Food & Drink

Last Thursday the City Gate hosted an official launch party to celebrate the venue’s new look.

Formerly known as the Crown and Sceptre, the boutique pub-hotel is literally laced into the fabric of the ancient city of Exeter and has been welcoming guests since it first opened in 1778.

Transformed, following an extensive refurbishment by renowned pub, hotel and bar group Young’s, The City Gate offers everything from a pint of real ale to after-work cocktails, a leisurely weekend brunch to a three-course dinner and, with 14 boutique bedrooms, a stylish place to lay your head....

Exeter and East Devon will be playing a major role in a nationwide three-week Vegan Festival of Britain that begins later this month.

Restaurants, shops and cafes will be putting on special events or promotions to highlight the wide range of delicious animal-free products that are now available, from ice-cream and handmade chocolate to dairy-free pizzas and sushi. There will be a chance to attend a cookery demonstration, book for special one-off three-course meals, and sample vegan versions of everything from a good old-fashioned full English breakfast to a luxurious champagne and...

The early May Bank Holiday weekend saw Exeter’s Northernhay Gardens and Castle Courtyard transformed into a foodie’s paradise as the 14th Exeter Festival of South West Food and Drink sprang up.

Crowds gathered to see hundreds of local producers, top chefs including Tom Kerridge, Michael Caines MBE, Simon Hulstone, Michael Wignall, Paul Ainsworth, Josh Eggleton and Mark Dodson, family activities, masterclasses and freshly cooked locally-sourced street food.

For the first time in its history, the festival ran on the Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holiday Monday drawing thousands...

It is the wont of the restaurant reviewer to over indulge.

Starter, main, dessert, wine and coffee for two is the minimum expectation.

But not everyone has the time, or budget, for a three-course meal.

And so it was when this reviewer booked a table at Exeter’s newest restaurant, the Venetian-inspired Polpo.

We were looking for good food, nothing too heavy, served promptly for around £12 a head.

To really put our hosts to the test, I ordered one of the most expensive fish dishes (fritto misto) at £9.20.

My dining partner opted for the whipped...