The Prospect Inn, Exeter

08/10/2026

WHO WAS THOMAS GREGORY?

Thomas Gregory (1872-1926) was a boat proprietor and lifesaver who spent almost all of his life working and living by Exeter Quay.

By the time he died, aged 54, he had rescued over 400 people from drowning in the River Exe.

This makes him by far the greatest lifesaver in British history.

WHY DOES THIS MATTER?

Sadly, Thomas Gregory's extraordinary feats have been entirely forgotten. There is no memorial to his name or incredible achievements, having been only given one award in his lifetime (a medal by the Royal Humane Society).

We are delighted that the Exeter Civic Society have agreed to give Thomas Gregory one of their highly prized blue plaques. These exclusive awards commemorate famous Exonians and other notable figures connected with the city.

Thomas' blue plaque will be mounted on the wall of the cottage where he lived and died, Rose Cottage, now part of The Prospect on Sunday 20th December, 2026

Thomas Gregory was the greatest lifesaver in Britain, saving over 400 people from drowning. Please help fund a blue plaque in his memory.

15/09/2026

WE ARE HIRING A CHEF | COOK…

It is with sadness that I am looking for someone to join my kitchen team, as Pet is leaving us next month 😢

I are seeking someone with a strong understanding of cookery, the ability to work in a fast-paced environment and experience of fresh and seasonal ingredients.
If you are dedicated to producing delicious, high-quality dishes and have a passion for home-made food - we would love to hear from you.
Apply now if you are looking for a new challenge on your culinary journey.

31/08/2026

Three years of Quince! 🐶💕🎉

26/08/2026

Quince wishes all his chums a Happy International Dog Day 🐶

12/08/2026

A Spritz for the Eclipse 🌘

This evening should be stunning on The Quay for the eclipse!

We have a limited number of glasses for sale 😎

Cheers

21/06/2026

Happy Summer Solstice ☀️

It has been a beautiful day and a fabulous weekend, mostly sponsored by Huxbear 🥂

This is 50 - thank you to my team, family, friends and neighbours for a memorable weekend - I have been thoroughly spoilt!

And happy heavenly Father’s Day 💕

26/05/2026

The hottest day of the year - we have you covered… ☀️☀️☀️

06/05/2026

🍅🍅🍅

I may have been overzealous when sowing the tomato seeds this year, which means we have some plants for sale….

05/05/2026

Much to Quince’s disgust and we know his puppy dog eyes are very hard to resist - we kindly ask that you do not feed Quince.

Twice in the last week, he has been given ice cream without our consent and we know Quince is very food motivated, but he is very happy with a stroke and a tummy rub.

Quince needs to lose some weight for the good of his health, particularly since being diagnosed with Chiari Malformation.

Thank you in advance 🐶

24/04/2026

Good news - the canal is now open again!

We’re thrilled to hear this, but are still following the health and safety guidance carefully and have carried out our own risk assessment and will be implementing new procedures to take extra care of our paddlesports customers.

Please see the press release below with the guidance for water users.

We will be offering canoe hire only on the water this weekend (no kayaks or SUPs) and will ensure all hirers are carefully briefed and that PPE is provided as a precaution.

Want to stay on land? We have a large bike hire fleet, including all sizes for adults and children, plus trailers, childseats, tag-a-longs, tandems and electric bikes!

For further advice, please call us: we’re open 9am to 6pm ( see our website for hire times, prices and the route map)

https://news.exeter.gov.uk/exeter-canal-reopens-to-water-users-following-clear-test-results/