Had a really lovely meal. The fish was so fresh. We will be back again soon.
Alfie Carlisle (CARLISLE, Alfie)
A warm welcome, great beer and good food. Thank you.
Stephen Jones
Excellent food and drink in a relaxed atmosphere.
Adele Gambie
Great county pub to visit. Food is amazing! And friendly staff. Highly recommend the scotch egg and veggie
Andrea moulton
A nice pub with plenty of character, toilets are situated downstairs here, food is bloody amazing, lots a flavours a good variable menu choice with a specials board if the menu isn't enough choice. Desert was just as amazing. This is my second visit here. Would definitely come back.
Kat R
We stopped off for a drink as this looked like a great little pub from reviews. The staff immediately asked if we were local, when we said no, they were immediately unfriendly and unwelcoming to the point where we left early rather upset by the whole experience. The beer itself was very nice and they have a good room downstairs which was full, but it was small things like the staff immediately disengaging in conversation, and asking us to remove our dog even though there were multiple other dogs and children running around and making much more noise (to clarify one of our dogs was squeaking a bit as there was a family next to us with a spaniel who was clearly in heat, bouncing off the walls and running around in circles). There seemed to be a lot of small things being said at the bar behind us with folk looking at us and chuckling, it was genuinely really not very nice at all. Considering we went in with the intention of buying a few rounds and some beer/merchandise to take home, we hardly stayed for one. Such as shame as this could have been a great pub.
Shaun
What a place! Own beer, fabulous owners, top rate bar staff, warm fire, there is no better pub. For a meal it has its favourites as well as a few specials, all are first rate.
karina da cunha
The most shocking treatment I ever witnessed and had. Arrived to this place earlier, so we could commemorate two of the members of our group's birthday by waiting by the bar drinking alcohol. But as soon as staff saw my disabled friend they were not happy. It was so obvious. They said she should sit by a high stool by the bar, but she barely can walk, so we asked them to take a stool away and put a chair instead. A man that looked like the boss of the place just replied: 'We don't want her to obstruct passage!' Which was shocking, they left her there holding to me standing up whilst the bar staff kept asking if we want to drink. We took a chair ourselves and sat my friend with no obstruction at all to their path. By this time the man said he found a table earlier, so we couldn't start to drink, decided to give up alcohol and commemorate later somewhere else. I wish I could leave, being from a country where people would straight away accommodate an elderly and disabled person and make them as comfortable as possible. We didn't leave because it's hard for her to walk and I didn't want to make her walk back. My friend that book the place said she had a good vegan meal there once and we felt we would give a chance anyways.Once sited this man continued to be ruder and ruder, inpatient and aggressive in his body language. He was so rude to our friend when she asked questions about their vegan food, she asked about nut roast if it would be too dry without sauce, for which he replied no. Rolling his eyes to every questions. He put a vegan gravy meal together without gravy instead of telling us simply that would not be a good idea. ( his idea). Anyways, we ordered, thinking maybe the chef is good. First the starter, disgusting olives that he probably buys from the cheapest supermarket and called it "marinated olives'. I am not sure of his costumers are used to poor quality but I have never had poor quality like this in nice pubs in Exeter. It was shocking. Then he brought our plates of dried "roast", with nothing on, not even olive oil on the veggies, nothing, seemed like he had a kick of serving us ( vegans) that food. He offered apple and cranberry sauce and my friend said: yes please, can I have both? He brought only one cranberry and threw on the table. My other friend scampi plate ( the non vegan one) looked like a frozen food you get from Lidl. I decided to observe the other tables, the food were the same, all poor quality from frozen. People drink alcohol and eat. I find the British have no courage to complain or they keep going back because they have no clue about food and good food or they are embarrassed to complain. So this kind of pub can exploit their customers with the fake propaganda. Anyways we decided to be like the British, to let it go then desert came, I couldn't stop laughing because it was a joke. My elderly friend even called it 'miserable desert'. Very poor effort. We decided to let it go, and have fun as it was two our members birthday and we will soon go somewhere to commemorate with drinks.Time to pay, my friend only comment that she didn't find the price fair for such a bland meal 17 pounds for