Hidden among the rolling hills of Mid Devon, The Lost Kitchen is a restaurant that feels both rustic and quietly refined. Tucked away in the hamlet of Chettiscombe, just a short stroll from Knightshayes Court and a cycle ride from Tiverton’s centre, it’s a place where community, countryside and wood-fired cooking come together in harmony.
The restaurant itself is set within a beautifully restored feasting barn, its airy interiors spilling out onto a terrace garden with views that stretch across the surrounding hills. The atmosphere is as warm as the wood ovens that take centre stage, with a relaxed, welcoming spirit that makes guests feel instantly at home.
At its heart, The Lost Kitchen is about wood fire. Manager George has spent over a decade honing his skills with wood-fired ovens, beginning with a mobile sourdough pizza business that he and his wife Aurora ran across Somerset and Devon. Today, that passion has evolved into a seasonal menu full of creativity, guided by Aurora’s thoughtful design and crafted in partnership with Head Chef Jason Meade. Together, they champion the finest South West produce, much of it from artisan suppliers and their own kitchen garden.
The dishes speak to the seasons: miso-roasted cauliflower with fermented green chilli and cucumber salsa; salt-baked celeriac paired with truffle butter and hazelnuts; free-range chicken with grilled sweetheart cabbage and rosemary butter; scallops baked in the shell with lemon and focaccia. These are plates that manage to be hearty yet elegant, rooted in flavour but full of lightness and flair.
What sets The Lost Kitchen apart is its ability to feel at once intimate and celebratory. Whether you’re seated inside with the glow of the ovens or outside with a glass in hand, watching the Devon hills roll away, it feels like a gathering of friends. It’s food designed to be shared, savoured and enjoyed slowly – an invitation to linger.
More than just a restaurant, The Lost Kitchen has become a meeting point for the community and a destination for visitors, celebrating the best of the region through its food, setting and the warmest of welcomes.