Grecians · #ECFC

THE MATCHDAY GUIDE · Exeter

Pubs near St James Park

Centre Spot Bar: safe mixed-fan meeting point. Allow around 0 minutes to walk to St James Park. Higher-police fixtures and local derbies can change access around the Fan Zone.

Alcohol: 18+ · Please drink responsibly Drinkaware

Plan a stay at Exeter City ↗

Research checked 2026-10-14 · Match arrangements can change.

BEFORE YOU SET OFF

Put your trip together

01 · Arrive

Your route into St James Park

Follow the signs for the away turnstiles on St James Road, rather than the home entrance on Stadium Way. Standing supporters enter the St James Road terrace; visiting seats are in Blocks K and L of the Main Stand, so check which section is printed on your ticket. From St James Park station on Well Street, follow the pedestrian route to St James Road and the away gates. From Exeter Central, head east towards Sidwell Street and Old Tiverton Road, then follow the matchday signs instead of navigating to the stadium postcode alone. If you need an away ticket on the day and sales are permitted, the club places the booth next to the away turnstiles on St James Road. Arrive with time to find the correct gate, particularly when the road is closed to vehicles.

02 · Before the match

Centre Spot Bar

0-minute walk to the ground. The safest pub-style choice at St James Park. Exeter explicitly welcomes away supporters, with local beer and cider alongside pies and pasties. Higher-police fixtures and local derbies can change access around the Fan Zone. Check the current fixture briefing before travelling.

03 · Stay or head home?

Choose your base before your hotel

Hotel to compare: Leonardo Hotel Exeter · Western Way / Sidwell Street / eastern city centre

Compare the stay areas →

Before you choose a pub

Admission can change for individual fixtures. Check the stated restrictions and the current visiting-supporter information before relying on a venue.

locally sourced pies and pasties

Centre Spot Bar

0 min walkCheck matchday admissionCheck colours policy

Good for safe mixed-fan meeting point · local beer and cider

The safest pub-style choice at St James Park. Exeter explicitly welcomes away supporters, with local beer and cider alongside pies and pasties.

Expect club bar · mixed support · real ale

Before you go Higher-police fixtures and local derbies can change access around the Fan Zone. Check the current fixture briefing before travelling.

Food & drink: Locally sourced pies and pasties, plus local real ales and ciders from the volunteer-run FECRACE counter.
How it works: club bar with volunteer real-ale and cider counter

The Park, St James Park, Stadium Way, Exeter, EX4 6PX

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pub

St Anne's Well

3 min walkCheck matchday admissionCheck colours policy

Good for closest conventional pub · early arrivals

The closest proven conventional away pub. It is tucked into the streets beside St James Park and appears in current visiting-supporter guidance.

Expect proper pub · near ground · sports tv

Before you go Matchday opening can differ from normal hours. No current published rule on away colours was found.

Food & drink: No dependable current regular food menu was found.
How it works: traditional back-street pub

31 Well Street, St James', Exeter, EX4 6QL

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pub classics

The Black Horse

9 min walkCheck matchday admissionCheck colours policy

Good for supporters walking from Exeter Central · pub lunch

A practical food-and-pint stop between the centre and ground. Current visiting guidance lists it for away fans, and the kitchen runs throughout Saturday.

Expect sports pub · food led · town to ground

Before you go It is a public sports pub rather than a designated away venue. No current football-colours policy was found.

Food & drink: Fish and chips, burgers, salads and small plates; Saturday food service currently runs from 11am to 9pm.
How it works: large sports pub with kitchen

Longbrook Street, Exeter, Devon, EX4 6AB

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pub food with vegan and vegetarian menu

Farmers Union

Check matchday admissionCheck colours policy

Good for mainline rail arrivals · mixed diets

A sensible city-centre meeting pub before the final walk or local train. It has current away-guide backing and a broader food choice than most football pubs.

Expect city centre · away friendly · food led

Before you go It is not beside St James Park, so allow time for the final leg. Away colours are not covered by a current published policy.

Food & drink: Standard pub food plus separate vegan and vegetarian choices; Sunday carvery is also offered.
How it works: traditional city-centre pub

16-18 Queens Terrace, Exeter, EX4 4HR

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WHERE TO STAY

Where should you stay?

Compare the ground, station and town-centre hotel options for your trip.

