In short
The best gastropub near Exeter is THE PIG-at Combe in Gittisham, with its kitchen-garden 25-mile menu. The Jack in the Green at Rockbeare is the other country pick; in the city, Mill on the Exe and The Fat Pig lead. The Nobody Inn is serving a reduced outdoor menu after a kitchen fire — ring before you drive out.
Why Gastropubs Are the Perfect Place to Bring People Together
There is a reason the gastropub has become such a fixture of British social life. It sits in that sweet spot between a proper restaurant and your local — relaxed enough that nobody feels overdressed, good enough that the food becomes part of the event rather than an afterthought. You can linger for hours without anyone hurrying you along. You can order a pint or a bottle of wine without judgement. And there is something about the warmth of a pub setting — the low beams, the wood-burners, the worn leather chairs — that makes conversation flow more easily than a starched tablecloth ever could.
Devon, and the countryside around Exeter in particular, happens to be one of the best places in Britain for this kind of dining. The ingredients are extraordinary — Dartmoor-reared meat, Brixham-landed fish, farmhouse cheeses you cannot find anywhere else — and the pubs making the most of them range from cosy village locals to award-winning dining rooms that happen to have a bar attached. If you have read our guide to the best restaurants in Exeter, consider this the companion piece: the places where the food is just as thoughtful, but the atmosphere is a touch more forgiving.
Whether you are planning a group outing, a lazy Sunday with friends, or a proper meal in the countryside, these are the gastropubs worth knowing about in 2026.
The Country Gastropubs Worth Driving For
THE PIG-at Combe, Gittisham
If you are going to leave Exeter for one meal this year, make it THE PIG-at Combe. Tucked into the folds of the Otter Valley about twenty minutes east of the city, this 16th-century manor house has been transformed into one of Devon's most distinctive dining experiences. The concept is simple and brilliantly executed: almost everything on the menu comes from within a 25-mile radius of the kitchen door. Menus are written around what the foragers bring back, what is ready in the three walled kitchen gardens, and what local suppliers have delivered that morning. They change by the hour, not just the day.
The cooking is confident without being fussy — think slow-roasted local pork belly with garden herbs, Brixham fish with seasonal greens, and Devon cheeses you will not find in a supermarket. The midweek set lunch is the value play; dinner is pricier, but the quality justifies it.
The setting is spectacular. Lush grounds, towering trees, and a rustic outdoor dining spot called The Folly that is perfect for larger groups in warmer months. This is the kind of place where a meal becomes an occasion without anyone having to try.
Midweek lunch at THE PIG is the insider move — it is easier to book, better value, and the gardens are beautiful in afternoon light. The Folly is excellent for groups who want a more relaxed, outdoor setting.
Location: Gittisham, near Honiton, EX14 3AD — about 20 minutes from Exeter. Booking: Essential, especially weekends. Atmosphere: Country house elegance without the stuffiness. Garden: Extensive grounds with outdoor dining at The Folly.
The Nobody Inn, Doddiscombsleigh
Kitchen fire — check before you travel. The Nobody Inn is currently serving a reduced outdoor barbecue menu only, and its own site states there is no food service if it is raining. It is a twenty-minute drive down single-track lanes, so ring ahead on the day rather than turning up hungry. Normal kitchen service has not resumed as of July 2026.
Some pubs you visit for the food. Some you visit for the drinks. The Nobody Inn is normally one of those rare places where both are worth the trip — and the building itself is half the experience. Built in the 1630s and set in the tiny village of Doddiscombsleigh, about six miles south-west of Exeter between the Haldon Hills and the Teign Valley, this 17th-century inn has a reputation that extends well beyond Devon.
The whisky collection is what made its name: a wall of single malts, most of which you will not have seen behind a bar before, alongside a cheeseboard of West Country farmhouse wheels and a genuinely serious wine cellar. Those are unaffected by the kitchen closure — as a drinks destination it is still one of the best in Devon.
When the kitchen is running normally, the food is proper gastropub cooking: seasonal menus built around local produce, with dishes like salt and pepper squid, duck and orange pâté, and West Country steaks. The Sunday roast has a long-standing reputation. The inn also has rooms if you fancy making a night of it, which is not a bad shout given the winding lanes you will drive to get there.
