Exeter St Davids - a couple of questions

[khib70]

I'm travelling from Edinburgh down to Truro first week in December. This time around I'm flying from Edinburgh to Exeter, then onwards by FGW. Would just like to tap into the huge fund of local knowledge on here.

Firstly I've got a couple of hours from when my flight arrives till my train from EXD. Any nice establishments near the station where a pint of proper beer and something nice for lunch can be obtained?

Secondly, and more importantly, I'm on a tight schedule on the way home due to bustitution between Liskeard and Plymouth. My train from Plymouth gets in at 1104 and my flight is at 1320. I'm aware there's a good chance the train will be late, and the airport bus is only hourly, so how easy is it to get a taxi from St David's to the airport, how expensive is it, and how long does it take?

Thanks in advance for any tips and sorry Admins if this is the wrong forum!

 

[Temple Meads]

I'm travelling from Edinburgh down to Truro first week in December. This time around I'm flying from Edinburgh to Exeter, then onwards by FGW. Would just like to tap into the huge fund of local knowledge on here.

Firstly I've got a couple of hours from when my flight arrives till my train from EXD. Any nice establishments near the station where a pint of proper beer and something nice for lunch can be obtained?

Secondly, and more importantly, I'm on a tight schedule on the way home due to bustitution between Liskeard and Plymouth. My train from Plymouth gets in at 1104 and my flight is at 1320. I'm aware there's a good chance the train will be late, and the airport bus is only hourly, so how easy is it to get a taxi from St David's to the airport, how expensive is it, and how long does it take?

Thanks in advance for any tips and sorry Admins if this is the wrong forum!

There's usually a well stocked taxi rank at the station, not sure about price, but the journey should take about 20-25 minutes, maybe more if the traffic is bad.

 

[CC 72100]

Not everyone will agree with me (I know that sometimes this pub chain is not the most 'popular' on the forum!) but the wetherspoons just up the hill from the station, The Imperial, is always good shout. Exit the station and go towards the Premier Inn, then up the alleyway following signs for the University. Cross the road and then you're practically at the driveway. 10 minute walk (uphill), 5 minutes back down max.

 

[MarlowDonkey]

Any nice establishments near the station where a pint of proper beer and something nice for lunch can be obtained?

The Great Western Hotel is visible from the exit to St David's. It's a bit run down in the "well used" sense, but has a decent selection of hand pumps.

The Wetherspoons' is in what you might describe as an elevated position with respect to the station.

Taxis always seem plentiful.

 

[HowardGWR]

Interesting that info. I met some scottish people on a Plymouth bound train who had made the same choice. Good that the railways get some business after they closed Plymouth airport.

 

[Rapidash]

Be warned: the Imperial is a student pub this time of year, and even though its one of the largest Spoons in the country, its still hard to find a seat!

The Taxi rank is usually well populated. Not sure how much it will be, around half an hour is about right. The 56 is only worth a trip on if you really, really want to see the Met Office security barriers

Mill On The Exe isn't that far away either (about 15 mins and its entirely on the flat)

 

[davetheguard]

The Great Western Hotel would also be my recommendation for a decent beer. It's open all day, Good Beer Guide listed, has at least eight handpumps, and does pub grub style food. A bit tired round the edges, but comfortable enough and friendly.

Turn left out of the station entrance, and you'll see it in front of you, where the station approach road joins the main road. Two minutes' walk......

 

[postye]

Another recommendation for the Great Western Hotel, I staye there overnight on my ALR recently and although the decor is a little tired, the food and ale was very good

 

[CC 72100]

Be warned: the Imperial is a student pub this time of year, and even though its one of the largest Spoons in the country, its still hard to find a seat!

It gets busy in there - don't get me wrong - but I've had no trouble finding a seat in there at Saturday at 4 last week, Tuesday early afternoon, even Saturday evening.

As for it being a student pub - not in the middle of the day it doesn't seem to be. I've often been one of the few students in there. Even on Saturday night it was mainly locals compared to students.

 

[HowardGWR]

It sounds to me that on the return trip taxi is essential, and in view of my earlier post, it would not surprise me that you find a few others to share the fare.

 

[fgwrich]

The Great Western Hotel would also be my recommendation for a decent beer. It's open all day, Good Beer Guide listed, has at least eight handpumps, and does pub grub style food. A bit tired round the edges, but comfortable enough and friendly.

Turn left out of the station entrance, and you'll see it in front of you, where the station approach road joins the main road. Two minutes' walk......

Be warned: the Imperial is a student pub this time of year, and even though its one of the largest Spoons in the country, its still hard to find a seat!

The Taxi rank is usually well populated. Not sure how much it will be, around half an hour is about right. The 56 is only worth a trip on if you really, really want to see the Met Office security barriers

Mill On The Exe isn't that far away either (about 15 mins and its entirely on the flat)

Very much agree with you there, The Great Western is the most local to the station and having eaten there a few times I can say does some very nice Handmade Steak Pies! The beer has never let me down there either, with up to 8 always on and usually including some of the locals - Bay's Brewery (Torbay) Dartmoor Brewery, St Austell.

If you've got a little more time on your hands, then Topsham & Lympstone are worth a visit for Pubs too. Very nice villages, with at least 5 in Topsham including a Hall & Woodhouse / Badger pub on the quayside, St Austell Pub and The Bridge Inn - one of Devons oldest and finest pubs! And Lympstone - The Swann Inn is right next to the station, although a little gastro-pub type for fine food, it always has a fair few reals on everytime.

