River Cottage - East Devon

We visited this restaurant for New Year's Eve, excited to celebrate after not being able to do so last year. However, we were highly disappointed and will not be coming back. The service from the waitstaff was extremely poor, requiring us to call out and wave frantically just to get a drink. The food was disappointingly cold and undercooked, and the staff did not check on us to see if everything was okay, leaving us with no opportunity to request a replacement or share our thoughts. We left before midnight because even the live music couldn't keep us there to ring in the new year. We were looking forward to the live music, but the musicians did not engage with the audience or read the room, resulting in a lackluster performance. This was our sixth visit to the restaurant and this experience was so disappointing, lacking in glamour and effort to make it special (especially since it was New Year's Eve and we had paid a significant amount of money) that we will not be returning.

This is the event we attended at River Cottage, unfortunately it will be our last. For the price we paid for the meal plus drinks, we left feeling flat and disappointed. I provided feedback through a form they provided but have not received a response. The parking attendants and servers were excellent, but the overall experience was lackluster. We were greeted with a small glass of wine outside and had to wait in the cold and damp weather until we were seated. The food was underwhelming, with fish that was undercooked and a dish my wife couldn't eat that was simply taken away without question. The menu consisted of small dishes and canapés that did not justify the price. The live band had a poor playlist and did not engage with the atmosphere. It was quiet in the building until midnight, and we left shortly after as the service was lacking. The staff did not clear empty glasses and did not enforce the mask-wearing or lateral flow testing policies that they had communicated via email. The overall experience did not feel safe, especially with people coughing inside without masks. Considering the premium price we paid, we expected much better quality. It is disappointing that they did not respond to my feedback.

I visited this restaurant earlier this year as a birthday gift from my dad. I went with some close friends, and I was grateful that I didn't go alone. The lady who managed the restaurant was extremely passive-aggressive and disorganized. She forgot to cancel a scheduled event and took it out on our group, even though it was her mistake. I tried to keep an open mind and enjoy myself, but I was ultimately disappointed. When the day was finally over, the lady sighed in relief and mentioned she was looking forward to a smaller group the next day. Reflecting on my experience, I realized I had never felt so unwelcome. It was the most unprofessional business I had ever encountered. I wish good luck to anyone brave enough to dine there, hopefully your experience will be better.

We were so excited about our visit to river cottage hq, as we have been following hugh fw for many years through his cooking programs and campaigns. I don't complain, but that feeling, I have to give an honest review of my stay here. I just returned from a overnight stay in the river cottage hq with my man. Check-in is between them parking their car on the top parking lot next to the road, call the cabin reception and wait to be collected and drove to the main house. first impressions are the hof is boring, it needs a welcoming color of flowers. we were shown in our double room with private bathroom. the bedroom is minimalist, which is good, but do not expect frills. no welcome card, cookies or water bottles that would have been a beautiful note. the breakfast menu consists of brot, butter, yogurt and jam. there are also stale granola on offer, in glasses that could do with a good wizard! the lounge is functional, but not very cozy and welcoming. no tw, that's good, but a few board games would be especially welcome as they probably are there for some hours that checked the afternoon. the “kitchen garden” is very tired. there is a lot of nice growing, but the beds need a good weed and general clean up. there are no signs, no labels to the bets, how do the students know what they see? and how will this neglected main part of the ethos inspire someone? the hut color scavenging from the walls, the window frames are rotten! the heating was great. we, man and I asked when they drove the car service back to our car. that stops when everyone goes with the staff. there are NO employees over the night before the place. we went to dinner and we had our fountains for the return back to the house over fields and then brought away on the agricultural. oh, and bring them a torch. we shared the holiday home with lovely sisters who stayed at night when they took part in the cooking class the next day. I think they would have appreciated a couple of ruffles because they hadn't tried to dinner. if they don't want to dare out again when they arrived, please note that there is no food in the offer, not even a cheese board. they can have a charcuterie board in the book before the order. the accommodation is full in the year, the cooking school booked, high times at the weekend, the books, the TV programs, certainly some of this money could be reinvested in the business after all, it is an expensive experience to stay in the rchq and it should be a costly to remember for the right reasons. it seems that they use the name tw and hfw to generate interest in the farm and suck it, but if they actually ask there is "what is the rivercottage hq experience? we had luck, we shared the house with beautiful ladies, they cannot be so happy. that could be more than it is.

We were really looking forward to visiting RC HQ being appreciative of Hugh FW food ethos and reading of the experience. As we arrived I asked my husband to take a photo of me at the entrance but we decided not as the sign was...extremely worn with a letter missing. Walking down the glorious valley to the HQ was stunning. We were greeted with a glass of SPANISH bubbles which quite shocked me as we have had wonderful local wines at the canteen in Axminster. We are close to Lyme Bay vinery! It was really unpleasant and I discreetly poured it away. We had an hour to look around and frankly thought the grounds shabby with plenty of weeds there is wild and there is neglected, this was the latter. The kitchen garden was lovely but took max mns to see and no produce or River Cottage items for sale. The meal was exceptionally good and we loved the description of our meal by the chef. All the staff were welcoming and friendly. Overall though disappointed the place feels as if it is running on the name and needs smartening up.