It is important to remember that for every bad review there are probably lots of satisfied customers. These reviews are the comments of individual visitors to Information Britain and have not been authenticated by us. They should not be taken as the views of Crawbar Ltd - publishers of this web site.

Reviews of Claycutters Arms, Chudleigh Knighton

Best rates for a Local Hotel

Review by dave chamberlain on 28th December, 2012

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BICE QYIET PUB WITH SKITTLES. I AM SRRY ABOUT PETER ABD ANN GIVIBG UP THEIR JOB THERE.

Date visited: APR 1972

Review by D stocker on 8th January, 2012

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Great food good helpful staff would love to eat here all the time will be back. The beer is good to

Date visited: 5.5.2012

Review by Colin Dawe on 4th January, 2012

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Our party of seven went to The Claycutters for new years eve. We had an excellent meal,as we always do when we come here to eat. The service was excellent, & the staff were very festive............all in all a very enjoyable new years eve

Date visited: 31.12.11

Review by Raymond Alsop on 4th December, 2011

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I visited the Claycutters for my birthday.Having read some of the reviews,I was a little concerned.We found the staff to be very polite,the food was deliciuos and the service was very good.Have been back several times since,and have not been dissapointed at all.A lovely country pub and a great place to eat.Well done to all at Claycutters.

Date visited: 13/09/2011

Review by Gail Banham on 24th October, 2011

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Neil & Julie are the best thing that has happened to The Claycutters since I moved to Devon 16 years ago! The food is great ,fresh vegetables, & local produce. What a change from the dreadful fare of past years. They do a wonderful Sunday roast and during the week there's usually a 'specials board' alongside the standard menu.Local ales & a friendly atmosphere is evident.

Date visited: 09/10/2011

Review by paul joyce on 26th September, 2011

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surly barmaid when booking table,found the food bland and overrated,rubbish vegetarian options,wont be going back in a hurry if ever and i only live a stones throw away

Date visited: 20 /9 /2011

Review by Adam Redfern on 7th September, 2011

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Fantastic dining experience. We phoned at 6pm, the place was fully booked, so planned to go elsewhere. The phone rang about 2 minutes later and the manager was apologetic as a table cancelled and it had not been put down yet. We were able to drive the short distance from Fin Lakes 5 minutes away and were seated by 6.20pm. The staff were great, the atmosphere was lovely, and even though we have 3 children 6, 8 and 11 we never felt out of place. The food, well, I work all over the country and eat in many restaurants, and can safely say this was one of the best meals I have had when eat ing out. All of the family agreed, from the children having their chicken and chips (very cultured, I know), to a full trout for the father in law, a cottage pie for my mother in law and daughter, the wife's chicken leek & stilton pie and a big medium rare stake for myself. The portion sizes were excellent, no one was left hungry, and the quality of the food was sublime. The puddings were good, and even they were generously portioned. We all said that when we are in Devon next we will make it a definite date to eat there again. It looks like anyone reading the reviews need only concern themselves from the time the new owners took over.

Date visited: 02/09/11

Review by ben@newton on 31st August, 2011

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Had a terrific meal , a very busy night, the service was exellent the 2 waitress,s were quick efficient and very pleasant and polite especially Laura. Will now become my weekly treat . Well done to Neil & Julie .

Date visited: 30/8/11

Review by g prowse on 26th August, 2011

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Very busy, we had booked table for 8, nice spot for our rowdy crowd, in the alcove. Very nice pint or 2 of Tribute, food as usual with Neil tasty and good portions . The banana split was too much for my dessert loving wife, I had to help her out, good job I thought I was full enough after the real steak and kidney pudding, to not have room for a dessert. We will be back after the holiday season. Porcine dining club.

Date visited: 25-08-11

Review by helen dudas on 7th August, 2011

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we booked a table for 8pm to find it had been given to someone else by a snotty bar maid!! we then ordered our food which was 5 mins between coming out and then it was wrong anyway!! would not recommend, very bad service by barmaid laura!! not coming back any time soon!!

