The Five Bells Inn - East Devon

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

We had a fantastic Sunday lunch at this restaurant. The service was friendly, efficient, and polite. The food was delicious and enjoyed by the entire family. I would highly recommend this cozy and welcoming pub to anyone in the area.

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

We have dined at this restaurant several times and have always been satisfied with the food and the hospitality. This was our first time trying their Sunday lunch, and we were impressed with the quality and portion sizes for a reasonable price. Despite challenging times for pubs and restaurants, they continue to provide excellent service in a clean and pleasant atmosphere. We are excited to return again in the future.

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