Lympstone Manor Hotel Restaurant & Vineyard - Relais & Chateaux

We recently had lunch at Lympstone Manor when they were offering a special lunchtime deal. This place is beautiful, the setting is idyllic and we were very well looked after on arrival. After some drinks and canapés, we were taken to our table and shortly given our appetiser. Then nothing happened for 45 minutes, we watched tables around us being served ahead of us, and were confused what was happening. Because it’s such a posh restaurant and there was so many staff, we figured they must know that we were waiting so we left it longer than usual to point out that we hadn’t even had starters. By the time they arrived we had been sat there for an hour and after a 90 minute drive to the restaurant we were starting to run out of things to talk about, and were generally feeling awkward about the delay. We’d also eaten two bread rolls eat because we had been waiting so long and we’re very hungry which then really took the edge of our appetite for the main event. The food was all very nice and the rest of it came in a timely manner afterwe’d complained. The waiter did remove our soft drinks from the bill, (approximately £10) and offered to remove the service charge, but we declined that offer. I wouldn’t have written a negative review if it was just this instance, but the time before that, when we visited in April 2024, we were saying in one of the shepherds huts, and went for dinner at the new poolside restaurant. Again, we waited a fair amount of time for our starters, and when our main courses came, they were wrong so had to be sent back. When they returned with our food, our steak was half the size of the original overcooked one, the chips still had truffle on, which we’d asked to not be added, and our mushroom is missing. We ate this meal though. as it was getting late. In the end they didn’t charge us for a meal, but it was our anniversary and we had gone and stayed there as a special treat & especially to enjoy delicious food, and so had been left very disappointed and unsatisfied. I was expecting them to invite us back for dinner at a reduced rate or a complimentary meal, but they didn’t. And then again visiting this week I was left disappointed by what is a Michelin star restaurant. Maybe we have just been unlucky.

We booked dinner at The Pool House and were disappointed from the moment we walked through the door. Three staff members looked at us as we entered and ignored us. A waitress finally took us to our table and offered us water. It never arrived. No drinks order was ever taken. The waitress finally returned 20 minutes later to take our food order and seemed surprised when we asked for some drinks. All of the other tables were served bread while they were waiting for their food to arrive but we were not. The restaurant seemed to be short-staffed and had a young trainee on duty who was receiving little or no guidance. Our starters were served so quickly after ordering that our drinks still hadn’t arrived. We made another request for water which then arrived, along with the bread. The main courses were underwhelming. My husband’s seafood curry had the sum total of 3 prawns and 2 very small pieces of salmon in it and a very small portion of rice. Incorrect cutlery was provided for the thin, Indonesian-style sauce. My burger was mediocre at best. We were charged £60 a head despite the menu stating that two courses was £48 (still ridiculously expensive for such basic food). The choice of main courses was similar to that in a gastropub, not what you would expect at Lympstone Manor, albeit The Pool House is more relaxed. We queried the bill on departure and were apparently refunded the difference but it is yet to reach our account. An exceptionally disappointing meal and very poor service for a hefty price tag. We will certainly not be returning.

We have been very lucky to stay at Lympstone Manor and have never been disappointed. We are always planning and looking forward to the next trip when we leave. Simply stunning all round - the service, the setting, the comfort and of course the cuisine!

Not a place I’d rate highly very disappointing. This was booked as surprise birthday present by my wife. The hotel and the rooms are amazing but as this is a foodie place this did not live up to expectations. We ordered a cod main in the pool house restaurant but what came was far from good quality fish this had a blood line running throw both our main courses. We asked the waiter to check with the kitchen that this was not right, and this was brought back to us with the waiter to say its fine and it won’t kill us! Not what you’d expect from a 5-star hotel. We had some of the cod but did not finish it as it was not very appetising. Due to this my wife then fell sick in the night from having the fish. My wife then had a questioner sent to her she filled this out explaining what a disappointment the meal was. This was filled out a few weeks ago and she had no acknowledgment back from the hotel that is why I’m putting this on here as we didn’t have a very good experience. Plus, some of the staff not all need to be a bit more customer friendly. Not a great experience. We won’t be going back.

We have had the opportunity to visit and stay at Michael Caines' Lympstone Manor on numerous occasions and it never disappoints. From first driving up the gravel driveway, as it opens up to views of the Manor house and the vineyards overlooking the Exe estuary, you know you are visiting somewhere quite special. The staff are immediately on hand to greet you warmly, making sure that from the moment you arrive until when you leave, everything is just perfect and nothing is too much trouble. What makes the Lympstone Manor experience unique and even more special is that Chef Petron and Owner, Michael Caines, is personally on hand and keen to make sure you enjoy the experience. Working with his talented team which includes Head Chef, Jordan Denning, Michael's tasting menu is an imaginatively created visual display of seasonal local produce that is simply divine. As well as two seasonal tasting menus, there is also the choice of an a la carte selection, and all accompanied with an amazing selection of wines or flight of wines - including wines from the Lympstone Manor estate. Michael is clearly extremely passionate about his food, his wine and Lympstone Manor, and we can't wait to go back!

We had an really lovely set birthday meal for my mum here. Food was gorgeous. Had a walk around afterwards & the garden is nice. Pool bar area looks nice aswell although didn't go in. Would definitely go back. We saw Michael Caine after the meal.