Where to stay

Stay in central Exeter if you want the easiest all-round football trip. Sidwell Street, Western Way and the Princesshay side of the centre keep you within walking distance of St James Park and give you food and pubs before or after the match. For a fuller evening, look nearer the High Street, Cathedral Yard or Gandy Street. You will have more choice for a meal or drink, while the ground is still accessible on foot or by a short local train connection from Exeter Central. A hotel by Exeter St Davids suits long-distance rail travellers but is farther from the turnstiles. There is little need to choose a motorway hotel solely for football, unless your priority is parking or breaking a long road journey.

Away Fans’ Guide ↗

For the cleanest football-trip compromise, base yourself on the eastern side of the city centre around Western Way, Sidwell Street or Princesshay: the ground is walkable and the High Street/Cathedral quarter is still close enough for food and drinks. Move deeper towards Cathedral Yard/Gandy Street if the evening after the match matters more than shaving a few minutes off the stadium walk.

For the evening

Gandy Street/Castle Quarter and the Cathedral/High Street core are the strongest compact evening areas for bars, cocktails and restaurants. The Quayside adds waterside pubs but is further from the ground.

For the train

St James Park station is right by the stadium. Exeter Central is the handiest main city-centre station for the Cathedral/Gandy Street hotel cluster, while Exeter St Davids is further west and less convenient for a walk-to-the-ground hotel base.

Hotels to compare

Leonardo Hotel ExeterWestern Way / Sidwell Street / eastern city centreAll-round choice · For the shortest ground journey
Tripadvisor's proximity search lists it around 0.3 miles from Exeter City Football Club.
Bear in mind: The hotel is functional and modern rather than distinctive or boutique.
Hotel details checked 2026-09-29
More about this choice
Western Way puts it between the ground and the main city-centre food/drink area rather than forcing a choice between the two.
Booking.com live searches repeatedly returned availability and a verified guest score around 8.4/10 from more than 6,000 reviews.
Recent Tripadvisor reviews repeatedly praise room cleanliness, comfortable beds, location and helpful staff.
Air conditioning is useful because recent reviewers note that road noise is more noticeable with windows open.
Recent reviews are not uniformly strong: some mention inconsistent front-desk/service experiences and variable breakfast execution.
A late-2025 review described damp/water ingress in one room; it is not enough evidence to generalise across the hotel, but it is worth retaining as a maintenance caution.
Parking is nearby rather than hotel-owned/on-site in the traditional sense.
Check availability ↗Booking.com · Choose your dates and check the final price.
Hotel Indigo Exeter by IHGCathedral / High Street / city-centre nightlife coreFor the evening
Directly in the Cathedral/High Street core, with Gandy Street's bars and restaurants nearby.
Bear in mind: Recent Tripadvisor evidence is mixed enough that this should not be presented as a no-caveat premium recommendation.
Hotel details checked 2026-09-29
More about this choice
Its own Becketts rooftop bar gives supporters an immediate post-match drink option without leaving the property.
Booking.com live searches repeatedly returned availability and a verified guest score around 8.5/10 from 2,700+ reviews.
Rooms and design receive repeated praise in recent reviews.
The stadium is still walkable at roughly 0.6 miles straight-line / around 12-18 minutes depending on route and entrance.
Noise has been reported from internal doors and some external city-centre activity.
Several 2026 reviews mention inconsistent service, breakfast delays or air-conditioning problems.
No on-site parking; central pedestrianised access can also make direct vehicle drop-off less convenient.
Usually more expensive than Leonardo in the sampled weekend market.
Check availability ↗Booking.com · Choose your dates and check the final price.

Check current rates and availability for your dates.

Match at St James Park

When would you stay?Preferred area — optional

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Hotel prices and availability are confirmed by the provider. We may earn a commission from qualifying bookings. Affiliate disclosure.

Sources, limitations and matchday changes

Reviewed transport publication. This permanent guide uses the existing approved research; admission, opening hours, services and parking controls may change for each match.

Station mappings identify arrival options. They do not guarantee a walking route, step-free access or a train timetable. Confirm current club guidance and your actual service.

Official club guidance ↗

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Keep planning your visit

Exeter City Club Hub St James Park ground and fixtures Exeter destination guide Food and restaurants near St James Park Getting to St James Park Matchday parking at St James Park