Masons Arms

Verdict

Masons Arms holds a Michelin star and a 4.8 Google rating across 347 reviews — numbers that carry real weight when you consider the venue is a thatched pub in a Devon village most people have never heard of. If you are already a fan and wondering whether to return, the answer is yes, provided you plan ahead: this is a hard-to-book restaurant with limited operating days and a loyal local following. Book at least six to eight weeks out for a weekend table, longer during summer when Exmoor draws visitors from further afield.

The Restaurant

Masons Arms sits in Knowstone, a small village in the Exmoor foothills near South Molton. The setting — a traditional thatched pub with views over rolling Devon hills , is working hard in a direction that most pubs never attempt. Run by Mark and Sarah Dodson, the kitchen delivers Classic French cooking anchored in British seasonal produce, presented on a concise menu that changes with the seasons. This is not a pub that does decent food. It is a Michelin-starred kitchen operating inside a pub shell, and the distinction matters when you are deciding whether to make the journey.

The cooking is technically accomplished without being showy. Michelin's own description points to pronounced, assured flavours and attractively presented dishes rooted in British and French classics. The raspberry soufflé is cited specifically , a dish that signals real classical technique, since soufflés at this level require precise timing and a confident kitchen. If you ate here on your first visit and ordered safely, consider going back and letting the kitchen set the pace. The seasonal menu format rewards repeat visits: what you ate last time is unlikely to be exactly what is on the menu now.

Service, managed by Sarah Dodson, is described as charming and attentive, and in this category of restaurant that matters more than it sounds. At a small, owner-operated venue, front-of-house sets the entire register of the evening. The pairing of technically serious cooking with genuinely warm, human service is harder to find than the Michelin star count at similar-tier venues in London would suggest.

Group and Private Dining

Masons Arms is a small village pub, which means group bookings require direct contact and early planning. No dedicated private dining room is listed in the available data, so parties should call or email well in advance to discuss options. For a group wanting a special occasion meal in this tier , Michelin one star, Classic French, rural Devon , the room itself is part of the experience, and a larger group should confirm whether the whole room or a section can be reserved. Groups of four to six are likely the most practical size for a comfortable visit without requiring a private hire arrangement. Larger parties planning a celebratory dinner should make contact at least three months ahead and confirm the venue's capacity to accommodate before making travel plans, particularly if guests are travelling from outside Devon.

For reference: comparable rural Michelin venues such as Hand and Flowers in Marlow and Gidleigh Park in Chagford both handle group bookings, but they have substantially more physical infrastructure. Masons Arms is more intimate, which is either a reason to book it or a reason to look elsewhere depending on your group's needs.

Practical Details

Masons Arms is closed Monday, Sunday, and Tuesday. Service runs Wednesday through Saturday for both lunch (12–3 PM) and dinner (6–10 PM). That is a tight operating window , four days a week , which concentrates demand and makes booking significantly harder than the rural location might imply. If you are travelling specifically to eat here, midweek lunch on a Wednesday or Thursday offers the leading chance of availability at shorter notice than a Saturday evening. Lunch also allows you to appreciate the Exmoor views in daylight, which is worth considering if this is your first visit back after an initial dinner.

Pricing sits at £££ on Pearl's scale, which positions it below the ££££ tier of London Michelin addresses but meaningfully above a standard country pub. For Devon, this is among the higher price points available, but the Michelin star and quality of cooking justify the positioning. Given travel costs if you are coming from outside the Southwest, factor accommodation into the total spend , the area around South Molton and the Exmoor edge has several options, and a single overnight makes the trip considerably more manageable.

Logistics Comparison

How It Compares

See the full comparison section below.

Pearl Picks , If You Are Exploring Further

• Our full Knowstone restaurants guide
• Our full Knowstone hotels guide
• Our full Knowstone bars guide
• Our full Knowstone wineries guide
• Our full Knowstone experiences guide
• Waterside Inn, Bray , Classic French benchmark, three Michelin stars
• Le Manoir aux Quat' Saisons, Great Milton , Classic French with hotel option
• Gidleigh Park, Chagford , Michelin-starred Devon alternative with rooms
• Moor Hall, Aughton , Rural Michelin dining, Northern England
• hide and fox, Saltwood , Smaller Michelin venue in a village setting
• CORE by Clare Smyth, London
• The Fat Duck, Bray
• L'Enclume, Cartmel
• Midsummer House, Cambridge
• Opheem, Birmingham
• Restaurant Andrew Fairlie, Auchterarder
• Cheval Blanc by Peter Knogl, Basel , Classic French reference point

Frequently Asked Questions

• How far ahead should I book Masons Arms? Six to eight weeks minimum for a weekend dinner. Midweek lunch slots (Wednesday or Thursday) are your leading bet if you are booking at shorter notice. The four-day operating week concentrates demand significantly, and the Michelin star brings guests from well outside Devon. Do not assume a rural location means easy availability.
• Can Masons Arms accommodate groups? Small groups of four to six are the most practical fit given the pub's size and intimate setting. No private dining room is confirmed in the available data, so contact the venue directly before committing to a large group trip. If a private hire or a table for eight or more is what you need, plan at least three months out and confirm logistics before booking travel.
• Is Masons Arms good for solo dining? It can work well if you are comfortable at a table for one in a pub-style room. The Classic French format and concise seasonal menu lend themselves to a focused, unhurried meal. At £££ per head, it is a considered spend for solo travel, but for a serious eater making a Devon trip, it is worth building the journey around.
• Is lunch or dinner better at Masons Arms? Lunch is the stronger practical choice for a return visit. You get the Exmoor views in daylight, booking pressure is slightly lower than Saturday dinner, and the midweek lunch slot on Wednesday through Friday gives you the leading chance of a relaxed room. Dinner suits the occasion-dining register if atmosphere matters more to you than views.
• Is the tasting menu worth it at Masons Arms? No confirmed tasting menu format is listed in the available data. The kitchen works from a concise seasonal menu format. If you are comparing against ££££ tasting menu venues such as L'Enclume or CORE by Clare Smyth, Masons Arms offers a different proposition: Michelin-starred cooking at a lower price point, in a format that gives you more choice. For the price tier, that is a sound deal.
• Is Masons Arms worth the price? Yes. At £££ with a Michelin star and a 4.8 Google rating from 347 reviews, Masons Arms delivers serious cooking at a price point well below comparable London addresses. The travel overhead is real if you are coming from outside the Southwest, but for anyone already in Devon or planning an Exmoor trip, the cooking-to-cost ratio is difficult to match in this region.
• Is Masons Arms good for a special occasion? Yes, with caveats. The setting , a thatched village pub , is charming rather than grand, which works in its favour for a relaxed anniversary or birthday dinner rather than a formal corporate celebration. The Michelin star and attentive service give it genuine occasion-dining credentials. Book early, communicate the occasion when you reserve, and consider a midweek evening if Saturday availability is out.