Exeter Harvester set to close and become upmarket Browns restaurant

Exeter's Harvester could soon be getting a rebrand into an upmarket bar and restaurant. The laid-back family restaurant could soon have a brand new look, offer a luxurious menu and even operate a dress code.

Pub and restaurant company Mitchells and Butlers is planning to close their branch of Harvester, known as The Malthouse, in Exeter after more than 15 years. They are seeking planning permission to refurbish and rebrand it into Browns Brasserie and Bar, which is one of the other restaurant brands that they own. Some of their other well-known brands include All Bar One, Miller & Carter, Toby Carvery and O'Neill's.

The Malthouse, which is located on Haven Road near the Quay, first became a Harvester around 2007 after hotel and restaurant company Whitbread sold 239 of its stand alone Brewers Fayre and Beefeater sites to Mitchells and Butlers. The building was originally constructed in 1789 and was operated as a brewery until 1949. It was then used as a warehouse until 1995, when it became a Brewers Fayre pub.

The latest plans are for a major refurbishment of the site, which could include a larger kitchen, the removal of the spit roast and salad bar, the installation of a new outdoor terrace and an updated bar area. The application also includes details of updated signs for Browns Brasserie and Bar.

⚠️ Want the latest Devon breaking news and top stories first? Click here to join our WhatsApp group . We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice ⚠️

Browns operates 26 restaurants across the UK, with just two located in the South West. If plans are approved, the rebranding of the Exeter restaurant would mark the first Browns in Devon, with the nearest branches in Bristol and Bath.

On its website, Browns says it offers a range of "homemade brasserie dishes and fresh seasonal creations". Their menu includes lobster, steak, fish and chips and roast dinners on Sundays.

They say: "Visit Browns at any time of day, and you'll enjoy a gorgeous, varied menu of homemade brasserie dishes and fresh seasonal creations.

"Each day brings a new reason to visit, from decadent fresh lobster and sharing Chateaubriand to Champagne bottomless brunches and Sunday Roasts, and of course our quintessentially traditional afternoon tea.

"Our menus cater for all dietary needs, with deliciously satisfying plant-based options and an excellent choice of standalone gluten free menus, accredited by Coeliac UK."

The restaurant chain considers itself more on the luxurious side, with some of their more decadent menu items costing more than £40. In their FAQs, they say that they operate a smart-casual dress code and ask customers not to wear sportswear.

They say: "We like to think that dining at Browns is a bit of a treat, and many of our guests like to dress up to celebrate their special occasions. Therefore we have a smart-casual dress code and kindly request that no sportswear is worn when visiting Browns."