Masons Arms

Verdict

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, 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, 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, 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, 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 works 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, 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