Bridge Builder, Telford

Not so Plastic Fantastic

Poor service and shocking quality control left us gasping. Our kitchen in bits, we headed off the nearest pub where we could eat at at 6pm. The Bridge Builder it was, we had been there before many times and noticed a new 2 for 1 promotion advertised.

The Decor

Tired fake farmhouse look to the pub was no suprise, but we were hungry and were not too bothered about what the place looked like. It seemed clean enough and a fair few families and couples were already seated for dinner.

I spotted an aquaintence during our hunt for a suitable table. A normally jovial chap, out with his wife seemed to be a little unhappy as we exchanged waves across the room. I would soon find out why.

We found a table and looked at the menus. Limited choices for vegetarians, but we made our decision quickly. After placing our order, we waited for it to arrive.

The Wait

After 30 minutes (helpfully the recipt gave the exact time of the order) we asked when we might expect our food. The kids were getting impatient and to be honest so were we. We knew the food is at best pre-prepared and ready to microwave. We were told that they were just coming. Another 15 minutes and the food arrived. The vegetable pasta dish was short on pasta, black, rock hard cheese sauce around the edge of the dish and bubbling in the middle gave us an indication of the care taken over the preparation.

Even though our expectations were low, it would be fair to say to say that it filled a gap from the 'Food is Fuel' school of cooking.

The Shock

Foolishly, two desserts were ordered. One Chocolate Fudge Cake and a Berry Sundae for myself. I did ask how long the wait on the puddings was likely to be before ordering, and was told by the manager (after checking with the kitchen) that 15 minutes would be the most I could be expected to wait. I paid and went back to the table with the recipt.

Eventually (25 minutes later) the sweet course came. To be fair, the Sundae wasn't at all bad. Meringue crumbs, fruit and ice cream all combining to make it a pleasureable, if much delayed experience.

The Fudge Cake came with squirty cream fresh from the aerosol can, it had already begun to break down and looked a little tired by the time the plate landed on the table. I joked that the white decoration on the top of the cake looked a little like a cup handle. No sooner than the words left my mouth, my wife plucked it from the cake and dropped a broken china cup handle onto the table. We gazed on in shock and amazement. The broken cup handle had even been squirted with cream. The dessert was refunded and replaced to the credit of the management, but the replacement was picked at, the appetite gone.

Summary

A shocking tale of bad service and lack of quality control means that there is nothing to recommend this pub restaurant for. No wonder my aquaintance looked unusually unhappy. I found out later that he obtained a refund and left without eating. I feel he got the better deal.

Food:Don't mention the food.

Service:Slow and not much attention paid to what was on the plate.

Value:Money doesn't even come into it.

Score out of 10: 0

Bridge Builder
Wrekin Retail Park,
Arleston
Telford
Shropshire,
TF1 2DE
Tel: 01952 243741


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