The Bucks Head, Long Lane

Reviewer's rating *** The sun was managing to peep out between the clowds at the Bucks Head Hotel, as myself and my mum visited it recently, stepping out for Sunday lunch together, writes Cathy Stanworth.

And this cheery outlook was matched by a smiling man at the entrance door, whom I believe is the owner, as he greeted us, exchanging pleasantries about the improving weather.

In fact all the staff we came across at the venue were really pleasant and friendly, which makes it harder to report that we were a little disappointed with our food. But at the end of the day you get what you pay for and at £10.25 for three courses, it is still value for money.

The Bucks Head is a large family friendly pub on the outskirts of town on the A442 Whitchurch Road. A traditional place, with an inglenook fireplace and oak beams, it is very popular in the summer with its beer garden.

But of course we were there to eat out. Mum had eaten there before and she suggested it for Sunday lunch.

So on a Sunday afternoon in March we visited to find a handful of tables occupied, and some people in the bar, but it was hardly busy.

At the bar we discovered we could have a set Sunday lunch where you can order one course for £6.25, two courses for £8.25 and three courses for £10.25. There were also specials on the board. Both liking our traditional Sunday roast and feeling hungry, we went for the three-course option.

Before being shown to a nice table by the window we ordered half a Strongbow cider at £1.40 for me and a glass of medium white wine at £2.60 for mum.

Starter choices included soup, pate or egg and prawn mayonnaise; the mains were roast pork, roast beef or roast chicken.

I ordered pate and mum chose the egg and prawn mayonnaise. We didn't have long to wait for our food as soon a smiling waiter brought the plates over.

Both starters were fine. They were tasty and came with a fresh salad. I had four triangles of toast with a square of pleasant tasty pate and a wrapped butter. Mum's starter was a decent portion and was very nice.

Our plates were soon cleared and we chatted for a while before our mains came.

These were large portions with a lot of meat, again proving the pub is offering value for money.

The vegetables were small roast potatoes, which were quite dark on the outside but nice and fluffy on the inside, new potatoes with their skins still on which were fine; what appeared to be mechanically chopped swede, again fine; leeks in sauce (very nice) and cauliflower (fine).

Mum had stuffing with her pork which was good, however she said her pork was "a bit cardboardy".

I had big slices of beef on my plate which over-faced me a bit. It was fine and I ate it but my gravy was very bland, doing nothing at all for the dish. I love home-made Sunday lunch gravy made from the juices from the joint. Just a little bit of this, even added to gravy granuals, can really add a lot of flavour and would have transformed my dish.

I also had a large Yorkshire pudding which looked pre-made and tasted OK, but was a bit bland.

After our main course plates were cleared we were given a long list of puddings by the waiter to choose from. Mum chose trifle while I chose cheesecake. We were given a choice of pouring or squirty cream. After obviously choosing pouring we settled back to wait for our final course.

Mum's trifle came in a tall glass shaped dish with the pouring cream precariously settled on top.

Sadly mum said her trifle "wasn't nice at all". The custard wasn't set and she didn't enjoy the rest of its contents either.

I, on the other hand, had a nice slice of proper home-made cheesecake with pouring cream. Its base was not too biscuity and the topping was very light and tasted lemony.

When asked if we'd enjoyed the puddings afterwards, mum had to admit to the friendly young lady that no, not really, and the custard wasn't set, for which we received an apology.

So a bit hit and miss on the food, but still good value for money, and you're guaranteed a warm welcome from the front of house staff.

The Bucks Head is keen to point out it has received a healthy eating award from Telford & Wrekin Council. Also the premises has a designated breast feeding area.

ADDRESS

The Bucks Head Hotel, Long Lane, Telford TF6 6HA

Telephone 01952 223228

MENU SAMPLE

One course £6.25, two courses £8.25, three courses £10.25

Starters

Soup, Pate, Egg & Prawn

Mains

Roast pork, Roast beef, Roast chicken,

Desserts

Apple pie, Fresh fruit salad, Cheesecake, Chocolate dessert, Trifle

Atmosphere

Quiet but friendly

Service

Very good

Disabled facilities

Disabled access