Enjoy your stay down there, I can't think of anything in the Broadclyst/Exeter Airport area - there are two pubs down the road from there but little else in the area though. If you want a bite to eat in Exeter though, I'd certainly recommend The Exploding Bakery in Exeter Central though - Great food from there, in a great building (the end of Exeter Central Station Building).

 

[LateThanNever]

It sounds to me that on the return trip taxi is essential, and in view of my earlier post, it would not surprise me that you find a few others to share the fare.

Think you'll need to share at Exeter taxi prices! It's the 45th (or something) British City but has the 5th most expensive taxi fares...
The council restricts the quantity of taxis and standards are unremittingly low. God forbid that they should actually emulate the standards of black cabs of their fellow Devonians in Plymouth...

 

[londiscape]

My experience is about 10 years out of date, but I'll still second the recommendation for the Great Western and its fine selection of real ales. Last time there, the landlord heard my audibly Northern companion order the pints and gave us the option of having our ale poured via a sparkler or "Northern Nozzle" as we used to call it. Sparkled for him, non-sparkled for me. Happy days, and this is the only pub in the South where I've ever seen this happen.

Not sure about the prevalence of northern nozzles in Edinburgh, but if you are of this preference I sincerely hope that a) you try this pub out and b) the landlord of nearly a decade ago is still there

 

[ian959]

Another vote for the Great Western Hotel for beer and food. Never has been a fancy place but both food and drink are very good. Whenever I am down that way I always spend time there. Missed more than the occasional connection as a consequence.

 

[DarloRich]

Not everyone will agree with me (I know that sometimes this pub chain is not the most 'popular' on the forum!) but the wetherspoons just up the hill from the station, The Imperial, is always good shout. Exit the station and go towards the Premier Inn, then up the alleyway following signs for the University. Cross the road and then you're practically at the driveway. 10 minute walk (uphill), 5 minutes back down max.

Is that the one with the Orangery? There can be a lot of dirty studes in there.

The Great Western Hotel by the station is quite good – a bit tired now but always has a good selection of proper beer.

My experience is about 10 years out of date, but I'll still second the recommendation for the Great Western and its fine selection of real ales. Last time there, the landlord heard my audibly Northern companion order the pints and gave us the option of having our ale poured via a sparkler or "Northern Nozzle" as we used to call it. Sparkled for him, non-sparkled for me. Happy days, and this is the only pub in the South where I've ever seen this happen.

Not sure about the prevalence of northern nozzles in Edinburgh, but if you are of this preference I sincerely hope that a) you try this pub out and b) the landlord of nearly a decade ago is still there

Hang on - you mean you decided to have the beer served in the flat awful southern style? What a waste

 

[khib70]

Thanks everyone for the prompt and very helpful replies so far. Great Western sounds fine to me. (I like the sparkler on my beer too). Been up and down from the West Country many times (including a 10 hour each way first class HST-fest last year) but have always passed through Exeter without stopping.

Thanks to the always excellent advice of forum members here, I'll be a lot less of a lost soul and a lot more of a well-refreshed one!

 

[CC 72100]

Is that the one with the Orangery? There can be a lot of dirty studes in there.

Yes it is the one with the Orangery. I'm slightly perplexed by your 'dirty studes' - what exactly are you trying to say?!

 

[starrymarkb]

Private Hire is far better then Hackneys in Exeter with a few tidy fleets - if it looks tight then two good ones are 01392 666666 and 01392 434343 - Usually you'll get a newish Prius IME.

 

[londiscape]

Is that the one with the Orangery? There can be a lot of dirty studes in there.

Yep that's the one. Many many years ago I was one of them, although I did try to make an effort to be clean before going out!

Hang on - you mean you decided to have the beer served in the flat awful southern style? What a waste

No, southern style all the way! If you don't force it through a northern nozzle the beer has much more taste to it, yes it is flat but is much hoppier, more aromatic and just... well, fresher*. Nozzles just force all the taste into the head!

*Note I will make an exception for some ales brewed in the North as they have been specifically designed to be sparkled, admittedly these do taste a bit weird without it. Black Sheep is one in particular - absolutely lovely ale when served in Yorkshire, but just isn't right when London pubs serve it.

 

[DarloRich]

Yep that's the one. Many many years ago I was one of them, although I did try to make an effort to be clean before going out!



No, southern style all the way! If you don't force it through a northern nozzle the beer has much more taste to it, yes it is flat but is much hoppier, more aromatic and just... well, fresher*. Nozzles just force all the taste into the head!

*Note I will make an exception for some ales brewed in the North as they have been specifically designed to be sparkled, admittedly these do taste a bit weird without it. Black Sheep is one in particular - absolutely lovely ale when served in Yorkshire, but just isn't right when London pubs serve it.

hang on you say there are beers other than Black Sheep..........

We will have to agree to disagree - although in the interests of fairness I will say that there are some tolerable southern ales. Some of the Kentish ones are quite complex in their make up.

Anyway back on topic - if you have enougth time the Wellhouse Tavern ( i think) is by the Cathedral and although part of a restuarnt owned by "celeb" chef Michael Caine is quite good.

The town centre itself is a bit lacking in decent pubs tbh