Date visited: 05/08/11

Review by Gippo on 6th August, 2011

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Visited the Claycutters at Chudleigh and the food was very nice. Reasonably priced and a good choice menu. However,,,the girl behind the bar was not at all the most welcoming. It may have been a bad night for her personally or she was fed up with the job, but if she stays she will need to put on a better show if they want the locals to keep visiting during the winter. Even when the bill was paid, some sort of comment could have been made as we all left. The lad working alonside her seemed to be the opposite. He was very pleasant.

Date visited: July 2011

Review by Glenda Lewis on 31st July, 2011

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Neil and Julie originally from the Highwayman's Haunt have taken over this pub. The food is terrific, a good selection on the menue and all at reasonable prices. You most certainly do not leave hungry. Their reputation has preceded them; already in the few weeks they have been at the Claycutters, it is advisable to reserve a table. The staff are friendly and helpful. Will definitely be going again, next time we are down in Devon.

Date visited: 26th and 29th July 2011

Review by Tony Gray on 9th July, 2011

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We went on 8/7/2011. The staff are very pleasant and helpful. The food was excellent and reasonably priced yes we will be going again

Date visited: 8/7/2011

Review by angie cross on 10th April, 2011

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I visited the calycutters for mothers day and got talking to a local about the place as I was very disappointed about the food and lack of atmosphere. I was told ther had been many problems with a previous landlady and that there will be a change of management very soon. hopefully things will change for the better as it is a lovely pub and the vilage needs a focal point. Dont give up yet

Date visited: 3rd april 2011

Review by AC on 28th December, 2010

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I cannot say anything positive about our experience at the Claycutters arms. We had pre-booked a table for 14 and were assured that the normal menu would be available for us, which it was. Unfortunately, the Sunday menu is severely reduced and consisted of a choice of 3 soups, ham and egg (singular) or scampi, both at £7.95 and a variety of filed baguettes. After ordering, we were informed that one of the soups was off as was one of the fillings of the baguettes. Mulled cider was served chilled. Fair enough, this is on Boxing Day but if you're going to be open, taking large bookings and serving food, be prepared for it! Crockery was chipped and marked, the inside of the milk jug filthy. We'd specifically asked for a table by the fire for my friend's octogenarian mother, which was provided. It was just a shame the fire wasn't put on until we asked for it! The service was surly at best with attitude coming at us from the instant we dared step in there and try and spend our money. All the food was ordered at the same time but came out in dribs and drabs, with the two baguettes taking the longest. Again, fair enough it was chef's day off, but if you cannot cope, do not try! A paltry 5% discount had to be asked for which is why I'm taking the time to write this review. Absolutely no apology was offered at any time for this shambles. The meal from ordering to finishing took well over an hour and a half. One meal came out 1/2 an hour before the next lot came out. the soups then came and it was another 20 minutes before the next four meals came out and then finally, the baguettes arrived. As a tourist to the region, I recommend other non-locals to avoid the Claycutters Arms until the reviews on here show a large positive upswing. A thoroughly, thoroughly disappointing experience which ruined our time there.

Date visited: 26th December 2010

Review by nick on 15th December, 2010

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Liked the pub for atmosphere and Otter beer was good. But, oh dear, lunch was dreadful, inedible duck and watery, over frozen, plaice. At least one of our party was happy with his sausages, but we won't be recommending the food here to friends.

Date visited: 14 december 2010

Review by Fiona on 13th May, 2010

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Having lived in Chudleigh Knighton for over 3 years now, every time I go back to the Claycutters I hope they have improved and alas it still dissapoints. Lack of atmosphere is the main reason no background music so my husband and I feel that everything we are saying is being heard! The food menu has improved this year 2010. We went for the Wednesday Fish supper which when we got there was not advertised at all inside the pub (as if they want customers to choose of the normal menu to spend more). I asked and yes it was available but they had to get the Fish supper menu from behined the bar. The meal was lovely and we will go back as good value £5 for adults or £3 for children. I just feel that this place could be packed every night of the week but they would need to get enthusiastic/motivated staff and get some more atmosphere.

