

Went to the Hourglass on Friday night. It was a warm summer evening and it was a little quiet. It shouldn’t have been, the meal was excellent. We have had a couple of mediocre meals there since it reopened after the pandemic but this was...

I simple loved the ambience. Staff was very friendly too

Excellent pub. Excellent ales. Excellent food. Excellent, friendly staff

Went to The Hourglass following a recommendation from a friend. The staff were so friendly and couldn't do enough for us . We were quite a large party for dinner , the food was amazing, ambience delightful , wine delicious. Definitely the best meal we...

A great place with exceptional customer service. A warm welcome from all staff who did everything to make it an enjoyable experience. The food was first class and reasonably priced considering the high standard.

Absolutely LOVE this pub. Great choice of local beers, really pleasant staff and wonderful food. A true hidden gem in the heart of Exeter.

Really nice place, going to miss it.

Great selection of local ales - proper old pub for proper beer.

Great local serving up brilliant in-season food. Friendly and efficient service and a cool cross-section of the community and City that use it.

We just love this place. Pleased the new owners have not changed a thing. Only niggle was that we had specifically booked a table for 5 but there was not one laid up for us. Matter soon resolved by the lovely bar manager and the food was great

Pleasant early evening drink with friends. Great service and good range of beers

Great local pub with a nice atmosphere and range of drinks. Good menu, although more expensive than typical pub food (but deservedly so)

Incredibly delicious roast. Went as a group of 5, we had 3 gluten free and one onion and garlic free, everyone was accommodated for. I’ll be going back again as soon as possible, it’s really one to not be missed!