The Well House, 16-17 Cathedral Close, EXETER, EX1 1HB [Map]
01392 223611http://www.abodeexeter.co.uk/michael-caines-dining/the-well-house-tavern 
11-23 MO-SA; 12-17 SU
Lunchtime Meals, Rail Station Near Pub

Morris dancing from Yare Valley Morris outside
the Well House in February 1995

Had the good fortune to morris dance outside the pub in 1995. A brilliant, comfortable open plan pub with an excellent view of the cathedral if you manage to get a window seat. It's owned by Andrew Brownsword who also runs the Clarence Hotel next door whose food is inspired by the well known chef Michael Caines. Fortunately the Well House remains a traditional pub that I'm very fond of with bare board floors, plenty of seating, an open plan design split a little by partition walls, and a very informal atmosphere throughout.

Apparently there's a Roman well that you can have a look at in the pub if the pub's quiet, and even a skeleton in the wall downstairs. A range of up to 6 kept real ales are available with a definite bias towards West Country brewers such as Blackawton and Exe Valley. The house beer is Otter Brewery's Otter Ale re-badged. It's a good place to go for a salad and a beer at lunchtime if you're in the middle of Exeter, the pub's just behind the main shopping street. Piped music in the bar. The clientele is varied and doormen are there during the busier weekend evenings.

Me concluding that beer quality is still excellent here, November 2001