what is in the picture: frozen veggies, nut roast and frozen chips with nothing on it. The owner/ boss/ whatever that rude man was, went crazy. He was a huge build man, looking squaring in the eyes of the two of the ladies ( he wouldn't dare to do it to a man, the coward). He told us we should have told him we are brining a disabled person before hand. ( I knew by their faces and behaviours that he was discriminating my friend from the beginning). Told our friend that we arrived earlier ( yes we did, to sit by the bar and drink) but he didn't made it possible. Anyways, he went on to threaten my friend, a small thin lady, telling her he knows her family. Exactly, like a gangster.We felt sorry for the staff that were nice and have to work under this man. The young boy was lovely, please go work somewhere else and I really hop
karina d
The most shocking treatment I ever witnessed and had. Arrived to this place earlier, so we could commemorate two of the members of our group's birthday by waiting by the bar drinking alcohol. But as soon as staff saw my disabled friend they were not happy. It was so obvious. They said she should sit by a high stool by the bar, but she barely can walk, so we asked them to take a stool away and put a chair instead. A man that looked like the boss of the place just replied: 'We don't want her to obstruct passage!' Which was shocking, they left her there holding to me standing up whilst the bar staff kept asking if we want to drink. We took a chair ourselves and sat my friend with no obstruction at all to their path. By this time the man said he found a table earlier, so we couldn't start to drink, decided to give up alcohol and commemorate later somewhere else. I wish I could leave, being from a country where people would straight away accommodate an elderly and disabled person and make them as comfortable as possible. We didn't leave because it's hard for her to walk and I didn't want to make her walk back. My friend that book the place said she had a good vegan meal there once and we felt we would give a chance anyways. Once sited this man continued to be ruder and ruder, inpatient and aggressive in his body language. He was so rude to our friend when she asked questions about their vegan food, she asked about nut roast if it would be too dry without sauce, for which he replied no. Rolling his eyes to every questions. He put a vegan gravy meal together without gravy instead of telling us simply that would not be a good idea. ( his idea). Anyways, we ordered, thinking maybe the chef is good. First the starter, disgusting olives that he probably buys from the cheapest supermarket and called it "marinated olives'. I am not sure of his costumers are used to poor quality but I have never had poor quality like this in nice pubs in Exeter. It was shocking. Then he brought our plates of dried "roast", with nothing on, not even olive oil on the veggies, nothing, seemed like he had a kick of serving us ( vegans) that food. He offered apple and cranberry sauce and my friend said: yes please, can I have both? He brought only one cranberry and threw on the table. My other friend scampi plate ( the non vegan one) looked like a frozen food you get from Lidl. I decided to observe the other tables, the food were the same, all poor quality from frozen. People drink alcohol and eat. I find the British have no courage to complain or they keep going back because they have no clue about food and good food or they are embarrassed to complain. So this kind of pub can exploit their customers with the fake propaganda. Anyways we decided to be like the British, to let it go then desert came, I couldn't stop laughing because it was a joke. My elderly friend even called it 'miserable desert'. Very poor effort. We decided to let it go, and have fun as it was two our members birthday and we will soon go somewhere to commemorate with drinks. Time to pay, my friend only comment that she didn't find the price fair for such a bland meal 17 pounds for what is in the picture: frozen veggies, nut roast and frozen chips with nothing on it. The owner/ boss/ whatever that rude man was, went crazy. He was a huge build man, looking squaring in the eyes of the two of the ladies ( he wouldn't dare to do it to a man, the coward). He told us we should have told him we are brining a disabled person before hand. ( I knew by their faces and behaviours that he was discriminating my friend from the beginning). Told our friend that we arrived earlier ( yes we did, to sit by the bar and drink) but he didn't made it possible. Anyways, he went on to threaten my friend, a small thin lady, telling her he knows her family. Exactly, like a gangster. We felt sorry for the staff that were nice and have to work under this man. The young boy was lovely, please go work somewhere else and I really
