Courtlands Lane, Exmouth, EX8 3NZ
Harden's says
Michael Caines MBE has renovated this once-private home (Courtlands) near Exmouth to create a 21-bedroom country house hotel with 60 covers spread across three individual dining rooms. With a vineyard and landscaped gardens and views over the Exe Estuary; watch out Gidleigh Park?
Harden's survey result
Summary
“Michael Caines continues to deliver an exquisite dining experience, wherein locally sourced produce is transformed into joy on a plate in a gloriously beautiful location”, according to practically all feedback on this Georgian mansion, set amidst its own vineyards and overlooking the Exe estuary. “The dining space is split across three rooms” (Berry Head has the best views) and the cuisine is “outstanding: in particular the Estuary Tasting menu is a triumph of fish cooking”. “Also his own wines are very good”. Minority concerns include the odd incident of “disengaged service” or a “slightly sterile” atmosphere. More common though is applause for the “stunning setting and views”, “efficient” approach and “exceptional” overall standards. “Why only 1 star? It’s right up there with the big guns!”
Summary
“Beautiful food, served in a perfect location” makes Michael Caines’s “very special” Georgian mansion and vineyard – overlooking the Exe estuary – nowadays one of the Top-5 most commented-on restaurants outside London in our annual diners’ poll, and one of the country’s foremost luxury destinations (with 21 bedrooms). “Great views out of the lounge and bar windows” contribute to an overall experience that’s “truly a wow”. “Impeccable” staff (“immensely efficient but low key”) deliver “exceptional” modern cuisine, with the highlight being the ‘Taste of the Estuary’ tasting menu, supplemented by “a great variety of wines” (including, of course, those from the surrounding vines). There are three dining rooms: the Berry Head (with the best views), Powderham and Mamhead. On the downside, “prices are way off scale”… but hardly anyone seems to mind!
Summary
“Fantastic views across the vineyard and over the estuary” set the scene at Michael Caines’s luxurious mansion and vineyard, which – as it hits five years old – is putting in an ever-more assured performance as one of the UK’s highest-rated and most commented-on destinations. “The restaurant itself consists of three smaller dining rooms, all of which have high ceilings, large windows and classy decor”. “Staff are fantastic” and the “classic cooking, beautifully executed” goes from strength to strength (“we had the ‘estuary menu’ – all fish based – and each course was completely delicious, perfectly cooked”).
Summary
“Gidleigh Park on steroids!”. Michael Caines “has shown exceptional skill” in creating this hugely ambitious and “luxurious” three-year-old (“you can see a lot of money has been pumped in”), which has a “wonderful setting, now complete with a vineyard”; and “once the grounds have matured a bit, it will be even more stunning than it already is”, and with excellent views of the Exe estuary. “Dining is split between several rooms so you do not feel you are in a crowd” and the “very confident” cuisine is “as you would expect of Caines: if not overly inventive, then classical, delicious and executed to perfection” from either the à la carte or the ‘Signature’ or (in the evenings only) ‘Taste the Estuary’ eight-course tasting menus. For many reporters it’s just an all-round smash hit, and an “unpretentious” one too. But there are others who qualify their praise. The “ornate surroundings” (“the pomp factor is off the scale”) can feel “very quiet and refined, but lacking buzz” and service though generally “very helpful” and “unobtrusive” is found on occasion to be a “work in progress” or “stilted”. Top Tip – afternoon tea is another option here: “the scones and sandwiches are particularly delicious”.
For 33 years we've been curating reviews of the UK's most notable restaurant. In a typical year, diners submit over 50,000 reviews to create the most authoritative restaurant guide in the UK. Each year, the guide is re-written from scratch based on this survey (although for the 2021 edition, reviews are little changed from 2020 as no survey could run for that year).
Have you eaten at Lympstone Manor?
Owner's description
Lympstone Manor is a historic Grade II listed Georgian manor house that has been creatively and comprehensively transformed into a contemporary country house hotel. Situated overlooking the mouth of the Exe estuary, our 21 luxurious guestrooms and suites take full advantage of this wonderful situation. To reflect this, they are each named after the birds of the Exe estuary and each name-sake an inspiration to our guestrooms which embody our vision of luxury, refinement, comfort, quality, and originality.
Dining at Lympstone Manor is an exceptional experience in every way. Here in the beautiful fine dining rooms of a Georgian mansion, Michael Caines MBE, chef/patron and one of Britain’s most celebrated and influential chefs, is able to fully express his vision of modern British cuisine that is fresh, seasonal, original, and exciting. Utilising the bounty of the Exe estuary, East Devon and the Southwest, his faultless cuisine is superbly matched by wines selected from a world cellar that contains over 600 bins.
Michael has long championed the outstanding larder of Southwest England. It is Michael’s brilliant creativity allied with his global taste and vision that allows him to transform the seasonal and regional into dishes of rare precision, focus and flavour.
Prices
| Availability | 2 courses | 3 courses |  |
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| Always | £110.00 |  |
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| Dinner | £175.00 | |
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| Cost | Availability | Courses | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Menu1 | 215.00 | Dinner only | 7 |
| Menu2 | 225.00 | Always available | 8 |
| Drinks |
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|---|---|
| Wine per bottle | £115.00 |
| Filter Coffee | £7.00 |
| Extras |
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| Service | 15.00% |
Restaurant details
The chef
Michael Caines MBE, chef/patron of Lympstone Manor, is one of Britain’s most celebrated and acclaimed chefs, and has held a reputation of two Michelin stars for 18 years. Over the past 21 years he has earned a global reputation for his distinctive modern European cuisine utilizing the finest local and regional produce and ingredients. Amongst numerous other accolades, Michael has cooked in 10 Downing Street for the Prime Minister, received an MBE in 2006 for services to the hospitality industry and was awarded AA Chef's Chef of the Year in 2007.
Lympstone Manor marks the pinnacle of a career that has been simply scintillating. For the past two years, Michael has spent his time creatively and imaginatively transforming an historic Grade II listed Georgian mansion overlooking the Exe estuary into his wholly personal and exciting vision of contemporary country house hospitality for the 21st century.
In addition to Lympstone Manor, Michael oversees Michael Caines restaurants in North Devon - The Coach House by Michael Caines at Kentishbury Grange and North Wales - Palé Hall. He is also a partner and ambassador for Williams Formula 1 Motor Racing team.ian mansion overlooking the Exe estuary into his wholly personal and exciting vision of contemporary country house hospitality for the 21st century.
Courtlands Lane, Exmouth, EX8 3NZ
Opening hours
| Monday | CLOSED |
| Tuesday | CLOSED |
| Wednesday | 12 pm‑2 pm, 7 pm‑9 pm |
| Thursday | 12 pm‑2 pm, 7 pm‑9 pm |
| Friday | 12 pm‑2:30 pm, 7 pm‑9:30 pm |
| Saturday | 12 pm‑2:30 pm, 7 pm‑9:30 pm |
| Sunday | 12 pm‑2:30 pm, 7 pm‑9:30 pm |
