Quick info
About The Imperial
On New North Road in Exeter, The Imperial occupies a former hotel building and includes an Orangery designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel, now used as a barrel-vaulted conservatory space. The pub sits between the university campus, the railway station, and the town centre. Grounds extend beyond the building, with outdoor tables set under tall trees. The menu runs to around 70 items, including pub grub such as the Deli Deal, Just-A-Wrap, and pancakes with maple-cured bacon and maple-flavour syrup, alongside real ales. Service is walk-in, with no reservations taken, and drinks can also be ordered at the table through an app. The combination of the conservatory, the grounds, and the surrounding trees gives the pub more outdoor and indoor seating than a standard bar room.
Good to know
- ParkingPaid parking lot · Paid street parking · Usually plenty of parking
- AccessibilityWheelchair: entrance, parking lot, restroom, seating
- Good for kidsGood for kids
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Menu & Prices
70 dishes · mains £1–71- Deli Deal£6.57
- Deli Deal (Alcoholic)£8.00
- Just-A-Wrap£5.39
- Four Pancakes, Maple-Cured Bacon, Maple-Flavour Syrup£5.14
- Four Pancakes, Maple-Flavour Syrup£4.45
- Two Pancakes, Maple-Cured Bacon, Maple-Flavour Syrup£3.69
Reviews
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention brunel-designed orangery, paid car park fines, ballroom with adam ceiling and garden table service.
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention brunel-designed orangery, paid car park fines, ballroom with adam ceiling and garden table service.
Customer Review Summary
The orangery conservatory is the draw reviewers raise most, described as stunning and spectacular, with the former ballroom seating area and the large grounds with plenty of outdoor tables close behind. Several call the food and drinks usual good value, with breakfasts and fish and chips mentioned, though one found a jacket potato dried out and another says to stick to pub basics. Table service in the sloped garden and helpful, welcoming staff earn praise, while drinks ordered on the app arrived slower than one reviewer expected. Seagulls are called a nuisance outside, quick to reach tables for scraps. One reviewer describes uncleared tables, a loud atmosphere, and a beer glass that smelled of urinal cakes, and worries about becoming ill later. The car park draws the sharpest complaints: reviewers say the charge is poorly signposted, and one received a fine through the post after spending money inside.
Customer Review Summary
The orangery conservatory is the draw reviewers raise most, described as stunning and spectacular, with the former ballroom seating area and the large grounds with plenty of outdoor tables close behind. Several call the food and drinks usual good value, with breakfasts and fish and chips mentioned, though one found a jacket potato dried out and another says to stick to pub basics. Table service in the sloped garden and helpful, welcoming staff earn praise, while drinks ordered on the app arrived slower than one reviewer expected. Seagulls are called a nuisance outside, quick to reach tables for scraps. One reviewer describes uncleared tables, a loud atmosphere, and a beer glass that smelled of urinal cakes, and worries about becoming ill later. The car park draws the sharpest complaints: reviewers say the charge is poorly signposted, and one received a fine through the post after spending money inside.
Featured reviews
- Google user
“Absolutely ripping people off using the very shady Euro Car Parks (a quick google will tell you how shady they are) to charge paying customers. Only signage indicating that you have to pay is at the back on the carpark, so easily missed. 5 of us came for breakfast, which was nice, but we won't be back. Should be ashamed of using them, and should be ashamed of charging customers to park anyway.”
- Google user
“The orangery conservatory at The Imperial is absolutely amazing. I love visiting with my family. It was buzzing with customers on the day we visited. Staff very helpful & welcoming. Looking forward to returning again.”
- Google user
“Car park isn't free, this isn't clearly signposted anywhere. so imagine my surprise when i receive a fine through my post box after going out and spending money. I mentioned this to staff, at which point they took on an exasperated tone and told me that there are signs on the bars and in the car parks. point is, if you drive there, prepare to get rinsed”
- Google user
“Got to be the biggest Spoons in the country... was blown away by the Orangery, designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel. Wow factor, plus huge grounds, tall trees and a million outdoor tables. Stick to the pub basics is all I can say for the food. The fish n chips looked much better than my very dried out jacket potato.”
- Nikki Palmer
“An absolute delight to return to The Imperial - it is such a stunning building (although the seagulls are a nuisance outside) Drinks service on the app was a little slower than expected but acceptable with …”
Hours
- Monday
- Tuesday
- Wednesday
- Thursday
- Friday
- Saturday
- Sunday
Highlights
“Traditional pub in former hotel with barrel-vaulted conservatory space, for real ales and pub grub.”
- Great beer selection
- Great cocktails
- Great wine list
- Popular for solo dining
Amenities
- Wi-Fi
- Wheelchair accessible entrance
- Outdoor seating
- Dine-in
- Good for kids
- Food at bar
Show more amenities
- Casual
- Onsite services
- Beer
- Food
- Solo dining
- Restroom
- Offerings· 4
- Alcohol
- Cocktails
- Hard liquor
- Wine
- Crowd· 2
- Groups
- Tourists
- Highlights· 3
- Great beer selection
- Great cocktails
- Great wine list
- Parking· 3
- Paid parking lot
- Paid street parking
- Usually plenty of parking
- Dining options· 2
- Seating
- Table service
- Atmosphere· 1
- Trendy
- Accessibility· 3
- Wheelchair accessible parking lot
- Wheelchair accessible restroom
- Wheelchair accessible seating
Location
Bars near The Imperial
- Black Horse4.38000.6 mi£10–20ReservationsWheelchair accessibleOutdoor seating
real ale selection, mac and cheese, burgers
- Ship Inn4.42,2070.6 mi£10–20ReservationsWheelchair accessibleGood for kids
steak and ale pie, sticky coffee pudding, sausages and mash
- 0.6 mi£10–20Wheelchair accessibleOutdoor seating
upper floor balcony views, outdoor terrace seating, sports on big screen
| Place | Rating | Distance | Price | Mentioned in reviews |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The ImperialWheelchair accessible · Outdoor seating · Good for kids | 4.35,712 | — | £10–20 | brunel-designed orangery, paid car park fines, ballroom with adam ceiling |
| Black HorseReservations · Wheelchair accessible · Outdoor seating | 4.3800 | 0.6 mi | £10–20 | real ale selection, mac and cheese, burgers |
| Ship InnReservations · Wheelchair accessible · Good for kids | 4.42,207 | 0.6 mi | £10–20 | steak and ale pie, sticky coffee pudding, sausages and mash |
| The Chevalier Inn - JD WetherspoonWheelchair accessible · Outdoor seating | 3.73,961 | 0.6 mi | £10–20 | upper floor balcony views, outdoor terrace seating, sports on big screen |
The 3 nearest bars by distance. Ratings, hours and review terms come from public business profiles.
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