Location: Doddiscombsleigh, EX6 7PS — about 20 minutes from Exeter. Kitchen: Reduced outdoor barbecue menu only after a fire; no food in wet weather. Booking: Ring ahead, always. Atmosphere: Rustic, characterful, proper old pub. Garden: Small but pleasant.
The Jack in the Green, Rockbeare
Paul and Judy Parnell ran this gastropub on the London Road just east of Exeter from 1992 until 2024, making it a quietly reliable fixture of Devon's dining scene for over three decades. Craig and Miranda Griffin took it on in April 2024, Craig as chef patron, and have kept everything that made it special in the first place: low-beamed rooms, soft leather chairs, a wood-burning stove, and a menu that takes local sourcing seriously.
The Jack in the Green delivers upmarket modern British cooking alongside honest pub classics. The kitchen sources extensively from Devon suppliers, and the result is a menu that feels both ambitious and grounded. You can come for a proper three-course meal or just settle into the bar with a West Country ale and a lighter bite. Good local brews are always on tap.
What makes it particularly good for groups is the layout — there is a separate bar area, a restaurant section, and a function room, so you can find the right space for whatever kind of evening you are planning. Parking is easy, which matters when you are rounding up a carful of friends from across the city.
Location: London Road, Rockbeare, EX5 2EE — about 15 minutes from Exeter. Booking: Recommended. Atmosphere: Contemporary country pub with real warmth. Garden: Yes, with outdoor seating.
In the City: Exeter's Best Gastropubs
Mill on the Exe
If you want the gastropub experience without leaving the city, the Mill on the Exe is hard to beat for setting alone. This converted paper mill sits right on the River Exe next to Blackaller Weir, with a waterside beer garden that feels miles from the bustle of the city centre despite being a short walk from Exeter St David's station.
The original water wheel from the building's days as a working mill — it was producing paper until 1960 — is now a feature in the pub garden, which gives you some idea of the character of the place. Inside, it is spread across two floors with a contemporary finish that still feels warm and welcoming. The menu reimagines pub classics with a bit more ambition than your average local, paired with St Austell Brewery's award-winning ales, hand-selected wines, and properly roasted coffee.
It is family friendly, dog friendly, and has vegan and vegetarian options that actually feel thought-through rather than token. On a warm evening, the river terrace is one of the best spots in Exeter for a meal with friends — the kind of place where you order one more bottle and suddenly it is closing time.
The Mill on the Exe is one of the most group-friendly gastropubs in Exeter — spacious enough for larger gatherings, scenic enough to make it feel special, and relaxed enough that nobody watches the clock. It is also right by the canal path, so you can walk off lunch along the river.
Location: Bonhay Road, EX4 3AB — a short walk from the city centre. Booking: Recommended for weekend evenings and Sunday lunch. Atmosphere: Scenic riverside setting with contemporary pub feel. Garden: Beautiful waterside beer garden.
The Fat Pig, John Street
If the Mill on the Exe is the polished gastropub, The Fat Pig is its scruffier, more eccentric cousin — and all the better for it. This independent freehouse on John Street has built a devoted following for doing things differently. They raise their own pigs. They run an on-site distillery producing gin, rum, vodka, and moonshine. They have a smokehouse. And the menu, while small, is entirely homemade using local suppliers with a low-waste philosophy that feels genuinely committed rather than performative.
The food leans European in style — think creamy gorgonzola tagliatelle with balsamic glaze, or a Sunday roast of beef and crispy belly pork that draws regulars back week after week. The kitchen keeps things tight and focused, which means everything that comes out is done properly. It is the kind of place where the quality of ingredients does the heavy lifting.
Opening hours lean towards evening sessions during the week (kitchen from 6pm Monday to Friday), with longer hours at weekends. Saturday lunch and Sunday lunch both run, and the Sunday roast in particular has a strong reputation. As one of Exeter's truly independent pubs, it has a character that chain-owned venues simply cannot replicate. If you enjoy places with personality, you will love it here — and as we have written before, small gatherings in places like this tend to beat big nights out for actually getting to know people.