Hands down worst experience I have ever had eating out, and I have travelled the world and eaten from street stalls to top-class world-famous restaurants. I took my elderly friend out for dinner, who is visibly disabled. The owner discriminated against her immediately. I think she made the staff and customers uncomfortable. We arrived early for pre-dinner drinks but there was nowhere to sit. We asked for a chair for my 82-year-old friend and the manager said no as she would be in the way of other customers. He left her and us standing for a good ten minutes. I wanted to leave immediately but it was such an effort for my friend to get in and out of the car and to walk that I didn't want to stress her out. We were given a table but we were met with impatience and indignation from the start which continued the entire evening. The impatience of the manager serving us couldn't be more obvious. He was literally rolling his eyes at us. We asked about the vegan options and it only got worse. He angrily informed us that there was only one vegan option but that he could throw together a plate for us and that is literally what he did, threw it together. There was zero effort and we were made to feel that we were nothing but an imposition and we felt very unwelcome. The food was bland and tasteless and there was no effort to make it palatable and he ignored our request for some gravy or at least some sauces. To be honest, all of the food that was being served to the other guests looked like it came from a greasy spoon. My elderly friend ordered scampi and it looked like a kid's meal from a supermarket cafe - frozen scampi balls, frozen chips and frozen peas. We then made the mistake of ordering a chocolate brownie which was not a brownie. It looked like they scraped the sauce off the top of a cake. You needed a spoon to eat it and not a fork. It was horrible and we felt sick after. Then came the fun bit. He charged us £17 for our vegan meal which consisted of a bland and greasy spoon of potato, a slice of nut roast that tasted and felt like cardboard and some plain green beans and frozen peas. I had the audacity to express my disappointment and the manager went ballistic. He told us that we were out of order coming to the pub before our booking slot. Imagine coming to a pub to have a drink before dinner...how outrageous, then he told us we shouldn't have come with a disabled person without telling them in advance. Ahh, there you have it, my disabled friend lowering the tone. He became very unstable and unbalanced when we objected to the poor value for money and he began screaming at me and my friend in front of the entire restaurant. He told us that we didn't have to pay anything. Normally I would not accept a free meal but in this situation, I did, as he was so out of order to us and the food was so bad and the price was so high that I found it more than justifiable that we shouldn't pay. He then went on to threaten my friend. A fully grown man was threatening my other friend who is in her sixties and very petite. I couldn't believe my ears and eyes. He told me that I was banned which is irrelevant, I wouldn't step back in that place if you paid me. I can honestly say I have never been treated so badly. We really did try to swallow the bad attitude and the clear distaste he had for women who are vegan and for elderly disabled women, and we even shut up when the food was a disgrace. We only commented on the price at the end (as he didn't inform us of the price beforehand) and then the guy had a breakdown. He really should get some therapy and go on a course to teach him about good customer service and relations. However, I am not sure it would help at all, this guy had 'misogynistic ' permeating through him like a stick of rock has the word Blackpool running through it. I am genuinely in shock, and deeply saddened at the discrimination my older friends faced. If you are vegan or disabled please save yourself the humiliation and indignity of eating here.
Nick Little
I've probably reviewed the Beer Engine before, but it's worthy of a second A* rating. We wanted to take my mum out for a quality pub meal, so took the train from Dawlish up to Newton St Cyres on a Friday evening. As with previous visits, the owners and staff warmly welcomed us. From there on, in spite if it being a busy evening, the staff were on the ball with our food and drink needs, so we didn't wait long for anything. Then we ordered food. I had Venison (pictured) which was wonderful. My wife and mum had different dishes which were also thoroughly enjoyed. Lovely beer brewed on the premises added to it for me! The Beer Engine is a superb evening out, so I'd encourage you to go there ?
raedinger
Our local pub, did us proud again! Thank you Will, Vicky, Holly, Ollie and team. We have elderly relatives staying with us who have particular dietary needs. The Beer Engine staff helped us get the right table (space for the wheelchair user) and were happy to work with our requests re food. Delicious food, lovely atmosphere, super log fire… perfect!
bigdaveh1956
A wonderful experience! Good range of excellent beer, food that was a delight to eat, not only was it tasty, but it was hot, good size portions and served quickly and efficiently! Overall a pleasure to have enjoyed the hospitality!
