Frequently Asked Questions

The easiest way to make a booking is by using the booking form on the website.

We require a card to be authorised for £40 per guest in order to make a reservation. You will be charged in the event of a late cancellation or no show. No monies will be charged to the card at the time of booking, however you may be charged some or all of the above if you are in breach of our terms and conditions -i.e. in the event of late cancellation or no show.

You'll need to know in advance whether to also book a water taxi at the same time, or whether you're going to use your own boat (Lucky you!). If you do need a water taxi, it's as straight-forward as choosing that option during the booking process.

You can also make a booking over the phone during our daytime office hours, or in person at our booking office and shop on Exmouth Marina. Our most up-to-date contact details can be found on our 'contact us' page.

If the time and date you want isn't available, then hit the 'see alternatives' button, this will show you all the availability for that table size until the end of the season. Also try changing the size of your table (tables of 2 are our most popular table size) so why not bring some friends? You may have more luck changing the table to a 3, 4, 5 or 6! If you continue to struggle, the best thing to do is call or email us. You can find all the ways to get in touch with us on our 'contact us' page.

Check the booking system online the day before you want to come, the later in the day the better. A waiting list option is available, so if you want to call us on the day, 10am is the best time, we can then offer you any cancellations for that day. We do publish late table availability on our social media pages as well, so please follow us on Facebook and Instagram. These tables can then be booked via the website.

Tables can be booked online on the day you wish to visit up until 8am, please call the office after this time.

You can amend your own booking or ask us to via your booking confirmation email. Once you've found the email message, scroll to the bottom and follow the link. You can also call us on 01395 620022, our office hours are Tuesday to Sunday 10am-3pm

When you book online, your email confirmation has a link towards the bottom of the email that allows you to cancel your reservation. Click this link and follow the instructions.

You can also cancel your booking by emailing or calling us (our most up-to-date contact details can be found on our 'contact us' page).

If you cancel your booking within our 48 hour cancellation period, you will be charged £40 per guest to the card previously authorised.  

Our cancellation policy is 48 hours. You can cancel your table at any point before this. The guest numbers for your reservation will be taken as confirmed at 48 hours, so make sure we have correct numbers at this point.

If you do not cancel your reservation but fail to attend the café at the reserved time and date, a £40 per person no show fee will be charged to the card that was previously authenticated.

If you are no longer able to attend your reservation but know someone that wishes to take your place, we can transfer your booking to them.

We will require a lead guest name, contact number and email within 48 hours notice of the reservation. Your original booking will be cancelled and a new booking for them will be made. We will then authenticate the new lead guest.

Customers wishing to reschedule their booking after the 48 hour cut off will be given a 24 hour grace period to move their booking to a new date (as long as this is not subsequently cancelled, then a no-show charge will be made ).

As a seasonal restaurant, we are only open between the 1st April - 30th September each year.

During the season, we open Tuesday to Sunday, but we do open on bank holiday Mondays. When there's a bank holiday Monday, we then close the following Tuesday.

Yes so please include all children and babies at the point of booking. If you require a highchair please let us know in the special request box at the point of booking. We request that children are to be supervised on the water taxis and restaurants at all times. Please note however the Crows Nest (upper deck) is available to over 14‘s only.

Well-behaved dogs on leads are welcome,  we wouldn't want them to miss out on all the smells! We just ask they have had a good walk beforehand.

Please come dressed for the forecast of the day. The weather can be changeable, it can also be a little windy on the water. We don't have a dress code, just wear what you feel comfortable in. We wouldn't recommend stilettos - they can get stuck in the decking!

Yes we serve meat, vegan and vegetarian dishes. We also cater for dairy-free and gluten-free diets.

The new Upper Deck is offered to guests with a restaurant reservation on a first come first served basis. It offers 360 degree unspoilt views of the River Exe and a totally unique dining experience. It is open to the elements so only offered on days with suitable weather conditions. There is a flat fee of £50 per table for your 2 hour reservation. This area is for over 14s only. We have 3 tables available each sitting up to 5 guests. You can express an interest in sitting upstairs in the 'special request' box when making a reservation.

Yes, we have 2 single access toilets and a urinal

Yes, however we do not accept American Express in the Shore Shop, on the Water Taxis or at the Restaurant.

Yes, all of our tables are booked inside so you will be covered.

Yes, the front of house team will do all they can to fulfil any table requests but it may not always be possible.

Only a little, we are fixed to a mooring at either end of the cafe so we are pretty stable. We can rock a little when boats pass by or the wind is strong.

Please indicate this at the point of booking AND at the point of ordering. Our menu is available to view on the website and allergen information is available on request. The team will help assist you in making an appropriate menu choice. The chefs may be able to adapt dishes if we have prior notice so please email or phone us to discuss adapting dishes prior to making a reservation.

The Puffin Water Taxi Service departs from Exmouth Marina promptly on the hour. Your booking time is your water taxi departure time, this is the time you selected when making your reservation. You will either have a Lunch or Dinner reservation at the restaurant. You can find your booking time on the confirmation email we sent to you after you booked, it will always be on the hour.  

Lunch departure times are: 12pm, 1pm, 2pm or 3pm (Tuesday-Saturday)

Dinner departure times are: 5pm, 6pm, 7pm or 8pm (Tuesday-Saturday)

On Sundays and Bank Holiday Mondays, the departure times are:  12pm, 1pm, 2pm, 3pm, 4pm or 5pm 

We ask guests to arrive 10 minutes before departure, this allows the skippers time to allocate groups onto each boat and give a safety briefing before leaving the marina.