Location: 2 John Street, EX1 1BL — in the city centre. Booking: Recommended for dinner and Sunday lunch. Atmosphere: Eclectic, independent, full of character. Garden: Small outdoor area.
Just Outside: Topsham's Gems
The Galley, Topsham
Technically more restaurant than pub, but The Galley in Topsham deserves a place on any Devon food guide. It holds a Michelin Guide Plaque for 2026 — having carried a Bib Gourmand every year from 2021 to 2025 — plus an AA Rosette, and sits on Fore Street near Topsham Quay with views over the River Exe. Han Wang heads the kitchen.
The fish comes fresh from Brixham Harbour and the fixed-price menu treats it with real care — contemporary and traditional techniques, seasonal specials, and a stripped-back approach that lets the quality of the ingredients shine. The set lunch is the value way in — check the current menu when you book.
It is open Tuesday to Saturday for lunch and dinner, closed Sunday and Monday. The exposed brick walls and slightly scruffy-chic atmosphere make it feel less formal than the accolades might suggest, and the Topsham setting — a charming estuary town just four miles from Exeter — adds a lot to the experience. Combine it with a walk along the Exe Estuary trail and you have got a properly good day out with friends.
Location: 41 Fore Street, Topsham, EX3 0HU — about 15 minutes from Exeter. Booking: Essential. Atmosphere: Upscale scruffy-chic with river views. Garden: No, but river views from inside.
The Globe, Topsham
Also in Topsham, The Globe is a 16th-century riverside inn that offers a more traditional gastropub experience. Now part of the St Austell Brewery family, it champions seasonal produce with a particular strength in seafood alongside well-executed pub classics. The Sunday roasts and breakfasts draw consistent praise, and the courtyard with its umbrellas and space heaters makes it usable year-round.
It has rooms, so it is another one where you can make a night of it — not a bad option if you are organising a group trip and want everyone under one roof. Dog-friendly, too, which matters more in Devon than most places.
Location: Fore Street, Topsham, EX3 0HR. Booking: Recommended. Atmosphere: Historic riverside inn with contemporary menu. Garden: Courtyard seating with heaters.
Worth the Short Drive: More Gastropubs Near Exeter
The Puffing Billy, Exton
Tucked into the village of Exton on the east side of the Exe Estuary, about fifteen minutes from both Exeter and Exmouth, The Puffing Billy is the kind of gastropub that locals guard jealously. The kitchen is serious about locally sourced ingredients — meats from Dartmoor, fish from Devon's coast and the River Exe, and vegetables from nearby growers. The menu changes with the seasons and everything is made freshly on site each day.
What makes The Puffing Billy stand out is the balance between ambition and accessibility. You can eat a properly good meal here without feeling like you need to remortgage, and the menu runs from simple plates of Exe mussels and mackerel up to rack of lamb. The pub itself is welcoming in the way the best country pubs are: dog-friendly, with disabled access, ample parking, and the sort of atmosphere that makes you want to settle in for the afternoon.
It pairs brilliantly with a walk along the Exe Estuary trail — work up an appetite on the water and reward yourself with a proper lunch. The Puffing Billy is also a strong option if you are exploring Topsham and want to venture slightly further along the estuary.
Location: Station Road, Exton, EX3 0TR — about 15 minutes from Exeter. Booking: Recommended, especially weekends. Atmosphere: Traditional village pub with serious kitchen. Garden: Yes, with countryside views.
The Five Bells, Clyst Hydon — no longer a gastropub
A little further east towards Cullompton, The Five Bells is a thatched 16th-century village pub that we used to list here for its cooking. It is worth knowing what it has become. After several years dark, it reopened in August 2024 as a volunteer-run community pub — dozens of villagers behind the bar and a handful of paid staff. There is no regular kitchen. Food comes from visiting street-food vans and a fortnightly community Sunday roast, so it is a place to go for the pint and the welcome rather than a booked dinner.