Paul T
Staff were awesome! Atmosphere was different gravy! Quiet nights are lively, big nights are out of this world!
Not to be
Had a really lovely meal. The fish was so fresh. We will be back again soon.
A warm welcome, great beer and good food. Thank you.
Excellent food and drink in a relaxed atmosphere.
Great county pub to visit. Food is amazing! And friendly staff. Highly recommend the scotch egg and veggie
A nice pub with plenty of character, toilets are situated downstairs here, food is bloody amazing, lots a flavours a good variable menu choice with a specials board if the menu isn't enough choice. Desert was just as amazing. This is my second visit here. Would definitely come back.
We stopped off for a drink as this looked like a great little pub from reviews. The staff immediately asked if we were local, when we said no, they were immediately unfriendly and unwelcoming to the point where we left early rather upset by the whole experience. The beer itself was very nice and they have a good room downstairs which was full, but it was small things like the staff immediately disengaging in conversation, and asking us to remove our dog even though there were multiple other dogs and children running around and making much more noise (to clarify one of our dogs was squeaking a bit as there was a family next to us with a spaniel who was clearly in heat, bouncing off the walls and running around in circles). There seemed to be a lot of small things being said at the bar behind us with folk looking at us and chuckling, it was genuinely really not very nice at all. Considering we went in with the intention of buying a few rounds and some beer/merchandise to take home, we hardly stayed for one. Such as shame as this could have been a great pub.
What a place! Own beer, fabulous owners, top rate bar staff, warm fire, there is no better pub. For a meal it has its favourites as well as a few specials, all are first rate.
The most shocking treatment I ever witnessed and had. Arrived to this place earlier, so we could commemorate two of the members of our group's birthday by waiting by the bar drinking alcohol. But as soon as staff saw my disabled friend they were not happy. It was so obvious. They said she should sit by a high stool by the bar, but she barely can walk, so we asked them to take a stool away and put a chair instead. A man that looked like the boss of the place just replied: 'We don't want her to obstruct passage!' Which was shocking, they left her there holding to me standing up whilst the bar staff kept asking if we want to drink. We took a chair ourselves and sat my friend with no obstruction at all to their path. By this time the man said he found a table earlier, so we couldn't start to drink, decided to give up alcohol and commemorate later somewhere else. I wish I could leave, being from a country where people would straight away accommodate an elderly and disabled person and make them as comfortable as possible. We didn't leave because it's hard for her to walk and I didn't want to make her walk back. My friend that book the place said she had a good vegan meal there once and we felt we would give a chance anyways.Once sited this man continued to be ruder and ruder, inpatient and aggressive in his body language. He was so rude to our friend when she asked questions about their vegan food, she asked about nut roast if it would be too dry without sauce, for which he replied no. Rolling his eyes to every questions. He put a vegan gravy meal together without gravy instead of telling us simply that would not be a good idea. ( his idea). Anyways, we ordered, thinking maybe the chef is good. First the starter, disgusting olives that he probably buys from the cheapest supermarket and called it "marinated olives'. I am not sure of his costumers are used to poor quality but I have never had poor quality like this in nice pubs in Exeter. It was shocking. Then he brought our plates of dried "roast", with nothing on, not even olive oil on the veggies, nothing, seemed like he had a kick of serving us ( vegans) that food. He offered apple and cranberry sauce and my friend said: yes please, can I have both? He brought only one cranberry and threw on the table. My other friend scampi plate ( the non vegan one) looked like a frozen food you get from Lidl. I decided to observe the other tables, the food were the same, all poor quality from frozen. People drink alcohol and eat. I find the British have no courage to complain or they keep going back because they have no clue about food and good food or they are embarrassed to complain. So this kind of pub can exploit their customers with the fake propaganda. Anyways we decided to be like the British, to let it go then desert came, I couldn't stop laughing because it was a joke. My elderly friend even called it 'miserable desert'. Very poor effort. We decided to let it go, and have fun as it was two our members birthday and we will soon go somewhere to commemorate with drinks.Time to pay, my friend only comment that she didn't find the price fair for such a bland meal 17 pounds for what is in