Each Taxi runs to strict numbers, to ensure the correct guests are at the restaurant at a given time. You cannot choose to get an earlier taxi to arrive before your table time. If you wish to change your booking time/taxi time this needs to be arranged via the booking office. Please contact us via your confirmation email if you wish to change the time of your booking.

The Puffin Water Taxis depart from Exmouth Marina from the Visitors Pontoon just outside Land and Sea , EX8 1XA. Several companies use this location for their pick up point. Please queue in the correct lane as per the lane markings. Please look out for the River Exe Cafe departure point flag, where the friendly Puffin Crew can assist you.

A return fare to the restaurant is £8 per guest (14 years and over) £4 per child (6 to 13 years) and free of charge (newborns to 5 years).

Your fare is paid to the skipper on the day and they accept cash or card payments.

• Pier Head Car Park - EX8 1ER - 1 minute walk
• Camperdown Terrace Car Park - EX8 1EJ - 5 minute walk
• Imperial Road Car Park - EX8 1BY - 15 minute walk

We suggest you put at least 3.5 hours time on your car park ticket.

Exmouth in the summer months can get very busy so please check for live traffic updates before starting your journey to us, leaving plenty of time for holiday traffic and road works etc. 

Exmouth Train Station is a 15 minute walk from Taxi departure point.

The 95 bus runs from Sandy Bay to Exmouth town centre via Exmouth seafront (the stop you require is the Imperial Hotel), which is 10 minutes walk from taxi departure point.

**Exmouth's Land Train, arrives at 25 past the hour at Stuart Line Office (1 minute walk away from Taxi departure point)

AJ’s Taxis Exmouth - 01395 222655 

Starcross Ferry - arrives at Exmouth Visitors Pontoon where Taxis also leave from.

Please call 07761 116103 if you are running late, depending on the tide the taxis may be able to wait a few minutes. Failure to make your booking will result in a no-show charge.

The river cruise to the restaurant is approximately 25 minutes each way, this is dependent on tidal conditions.

Yes, however space is limited so car seats are preferable if possible. Life jackets are also provided onboard for babies in the event of an emergency. 

As the restaurant is floating in the Exe Estuary, the journey is up and back on a river which is sheltered on both sides by land.  Most days the conditions make for a lovely calm trip however the wind strength and direction on the day will dictate conditions, so please come dressed appropriately. If you suffer badly with seasickness and the conditions look unfavorable on the day, please take any medication before visiting us, as we cannot provide this. The cafe has ginger beer onboard for those feeling any effects and the puffin crew have sea sick wrist bands.

Yes, both the Puffin Water Taxis are covered and enclosed with a canvas covering, the doorways remain open so there is plenty of ventilation. 

Absolutely, life jackets are available in an emergency for all travellers, including babies. Life rings are also carried onboard. A full safety briefing will be given to you before departure.

With regards to access, there are two potential areas to highlight. Firstly, there is a grid style, decked ramp down to the pontoon which can be quite steep depending on the tide. At high tide it can be flat with a slight gradient down to the pontoon. At low tide this angle can be very steep (almost 45°). For guests with walkers this can be quite awkward. There is a handrail on each side and space for two people to walk side by side. Secondly, there are two steps down onto the taxi and up again at the Cafe. They are quite deep (approximately 30cm) but the taxi drivers are very friendly and happy to help guests on and off. There is also a metal handrail to help guests on and off the boats. Given the step access, the Puffin Water Taxi service is unsuitable for guests who are unable to get out of their wheelchair.  The taxis have space to accommodate a wheelchair as long as the user is able to manage the steps.  Please see our website for photos and videos which will give you a better idea of the pontoon and Puffin access. 

Unfortunately, the pontoon at Starcross is private, so our taxis cannot land here. Our water taxi service only leaves from Exmouth Marina. You can catch the Starcross passenger ferry to Exmouth Marina and then join the water taxi to The River Exe Café there, however please be aware that the ferry is not associated with the River Exe Café so you will have to check the timings to suit your booking time. The Starcross ferry also does not operate after 5pm so you will need to factor this into your return times etc.

You can find our public landing pontoon on these 'what3words' //mistaking.alarm.tried

It depends on the day, please call us as soon as you know you won't be able to make it on your own boat and we will try to sort a taxi replacement for you.

As long as we know with prior notice this shouldn't be an issue. Please call the office with over 24 hours notice to arrange this.

As the restaurant runs to strict timings, all guests are allocated two hours. Given we usually run at full capacity, extending your time won't always be an option. We will try our best but cannot guarantee this.

Yes, there is an outside uncovered ‘Boaters’ area where you can have a drink before your table reservation, please let the Front of house manager know when you have arrived.

Yes, if you have your own transport, whenever you see the flags flying on the pontoon, that means we are open for business. (usually 12pm-late).

We have a designated ‘boaters’ area just off the visitors pontoon where you can enjoy drinks and our ‘Boaters Menu’ Food is served 12:30pm-8:30pm Tuesday to Saturday (the Kitchen takes a break between 4:30pm-5:30pm) and 12:30pm-5:30pm (no break) on Sundays. A table in the boaters area is required to place a food order. The kitchen does become busy so service times may be paused from those stated above.

Our new Crows Nest (upper deck) is offered to guests booked into the restaurant with a table reservation on a first come first served basis. If the area is not in use please ask the Restaurant Manager if you wish to book it. The fee is £50 per table for a 2 hour drinks -only slot. Any food served is from the 'Boaters Menu' and is at the sole discretion of the Head Chef and is not guaranteed.

We can accommodate any vessel up to 70ft. If you are over 40ft please give us prior warning so we know you are coming!

1.6 metres on a spring tide, 2.5 metres on a neap

If you wish to berth overnight please email us in advance. Our contact details can be found here.