New Exeter bar and restaurant opens on the High Street after major refurbishment

Exeter’s city centre has welcomed a major new addition to its hospitality scene with the opening of Oriels, an independent, community-focused venue aiming to bring a fresh day-to-night experience to the High Street. 

Opening in November 2025, the venue marks a complete transformation of a familiar building that has undergone many identities over the years, now redesigned by owner Joshua Neal Bates, co-owners James Macdonald and Adam Hitchcock, and their team. 

For this new bar located in the heart of Exeter’s city centre, a £250,000 refurbishment has transformed the former Chaucer's restaurant, giving one of Exeter’s oldest buildings a fresh new identity with classic cellar-bar character. The name, ‘Oriels’, takes its name from a style of bay window, a feature still visible on the upper floor of the Tudor building.

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The project involved several months of redesigning the space from the ground up. 

Oriels now features new interiors, upgraded lighting, improved sound, a fresh menu concept, and an environment intended to feel both stylish and approachable. 

The result is a venue that shifts seamlessly through the day, appealing to morning coffee drinkers, remote workers, families, evening diners, and late-night music lovers alike.

According to the Oriels team, the idea began as a simple but ambitious goal: “to create something new, independent, and experience-led for Exeter.” 

They wanted “somewhere that could offer quality cocktails, relaxed daytime dining, live music, and late-night atmosphere without losing the warmth, welcome, and reliability of a local”. 

The team explains that the vision was to fill a gap in the city’s hospitality scene with a venue that “blended quality cocktails, relaxed daytime dining, live music, and late-night energy, all under one roof.”

Oriels offers a diverse mix of experiences. Its bar serves signature cocktails crafted with seasonal ingredients and house twists, alongside a strong wine list, draught beers, and premium spirits. 

The kitchen focuses on daytime dining and comfort food, with freshly prepared dishes ranging from sandwiches and salads to pizzas, burgers, desserts, kids’ options, and even late-night food available until 1am. 

Entertainment is a key part of the concept too, with weekly programming that includes DJ nights, brunch events, live sax performances, vinyl sets from Aldo Vanucci, and showcases for local musicians and performers.

During the day, the venue doubles as a community hub which is pet-friendly, kid-friendly, and fully welcoming to laptop users looking for a relaxed place to work or meet.

 The team has also positioned Oriels as a flexible event venue, offering private hire options for celebrations, networking events, and corporate gatherings with support from the in-house staff.

Joshua describes the philosophy behind Oriels as rooted in independence over chains, quality over quantity, and community over trends. 

For him, the goal was to build a space that feels genuinely people-first, offering personal service instead of transactional hospitality.

He says that Exeter deserves venues that can adapt to the rhythm of the city: “A place where locals can grab a coffee and work during the day, return in the evening for cocktails, and come back at the weekend for music, brunches, and events.”

Looking ahead, Oriels plans to expand its programme of curated events, build stronger partnerships with local suppliers and creatives, and grow its reputation as a reliable daytime workspace and a standout destination for drinks and nightlife. 

The team is also committed to supporting Exeter’s independent hospitality scene, providing a safe, respectful alternative to larger chains.

With its combined role as a coffee shop, restaurant, bar, and event space, Oriels adds a new multi-purpose venue to Exeter’s High Street. 

The team behind the project says the focus on design, community use, and a broad food and drink offer is intended to create a flexible destination for different audiences throughout the day.