If you are making the drive, check what is on before you set off. For a roast you can rely on, see our guide to the best Sunday roasts in Devon.
Location: Clyst Hydon, EX15 2NT — about 20 minutes from Exeter. Food: Visiting vans and a fortnightly roast, not a daily menu. Atmosphere: Thatched community local. Garden: Lovely beer garden with countryside views.
If you are visiting from outside Devon and want to make a weekend of the gastropub trail, several of these places have rooms available. The Nobody Inn, The Globe in Topsham, and THE PIG-at Combe all offer accommodation — check our guide to the best places to stay in Exeter for more options.
What's New on the Exeter Gastropub Scene in 2026
Three changes are worth knowing before you book. The Galley in Topsham moved from a Bib Gourmand to a Michelin Guide Plaque for 2026, its first year without the Bib since 2021. The Nobody Inn is on a reduced outdoor menu after a kitchen fire. And The Oddfellows on New North Road has gone — the pub closed and reopened on 2 February 2026 as Rumours Bar, a drinks-led venue from the owner of Coolings and The Cellar Bar, so the open kitchen and the Sunday roasts we used to send people there for no longer exist.
The wider appetite for al fresco dining shows no sign of fading, and most of the pubs here have leaned into their gardens and terraces accordingly. Several have also broadened their plant-based options alongside the traditional menus, so mixed dietary requirements in a group are far less of a problem than they were a few years ago.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the best gastropub near Exeter?
- THE PIG-at Combe in Gittisham is the destination pick, cooking a 25-mile menu from its own kitchen garden. The Jack in the Green at Rockbeare and The Puffing Billy at Exton are the other country gastropubs worth the drive. The Nobody Inn is on a reduced outdoor menu after a kitchen fire, so ring before you go.
- Which Exeter gastropub is best in the city itself?
- Mill on the Exe combines a riverside setting with reliable food, and The Fat Pig on John Street distils its own spirits and smokes its own meat. The Oddfellows on New North Road is no longer an option — it became Rumours Bar in February 2026.
- What is special about The Nobody Inn?
- A 17th-century pub near Doddiscombsleigh with one of the country's great single-malt whisky collections, West Country farmhouse cheeses and a serious wine cellar. Note that the kitchen is running a reduced outdoor barbecue menu after a fire, with no food service in wet weather.
- Do Devon gastropubs need booking?
- For weekend lunches and dinners, yes — THE PIG-at Combe and the Topsham pubs especially. Midweek you can usually walk in.
Why Gastropubs Are Perfect for Group Dining
There is a reason we keep coming back to gastropubs when planning Dinners With Friends events. The format is inherently social. Unlike a formal restaurant, where the table layout and service style can sometimes create barriers between people, a gastropub invites you to relax. Sharing plates get passed around. Conversations overlap. Someone orders a round and suddenly the whole table is comparing opinions on local ales versus ciders.
The food quality means the meal itself becomes a talking point — moving past small talk is so much easier when you are all genuinely enjoying what is on the plate. And the relaxed pacing of a pub meal — nobody rushing you, the option to add another course or just linger over coffee — creates the kind of unhurried atmosphere where real connections form.
Sunday lunch is peak gastropub time and most of the places on this list book up well in advance. If you are planning a group outing, book at least a week ahead — two weeks for The Pig, The Galley, and The Nobody Inn. Midweek is almost always easier and often better value.
If you have been thinking about getting out more but the idea of a big night out feels like too much, a gastropub dinner is the perfect middle ground. Good food, warm atmosphere, no pressure. If you have been feeling the pull to socialise without breaking the bank, a midweek gastropub lunch with friends might be exactly what you need. And if you fancy pairing your gastropub meal with a great pint, our guide to the best craft beer and taprooms in Exeter covers the local brewing scene, many of which supply these very pubs.
For more on where to eat and drink across the county, have a look at our Devon food and drink heritage guide, our roundup of the best pubs in Exeter, or if you fancy something more refined, our guide to the best wine bars in Exeter.
Ready to Make It Happen?
The best meals are the ones you share. If any of these places have caught your eye and you would like company to enjoy them with, we would love to help.