the picture: frozen veggies, nut roast and frozen chips with nothing on it. The owner/ boss/ whatever that rude man was, went crazy. He was a huge build man, looking squaring in the eyes of the two of the ladies ( he wouldn't dare to do it to a man, the coward). He told us we should have told him we are brining a disabled person before hand. ( I knew by their faces and behaviours that he was discriminating my friend from the beginning). Told our friend that we arrived earlier ( yes we did, to sit by the bar and drink) but he didn't made it possible. Anyways, he went on to threaten my friend, a small thin lady, telling her he knows her family. Exactly, like a gangster.We felt sorry for the staff that were nice and have to work under this man. The young boy was lovely, please go work somewhere else and I really hop
The most shocking treatment I ever witnessed and had. Arrived to this place earlier, so we could commemorate two of the members of our group's birthday by waiting by the bar drinking alcohol. But as soon as staff saw my disabled friend they were not happy. It was so obvious. They said she should sit by a high stool by the bar, but she barely can walk, so we asked them to take a stool away and put a chair instead. A man that looked like the boss of the place just replied: 'We don't want her to obstruct passage!' Which was shocking, they left her there holding to me standing up whilst the bar staff kept asking if we want to drink. We took a chair ourselves and sat my friend with no obstruction at all to their path. By this time the man said he found a table earlier, so we couldn't start to drink, decided to give up alcohol and commemorate later somewhere else. I wish I could leave, being from a country where people would straight away accommodate an elderly and disabled person and make them as comfortable as possible. We didn't leave because it's hard for her to walk and I didn't want to make her walk back. My friend that book the place said she had a good vegan meal there once and we felt we would give a chance anyways. Once sited this man continued to be ruder and ruder, inpatient and aggressive in his body language. He was so rude to our friend when she asked questions about their vegan food, she asked about nut roast if it would be too dry without sauce, for which he replied no. Rolling his eyes to every questions. He put a vegan gravy meal together without gravy instead of telling us simply that would not be a good idea. ( his idea). Anyways, we ordered, thinking maybe the chef is good. First the starter, disgusting olives that he probably buys from the cheapest supermarket and called it "marinated olives'. I am not sure of his costumers are used to poor quality but I have never had poor quality like this in nice pubs in Exeter. It was shocking. Then he brought our plates of dried "roast", with nothing on, not even olive oil on the veggies, nothing, seemed like he had a kick of serving us ( vegans) that food. He offered apple and cranberry sauce and my friend said: yes please, can I have both? He brought only one cranberry and threw on the table. My other friend scampi plate ( the non vegan one) looked like a frozen food you get from Lidl. I decided to observe the other tables, the food were the same, all poor quality from frozen. People drink alcohol and eat. I find the British have no courage to complain or they keep going back because they have no clue about food and good food or they are embarrassed to complain. So this kind of pub can exploit their customers with the fake propaganda. Anyways we decided to be like the British, to let it go then desert came, I couldn't stop laughing because it was a joke. My elderly friend even called it 'miserable desert'. Very poor effort. We decided to let it go, and have fun as it was two our members birthday and we will soon go somewhere to commemorate with drinks. Time to pay, my friend only comment that she didn't find the price fair for such a bland meal 17 pounds for what is in the picture: frozen veggies, nut roast and frozen chips with nothing on it. The owner/ boss/ whatever that rude man was, went crazy. He was a huge build man, looking squaring in the eyes of the two of the ladies ( he wouldn't dare to do it to a man, the coward). He told us we should have told him we are brining a disabled person before hand. ( I knew by their faces and behaviours that he was discriminating my friend from the beginning). Told our friend that we arrived earlier ( yes we did, to sit by the bar and drink) but he didn't made it possible. Anyways, he went on to threaten my friend, a small thin lady, telling her he knows her family. Exactly, like a gangster. We felt sorry for the staff that were nice and have to work under this man. The young boy was lovely, please go work somewhere else and I really
Restaurantji Recommends
