Rating *** Cathy Stanworth shares the lowdown on an historic inn in Bridgnorth’s Low Town.

Bridgnorth has more than one historic pub in town, and The Falcon in Low Town is probably one of the best known in its area.

I grew up nearby and I cannot tell you how many years it has been since I ventured over its threshold. I was very very young of course – probably just a babe in arms! (only joking).

Hearing it was newly refurbished was just the excuse needed for a return visit.

The Falcon Inn is a 17th century coaching inn on the east bank of the River Severn, extremely convenient for visiting tourists over the summer.

When I rang to book a table for two I was told that they did a carvery and also offered a separate menu. I had a vague recollection of a dark, traditional interior but this wasn’t what greeted Simon and I on a Friday night. It was all very pleasant, fresh and contemporary and the inside of the building looked as if it had been opened up.The ladies’ loos were really glam.

The barman was friendly and told us we could choose where to sit, so by the window it was.

That night it wasn’t hugely busy. There was a group of drinkers at the bar and about three or four other tables of diners. The menu wasn’t vast, but gave a good choice and there were more starters and mains on the specials board. We ordered drinks at the bar before sitting down.

I had a large glass of red (£4.90) while Simon had a pint of lager (£3.10). For starters I chose crayfish cocktail off the menu (£4.25), while Simon went for whitebait advertised on the specials board (£2.95).

Inside The Falcon Inn, Bridgnorth

Mains were an 8oz rump steak with handmade chips for me (£11.95) and beef lasagne, salad and chips, again off the specials board, for Simon (£5.50).

There wasn’t a huge delay before our starters were brought over. I had a decent-sized dish with rather a lot of iceberg lettuce, together with tomato, and some chopped red onion, topped with crayfish in a simple mayonnaise. It was pleasant enough, the crayfish were nice, the mayonnaise subtle and the salad was fresh. It didn’t set my world alight but it was a good, fresh starter.

Simon’s whitebait dish was given the thumbs up. They had been fried, although he prefers them in batter, but they soon disappeared anyway.

Our plates were promptly cleared by the attentive staff and we carried on putting the world to rights before the mains came. These were served on hot plates. Big tick.

The chips were very nice, being chunky, quite dark and tasty, and there was enough of them. Simon’s lasagne was alright, he said, and his salad garnish was fresh.

I had a decent steak, and the barman, who brought over my dish kindly supplied a small jug of Worcestershire sauce at my request. My dish comprised the steak, chips and a single large mushroom. We both felt it could have done with something else – a salad garnish or small bowl of coleslaw perhaps? My chips were great, the mushroom fine and I mainly enjoyed all of my steak. I know rump is less lean than a sirloin. There were two bits of it that had to be discarded, but it was tasty, especially accompanied with the Worcestershire sauce.

As is usually the case I was now full. However, the specials board mentioned puddings, so, all in the name of research etc . . .

The pudding board was promptly dropped off at our table. It comprised chocolate fudge pudding, sticky toffee pudding, treacle sponge or apple and blackberry crumble with ice cream, custard or cream.

After a quiet debate of “shall we/shan’t we” Simon ordered the sticky toffee pudding (£3) while I refrained from ordering a third course. Again there wasn’t a huge wait. The pudding was hot, possibly straight out of the microwave, suggested Simon. It came with ice cream and was as he would expect a sticky toffee pudding to be.

We both thought the the food prices were quite good value really. If you just want some simple home cooked food in nice surroundings, then this is the place to go.

ADDRESS
The Falcon Inn, St John Street, Bridgnorth WV15 6AG
Tel: 01746 763134

MENU SAMPLE
STARTERS
Homemade soup (£2.95); Smoked mackerel pate (£3.95)

MAINS
Chicken penne pasta (£6.95); Homemade leek & brie lasagne (£6.25)

SIDES
Onion rings (£1.95); Red cabbage coleslaw (£2.25)

DESSERTS
Apple & blackberry crumble (£3); Treacle sponge (£3)