Date visited: May 2010

Review by andrea allshot on 17th March, 2010

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think the woman that left the last comment must be competition and trying to detract business from the claycutters because we have visited frequently with friends and family and always had a beautiful meal. restaurant area always clean, tidy and well organised! a lovely pub with lovely staff. thank you claycutters( dont listen to that bitter woman)

Date visited: 14th march 2010

Review by Paul & Lulu on 9th August, 2009

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Encouraged by the many positive experiences a number of people have said they have had on this web page we decided to visit the pub last night. We had visited the pub a week before and had the Sunday carvery meal. That in itself was bland with various problems reported in the kitchen, however, we decided to give the Saturday meal a chance. In short, we found the restaurant area dirty (examples include dust on the walls; sticky tables that had crumbs presumably from the previous occupier; a vinegar serving bottle that was rusty); the service was appalling. I eventually ordered our meal via the bar area and on to the meal... Both steaks were cold and burnt! The onion rings were inedible due to the amount of grease; chips were extremely small (out of a packet?) and also greasy. We left after an hour and will not be going back. Our worst meal out to date by far!

Date visited: 8th Auust 2009

Review by Carolin Coward on 4th July, 2009

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Very surprised to read review of 18 June 2009. Chef must have had an 'off' day. We went on the 23 and our meals were hot, tasty and delicious. We wouldn't hesitate to recommend the Claycutters Arms to anyone and would certainly go back again.

Date visited: 23 June 2009

Review by susan on 18th June, 2009

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On visiting the Claycutters 2 years ago we were anticipating another excellent meal on our recent return to Devon. Unfortunatly this was not the case; what was once a bustling public house in a gorgeous village offering a blend of French and English cuisine has seemed to have lost its direction with a dull atmosphere echoed in the lack of bodies. We were thoroughly disappointed and will not be returning.

Date visited: 15/05/09

Review by Sonja Sparrow on 20th August, 2008

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I lived in Chudleigh Knighton from about 1952 until 1969 (was Martin). Claycutters Arms is just 'up the road' from Gales Crest where I spent my childhood. The pub has many, many memories for me. Frank Cole, who had one arm, was the landlord who had a Basset hound dog. I could go on but suffice to say, the pub is still there so that should tell you something. I have just made contact with a childhood friend who informed me only yesterday, that she worked with Kay and Keith Lockyer who were running the pub in the '80s. Jane did the cooking in those days. Small world or what!!

Date visited: 1952

Review by pete Marfleet on 15th March, 2008

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having just moved to the area i frequent this beautiful establishment. i have been made to feel very welcome by Lionel and Joanne (landlord/lady) and the rest of the staff. the ale etc is first class and the food is excellent. i recommend the Claycutters to anyone who is in the area.

Date visited: 14/03/08

Review by Graham Andrews on 3rd December, 2006

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my family and i went on the occasion of my mothers 80 birthday .we had the carvery, drinks and a pudding. The bill was about £12 each. The carvery was full of choice from pork lamb turkey beef and a huge variety of veg and potatoes.It was lovely hot taasty food.We will be going again soon.

Date visited: 11 nov 2006

Review by Alan Richards on 9th October, 2006

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After a reconmendation from the manger were we where staying, telling us about the carvery they have on a sunday at the Clayctters Arms and how good it was. So we sent out to find this place. On arrival which in fact was very early 12.30 we were told by the young manager that it was compleatly booked up and he could not fit us in! Feeling very dejected we started to leave the pub when my son noticed people eating in the bar areas so after asking the bar lady who was so helpful we found a table and qued up for what I can only discribe as a good full English carvery with the most unsual dishes of fabulous vegetables and lots of meat choices all cut in front of you with lashing of gravy our plates where as full as you would dream of and the meal was utterly fantastic! I can strongly reconmend this pub and have done so to all our friends with out any fear of worry. When I came to pay our bill I got a shock as it worked out with drinks to around £10 per head. So once again thank you to the bar staff as we nearly missed your teriffic Sunday carvery, well done.

Date visited: 24/09/06

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