(Note: This is of the restaurant only) Very (!) late review but from the other comments here it does not as look as if much has changed. Service was painfully slow, starters and mains were fine (but not spectacular), desserts average, but the atmosphere was terrible. Sadly all down to the owner who just appeared incredibly patronising - although as others have said here it may just have been awkwardness. The fact that we still vividly remember this meal two years later is, in this case, not a good sign! There is probably a group of people who would feel at home here, but as people who simply enjoy good food in a pleasant environment we didn't.

We received a wedding voucher for Percy's - a very kind gift indeed. As parents of an 18 month old child, we arranged a babysitter (i.e. grandparents!), booked a table for 8pm and looked forward to a special evening.

Whilst the food was okay - and no more than that - it was a long wait! Our starter arrived at 9pm and our main course arrived at 10pm. It is also worth noting that there were only 2 choices of starter (parfait and scallops) and main course (turbot and roast beef) on the menu, and 16 people in the restaurant......

We decided to leave at 10.15am and drive home (only 30 minutes but we were conscious not to take advantage of our babysitters).

What made the whole experience even more disappointing was the attitude of the front-of-house: a very patronising and disintered man. At one point he actually walked away whilst I was trying to explain that we found that the wait of 2 hours for a main course was rather long. He clearly that that we weren't used to eating out and were comparing his restaurant to a fast food establishment (which, of course, we weren't).

I agree with the comments from other reviewers about the lack of atmosphere.

All in all, definitely not worth the money (£40 for 3 courses, £7.50 for the extra cheese course). We could recommend so many great restaurants and pubs in this beautiful area, but sadly not Percys.

It is a little too far to drive from Plymouth just for supper. We have eaten here five times and stayed once.We have always had an excellent meal. Sometimes the selection on the small carefully constructed seasonal menu is better than others. it is a converted old farmhouse with a newer bar section at the back. The owners previously operated a brasserie/restaurant in harrow. They are interested in race horses and have a determination to leave you alone during the day. Their dogs will lead you round the farmland which is unspoilt and has some replanted woodland. We think that the food/drink can be expensive. The operation seem s to be owned by a husband and wife team. The wife is an excellent chef. The husband has a superior and slightly patronising approach to front of house. There seems to be an excessive anxiety to preserve the purity of the experience he wants to provide which we think for most peole would not mesh with relaxation and the fun enjoyment of food. Thats a pity because within their own terms they try very hard. they do not seem to be aware of the impact of the product on the punters. The website is worth a look and with a bit of reading between the lines you will get the picture. Percy's remains one of our favourite restaurants. if we were close by and preferably with two four or more friends we would not hesitate to dine there.

A desperately needed last minute break and some deft work with Google ended in a 3 night stay at Percy's.

After a lengthy drive from London - Percy’s handily provide an exact GPS location for sat nav – we arrived to be greeted by chef Tina, three black Labradors and an over-excited border collie called Sophie, who became our guide and companion as we explored Percy’s farm and woods over the next three days.

Our room, Tarragon, which along with the other 6 rooms named after spices, is housed in a converted barn block next to the main farmhouse. It boasted a large comfortable double bed, LCD TV with DVD player and a rather marvellous whirlpool bath which was put to good use during our stay. The velux window over the bath was a nice touch providing the option of lounging in the tub, and staring at the stars.

The rooms aren’t achingly modern or filled with designer fittings but they are clean, comfortable and ideal for flopping out after a day exploring the area.

A particularly welcome touch is the generous slice of homemade cake that greets you each afternoon when you make it back to your room. Three days, three flavours. All fantastic. All devoured in three mouthfuls, or less.

Originally, we only booked in for dinner on the first night. After sampling Tina's cooking, however, we changed our plans to have dinner at Percy's for the remaining two nights.

The lamb and pork, in particular are special, although a warm broad bean and scallop salad was one of my favourites, with a generous serving of cooked-just-right scallops. Fresh vegetables and particularly herbs feature heavily in Tina’s cooking and the short distance between field and plate is what really makes the difference.

The ingredients really shine through, if not produced on the farm, they’re from top-quality locals suppliers. The food is really allowed to shine with simple preparation, light sauces that let the flavours speak for themselves. On the dessert front, the cheese was a rather good mix from local suppliers, but for me, the meringue with fruit, toasted almonds and toffee sauce was a winner. Other diners where ooing and aahing over the crème brulee. Tony’s advice with the wines was spot on, and the prices reasonable.

Breakfast is a triumph. On the first morning, I made the mistake of indulging in the muesli, which I’m guessing is homemade, followed by scrambled eggs and bacon. Now, I’m a bit of a glutton at the best of times, but I still couldn’t manage anything until about tea-time. The eggs – off the farm, naturally – were amongst the best I’ve ever had. We also tested out a poached goose egg whilst there, superb. We came home with a couple of packs of both the bacon and the sausages. They haven’t lasted long.


We got talking to Tony, the other half of the husband and wide team that run Percy’s, about their philosophy behind the food, simple dishes beautifully prepared with the best ingredients available, that won't leave you feeling over-stuffed and bloated, although three courses was quite a generous amount of food. Pace yourselves!

We really enjoyed our time at Percy’s and wouldn’t hesitate to go back. The option to stroll round the farm and woodlands in a beautiful countryside setting with great food is always tempting. Chatting to Tony and Tina, you can tell them have poured their life and soul into the place. When not cooking, or attending to their racehorses – grab some time to meet them, if you get a chance – they’re dashing about the place tending to the crops and animals.

I don’t think Percy’s will suit everyone. It’s certainly not cheap. If you’re in the right frame of mind and prepared to make the most of the food, the farm, the local area and down-to-earth friendly hosts who are passionate about what they do, you’ll have a fine old time. Put it this way, we’re planning to go back.