Hands down worst experience I have ever had eating out, and I have travelled the world and eaten from street stalls to top-class world-famous restaurants. I took my elderly friend out for dinner, who is visibly disabled. The owner discriminated against her immediately. I think she made the staff and customers uncomfortable. We arrived early for pre-dinner drinks but there was nowhere to sit. We asked for a chair for my 82-year-old friend and the manager said no as she would be in the way of other customers. He left her and us standing for a good ten minutes. I wanted to leave immediately but it was such an effort for my friend to get in and out of the car and to walk that I didn't want to stress her out. We were given a table but we were met with impatience and indignation from the start which continued the entire evening. The impatience of the manager serving us couldn't be more obvious. He was literally rolling his eyes at us. We asked about the vegan options and it only got worse. He angrily informed us that there was only one vegan option but that he could throw together a plate for us and that is literally what he did, threw it together. There was zero effort and we were made to feel that we were nothing but an imposition and we felt very unwelcome. The food was bland and tasteless and there was no effort to make it palatable and he ignored our request for some gravy or at least some sauces. To be honest, all of the food that was being served to the other guests looked like it came from a greasy spoon. My elderly friend ordered scampi and it looked like a kid's meal from a supermarket cafe - frozen scampi balls, frozen chips and frozen peas. We then made the mistake of ordering a chocolate brownie which was not a brownie. It looked like they scraped the sauce off the top of a cake. You needed a spoon to eat it and not a fork. It was horrible and we felt sick after. Then came the fun bit. He charged us £17 for our vegan meal which consisted of a bland and greasy spoon of potato, a slice of nut roast that tasted and felt like cardboard and some plain green beans and frozen peas. I had the audacity to express my disappointment and the manager went ballistic. He told us that we were out of order coming to the pub before our booking slot. Imagine coming to a pub to have a drink before dinner...how outrageous, then he told us we shouldn't have come with a disabled person without telling them in advance. Ahh, there you have it, my disabled friend lowering the tone. He became very unstable and unbalanced when we objected to the poor value for money and he began screaming at me and my friend in front of the entire restaurant. He told us that we didn't have to pay anything. Normally I would not accept a free meal but in this situation, I did, as he was so out of order to us and the food was so bad and the price was so high that I found it more than justifiable that we shouldn't pay. He then went on to threaten my friend. A fully grown man was threatening my other friend who is in her sixties and very petite. I couldn't believe my ears and eyes. He told me that I was banned which is irrelevant, I wouldn't step back in that place if you paid me. I can honestly say I have never been treated so badly. We really did try to swallow the bad attitude and the clear distaste he had for women who are vegan and for elderly disabled women, and we even shut up when the food was a disgrace. We only commented on the price at the end (as he didn't inform us of the price beforehand) and then the guy had a breakdown. He really should get some therapy and go on a course to teach him about good customer service and relations. However, I am not sure it would help at all, this guy had 'misogynistic ' permeating through him like a stick of rock has the word Blackpool running through it. I am genuinely in shock, and deeply saddened at the discrimination my older friends faced. If you are vegan or disabled please save yourself the humiliation and indignity of eating here.
I've probably reviewed the Beer Engine before, but it's worthy of a second A* rating. We wanted to take my mum out for a quality pub meal, so took the train from Dawlish up to Newton St Cyres on a Friday evening. As with previous visits, the owners and staff warmly welcomed us. From there on, in spite if it being a busy evening, the staff were on the ball with our food and drink needs, so we didn't wait long for anything. Then we ordered food. I had Venison (pictured) which was wonderful. My wife and mum had different dishes which were also thoroughly enjoyed. Lovely beer brewed on the premises added to it for me! The Beer Engine is a superb evening out, so I'd encourage you to go there ?
Our local pub, did us proud again! Thank you Will, Vicky, Holly, Ollie and team. We have elderly relatives staying with us who have particular dietary needs. The Beer Engine staff helped us get the right table (space for the wheelchair user) and were happy to work with our requests re food. Delicious food, lovely atmosphere, super log fire… perfect!
A wonderful experience! Good range of excellent beer, food that was a delight to eat, not only was it tasty, but it was hot, good size portions and served quickly and efficiently! Overall a pleasure to have enjoyed the hospitality!
Staff were awesome! Atmosphere was different gravy! Quiet nights are lively, big nights are out of this world!